Vegetable Group

Children's Literature - Leona Illig

Borgert-Spaniol offers a brief introduction for beginning readers to the benefits of eating vegetables and drinking vegetable juices. The layout follows a picture book format, with one large photograph and one or two declarative sentences on each page. The topics covered include: the vegetable group, why vegetables are good for you, how to choose the best vegetables, and ways to incorporate vegetables in your diet. The book, which is part of the "Eating Right with MyPlate" series, includes a glossary, a short list of references on the web and in print, and an index. The "MyPlate" concept is essentially a pie chart, illustrated as a plate and a glass, depicting the five food groups (fruits, grains, vegetables, protein, and dairy). Words that are in bold print on the pages are listed in the glossary. Early readers will probably need to consult the glossary, or an adult, for explanations of terms that may not be familiar to them, such as rhubarb, sodium, potassium, and fiber. The author encourages reader participation by suggesting that children make their own spaghetti sauce from tomatoes and other vegetables. Examples of sweet desserts made from vegetables include strawberry rhubarb crisp and carrot cake. The book does not include any information about growing or harvesting vegetables, but there is an illustrated explanation of the various parts of a plant that can produce vegetables. Given the minimal and relatively unimaginative text, the book seems overpriced. Reviewer: Leona Illig

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—This functional, formulaic early-reader series introduces the USDA's MyPlate nutritional guide. Colorful, clear photographs complement facts about the basics of healthy eating and the importance of exercise. The food-group titles include information on health benefits and suggestions for meeting the daily serving requirements. Dessert is only covered briefly. For example, Protein suggests putting walnuts on brownies and Vegetable mentions carrot cake, which might confuse readers into thinking these are healthy foods; kids would have been better served with a direct approach to this ubiquitous part of the American diet. Keeping Fit is a solid selection; it demonstrates the importance of exercise and its specific benefits to muscles, hearts, and bones. These books won't jump off the shelves, but they do introduce facts in small, accessible bites.