What the World Eats

D’Aluisio, Faith. 2008. WHAT THE WORLD EATS. Photography by Peter Menzel. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press. ISBN 1582462461 [Suggested Grade Levels 2 and up]

REVIEW
Twenty-five families from twenty-one countries around the world display a week’s worth of food from inside their homes in this book that celebrates the family meal and shows what people around the world eat in one week. Along with tables and graphs scattered throughout the book comparing such diverse categories as number of McDonald’s restaurants, overweight populations, safe water supplies available, and amount of meat consumed, the book provides good narrative information, numerous photographs, and a table of facts for each country. The narrative also includes information about the specific family interviewed for the book.

Spread after captioned spread shows, in great detail, the foods and families discussed. The array of appealing photographs demand attention and with each page, new information fascinates and amazes the reader. The excellent tables and charts provide further information in a comparative format. Participating in a wide range of foods at meals throughout the countries, Menzel and D’Aluisio also spent time with each family shopping and preparing the food as they got to know the people with whom they studied. The book provides a typical recipe from a family in each region.

CONNECTIONS
The book lends itself as a reference for a study of food and nutrition, comparisons of countries, and use as an economic survey. It’s a fascinating book to pick up and glance at casually or use for research. Children can compare the foods their families enjoy with those depicted in various countries featured in the book.

RELATED BOOKS
Other books for children about the world and its people:
Kindersley, Anabel and Barnabas Kindersley. CHILDREN JUST LIKE ME: CELEBRATIONS! ISBN 0789420279
Smith, David. IF THE WORLD WERE A VILLAGE: A BOOK ABOUT THE WORLD’S PEOPLE. ISBN 1550747797

By Shirley Smith Duke