Where Does Food Come From?

Children's Literature

This book for the very young student takes a simple approach that makes the subject accessible to kids. The focus is on foods that kids actually eat and usually enjoy, making it more likely they will turn the pages. Where do the foods come from? The first food featured is cocoa. First it is explained that the beans grow on trees, that chocolate is made from the beans, and that hot cocoa is made from chocolate. From three short sentences, kids will gain a general understanding of where the hot cocoa in their mugs comes from. Similarly, apples become apple juice, potatoes become French fries, wheat becomes bread, corn becomes popcorn, tomatoes become ketchup, and grapes become jelly. Other favorite foods are featured as well, and there are sidebars of interesting facts. Most kids will be surprised to learn there are 7,000 different kinds of apples and that lemons are berries. Illustrated with photographs of happy kids enjoying their food. 2006, Millbrook Press/Lerner, Ages 4 to 7.
—Carolyn Mott Ford

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Large print, a well-spaced text, varied typeface, simple explanations, and appealing color photos of children on every page make this book a pleasant reading experience. "Did you know?" insets appear at every turn, providing additional and fascinating food-related trivia, such as, "There are more than 7,000 different kinds of apples." A sentence or two discuss cocoa beans, potatoes, bread, grains, cornstalks, popcorn, milk, lemons, eggs, tomatoes, peanuts, grapes, and more. This is a book that teachers, librarians, and parents will find useful, informative, and fun to share.-Augusta R. Malvagno, Queens Borough Public Library, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.