Fats

April 1, 2012

Gr 2-3-Presented in a format that would appeal to early readers, but with some complex information, e.g., Carbohydrates discusses molecules and the glycemic index. It is difficult to determine the best audience for this series. Each title includes a description of its featured nutrient, the effects it has on the body (both with and without it), and the foods that it can be found in. Color photos and diagrams are scattered throughout. Most of the books contain an unclear pie chart of a "balanced diet." This image is divided into six equal oddly labeled sections ("bread, cereal, rice, pasta, and noodles" is one, and "water" is another) and does little to demonstrate the appropriate proportions for a healthy diet. Leave these volumes off the menu.

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2012
These books present very basic information on nutrition in simple, choppy sentences. While the diagrams and many of the photos are stock and appear in every book, they are colorful and enticing. The text includes a great deal of boilerplate that is repeated in every volume. Each book's final page enumerates the consequences of avoiding the nutrient of the title. Glos., ind.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)