What's for lunch?

Simple and direct guidance in analyzing food options and eating a balanced diet are folded nicely into this beginning science reader. A multicultural cast of children and adult family members undertake a wide variety of activities leaving them hungry for lunch in different situations: at home, at school, and on outdoor adventures. Thomson uses one or two sentences per page to work through essential food groups, nutrient requirements, calorie facts, and basic nutrition advice for energy and growth. The color palette aligns with the recommendation of choosing a rainbow of foods to assure good balance in one's diet, and a charting activity suits the target-age audience well. Color-saturated digital cartoons depict both likely hunger-producing events (like running a race) and more imaginative symbolism (using a giant sandwich as a bouncy trampoline). Beyond school and public library collections, this is a good choice for health-care providers looking for books to share with young patients.--Goldsmith, Francisca Copyright 2016 Booklist