How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?

January 31, 2011
With reader-directed prose and cheerfully retro artwork, Butterworth and Gaggiotti use a balanced meal—sandwich, fruit, veggies, juice box, and cookie—to explain how foodstuffs make it from farms, dairies, and factories into kids' lunches. It's clear that the book's goal is encouraging kids to truly think about their food: how it's made and where it comes from, yes, but also how it tastes ("Bite into your cheese—it's creamy and smooth, but tasty, too—and TINGLY on your tongue!") and what it does for their bodies. If it feels a tad optimistic given the modern dominance of frozen, fast, and processed food, it's an accessible primer for families looking to foster healthy habits. Ages 5–8.