Sunday, May 8, 2011

Book Review: How Did That Get In My Lunchbox? The Story of Food by Chris Butterworth; Illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti

Written by Chris Butterworth
Illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti
Picture Book, Children's Non-fiction; Ages 4 and up
(Published in 2011 by Candlewick Press)
"One of the best parts of the day is when you lift the lid of your lunchbox to see what's inside."
(First sentence.)
I'm willing to bet that your young children, if they're not living on a farm, exhibit a certain disconnect regarding where their food actually comes from. This book will change that. The text and pictures of this eminently readable book do a superb job of providing essential knowledge in a fun way by breaking down the food production chain of certain lunchbox items (bread, cheese, tomatoes, apple juice, carrots, chocolate chip cookies, and clementines) into sequential steps.

But the information doesn't end with the lunchbox. The book goes on to briefly talk about healthy food choices beyond your lunchbox, and the importance of a healthy balanced diet. There is a short Food Facts page at the end with some excellent advice like...
"Your body is growing all the time (even when you're asleep!) So remember, don't skip breakfast - it gets your body through the day."
My 7 year-old Olivia read this book to us all, with her sisters by her side looking intently at the pictures. We took the time to savor each page's illustrations, and I could see the figurative light bulbs going off in my children's heads as we read this book. Even though most of the knowledge was not new to them - we have discussed where food comes from many times before - I thought this book really helped them (and me!)actually understand the process better.
Chris Butterworth's clear, well-written text and Lucia Gaggiotti's engaging illustrations make this book so worth reading.


Other books by Chris Butterworth: Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea
I think this is graphic designer Lucia Gaggiotti's debut as a book illustrator, but I'm not sure.

Read other bloggers' reviews at:
Kiss the Book
Mackin Books in Bloom

4 comments:

  1. Don't you just love watching those lights go off! It's an exciting thing to witness!!!

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  2. Thanks for featuring this. Must check it out. :)

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  3. Kathy - I love those aha moments!

    jama - Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! Do check it out; it's a fun one.

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  4. Thanks for participating in Book Talk Tuesday again this week! This sounds like a great nonfiction title to add to our library!

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