August – Booklist
Ice cream is the summer treat of champions. Drippy, gooey, cold, and refreshing. Nothing beats an ice cream cone on a hot day. According to an article by the US Census Bureau, the American ice cream industry churns out more than 1.3 billion gallons of ice cream a year—meaning the average American consumes about four gallons per year! Whether you are craving a rich scoop of history, a swirling murder mystery, or a lighthearted tale, grab a spoon and dive into these deliciously sweet reads.
Nonfiction
La Grotta Ice Creams and Sorbets by Kitty Travers
This specialty cookbook, written by the creator of a popular London based brand of ice cream and ices, highlights exceptionally delicious and unique flavor combinations. The ice creams and sorbets featured are fruit-focused combined with unexpected herbs and other mix-ins, the results are eye-opening. Like tomato and white peach and raspberry and sage.
Ice Cream Social: The Struggle for the Soul of Ben & Jerry’s by Brad Edmondson
This is the story of the genesis of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company, its dedication to changing the world with its three-part mission, the various trials the business and employees endured along the way, and their eventual successes as told from outside perspectives.
Beyond the Ice Cream Cone: The Whole Scoop at the 1904 World’s Fair by Pamela Vaccaro
Did the ice cream cone really originate at the 1904 World’s Fair? This narrative history sets the record straight, busting famous food myths and revealing how the Fair quietly revolutionized American food culture.
Ed F. Kruse of Blue Bell Creameries by Dorothy McLeod McInerney
Starting at Blue Bell Creameries at the age of thirteen, Ed F. Kruse held every position imaginable at the company, eventually becoming president and chief executive officer. Under his guidance, Blue Bell grew from a creamery serving the small communities around Brenham, Texas, to a nationally recognized brand.
Fiction
The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman
Left injured and abandoned in 1913 New York, Russian immigrant Malka Bialystoker is taken in by an Italian ice peddler’s family. What begins as a childhood tragedy turns into a culinary legacy: learning the frozen-treat business from the ground up, Malka grows into a ruthless, brilliantly sharp tycoon who conquers America with an ice cream empire.
A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette
Bronwyn Crewse is reviving her family’s ice cream parlor with homemade recipes and a fresh degree, but a snowstorm and a dead body ruin opening day. When her father becomes the main suspect in the murder, Wyn must scoop up clues and catch a killer to keep her business alive. This book is the first in a cozy mystery, ice cream themed series.
The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen
Travel food blogger Riley Rhodes is back in her cozy Connecticut hometown, helping at the local Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop after a family funeral. But when a bitter feud over the ice cream shop’s future turns lethal, Riley is thrust into a murder investigation. She’ll have to catch a cold-blooded killer before the whole town melts down.
The Ice Cream Machine by Adam Rubin
Six stories, six totally different worlds—and every single one is named The Ice Cream Machine! Bestselling author Adam Rubin delivers a laugh-out-loud anthology featuring alien encounters, robotic chaos, and pigs in eating competitions. Perfect for kids in grades 3–6, but this book shows readers of all ages how many ways a single story idea can come to life.
Image Description: Four waffles cones with colorful scoops of ice cream (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and cookies and cream) sit in a cone holder on a counter. An empty cone and scooper and a small pitcher full of caramel sit in the background with a splash of rainbow sprinkles in the foreground.