Are You What You Eat?

June 1, 2015

Gr 3-6-The bright colors and creative page layouts emblematic of DK enhance this strong offering that breaks food and nutrition into interesting nuggets, puzzle pieces of the larger whole. The book describes how humans are the only species to cook their food, and it includes a fascinating time line relating when various items common today entered the human diet, artfully arousing curiosity about what we eat every day (for instance, cocoa was introduced in 1900 BCE, pizza in 1,000 CE, and coffee and potatoes in the 16th century). Illustrated discussions of how food supports the body's building blocks and fuels them are fascinating, while comparisons of nutrition guidelines in the United Kingdom and the United States indicate there is no one answer to how much is enough. Viewers will appreciate a dramatic graphic that analyzes a fast food hamburger. Enticing quizzes may spark further discussion. A strong glossary and index are appended. Students doing reports will find much content, but they will need to read carefully to understand the interrelationships. VERDICT A solid addition to most collections.-Dorcas Hand, Annunciation Orthodox School, Houston, TX

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2015
Grades 3-6 Employing a colorful, visual-filled, and animated approach, this offers an introduction to nutrition and diet and their importance and impact, including their effects on health and well-being. An illustrated time line highlights food-related factoids, such as the first written mention of pizza, the oldest-known cookbook, and preservation developments like pasteurization. Subsequent spreads explore topics such as cell types, the digestive system, and food groups. Nutritional components, from vitamins and minerals to carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, get a lot of attention, particularly where they're found and what they do, from providing energy to enhancing mental alertness. Other subjects include cooking methods, allergies, deciphering food labels, and portion control, with occasional caveats, like the effects of excessive sugar and salt consumption. Interspersed sidebars range from food quizzes to FAQs. The information is well conveyed in accessible, often lively prose, while the illustrations range from droll mixed-media montages to precise photos and diagrams. Though the layouts, while stimulating, can be cluttered and a bit distracting, overall, readers will find plenty to engage, educate, and intrigue.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)