🟢 Book Review: Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O'Neill
- Zoë Brown
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 8
RATING: 🟢 Recommended
REVIEWER: Zoë Brown
REVIEW METHODOLOGY: Louise Derman-Spark's Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children's Books from the Social Justice Books Project, Teaching for Change
“Everybody needs help sometimes.”
Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O’Neill, illustrated by Brizida Magro, is a beautifully written picture book that follows young Molly and her mother as they visit a local food pantry for the first time. Facing food insecurity, they join a line of diverse individuals seeking assistance. While waiting, Molly encounters her classmate Caitlin, who feels ashamed to be there. The two draw in line together as a way to give back, eventually feeling a bit better about the circumstances and realizing that everybody needs help sometimes. Inside the pantry, Molly’s mother hesitates to take cookie mix for fear of judgement, but is later encouraged by someone working at the pantry that everyone deserves treats.
Beyond its narrative, the book delves into deeper themes of empathy, dignity, and community support. It challenges the stigma associated with seeking help, emphasizing that needing assistance is a universal experience. The story also explores some root causes of food insecurity, such as temporary and/or permanent disability, unemployment, and financial hardship. With its gentle storytelling and inclusive illustrations, Saturday at the Food Pantry serves as a valuable resource for families and educators to address topics of poverty and compassion.
In Saturday at the Food Pantry, several small details add layers of meaning to both the story and the illustrations. At the start of the book, Molly’s fridge is shown to be empty and she describes her hunger making it difficult to sleep. Later when in line, Molly notices that “the people looked like everybody else.” This particular scene featured a diverse set of characters of different ages, genders, relationships, and abilities, showing that hunger and need can affect anyone. While in line, Molly and Caitlin are shown drawing pictures together to give to the people at the pantry as a way to “give back” or contribute, bringing forth a sense of creativity and dignity.
The pantry itself is illustrated as a warm, welcoming space full of supportive and encouraging staff. The facial expressions throughout— particularly the worried looks that soften into smiles— tell a story of fear and anxiety giving way to relief and belonging. Molly’s mom is shown saying no to a box of cookie mix out of fear of judgment, saying “they” (staff) only want people to take “sensible” items. This statement speaks to the way accessing services and supplies considered to be “luxuries” is often stigmatized and shamed. Later in the book, a staff member gives a box of cookie mix to Molly and her mom, stating that “everyone deserves a treat.” This is an important moment in the book in that it establishes that aid shouldn’t be conditional and that all people deserve to have both their needs and wants met and fulfilled.
I would highly recommend Saturday at the Food Pantry to elementary teachers and students because it opens up important conversations about empathy, kindness, and community in a way that feels honest, welcoming, and hopeful. The story shows that needing help is normal and nothing to be ashamed of, offering children reassurance and understanding during hard times. It also encourages young readers to look at others with compassion rather than judgment. With its warm, inviting illustrations and relatable characters, the book provides a safe and gentle way for teachers to introduce topics like food insecurity, gratitude, and helping others— all while promoting inclusivity and resilience. It’s a story that can spark meaningful classroom discussion and help children build empathy at an early age.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
REVIEWER BIO: Zoë Brown was a student at Portland State University and took Zapoura Newton-Calvert's Social Justice in K12 Curriculum course. Their volunteer work was a partnership with Reading Is Resistance and the Social Justice Books Project from Teaching for Change.
