Food

Children's Literature

The pages of this slim volume are chock-full of information loosely arranged by broad topics. Best used as a browsing book, readers will glean fascinating facts about food production, preparation, color and flavor, and the ways people eat. There is a section about food festivals, food offerings to gods, and health problems resulting from political and biological issues. As part of the "Discovering World Cultures" series, the book's aim is to focus on the importance of food and how food celebrates who we are. The glossary and index are of some benefit in locating specifics but the overall hodge-podge design of the book lends itself to quick skimming to uncover the useful and sometimes curious facts. Because this is so broad in scope it should be considered a marginal purchase. 2001, Crabtree, $21.28 and $8.95. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey