Stewart looks at how people from a number of countries prepare, eat, and think about food. Colorful illustrations and photographs capture a sample of the cuisine of 14 countries, including Mexico, Japan, Ethiopia, and Greece. Many of the featured dishes, such as zesty carrot orange salad or banana lassi, are mouthwatering. Each spread includes an overview of the country, photographs of the various culinary delights (with pronunciations and descriptions), and additional geography information. A kid-friendly recipe is included with each entry. Step-by-step directions are presented... Engel's illustrations of cartoon children are brightly colored and add touches of whimsy. VERDICT Inspire young foodies with this title; a good choice. School Library Journal; Beginning with the U.S. and continuing around the globe to Japan, this kid-friendly informational picture book dishes up food culture from 14 countries. Although the cuisine of such countries as Spain, France, Greece, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Thailand may be unfamiliar to some children, the author's selections can be sampled in restaurants around the U.S. In double-page spreads, an opening text section gives an overview of the country and how such factors as geography, religion, climate, foreign invasions, and immigrants have influenced its food. For instance, Spanish conquerors in Mexico introduced pork, cheese, and rice, which are still staples in Mexican cuisine today. Following are a brief list of popular foods (including photographs and their descriptions) and an easy-to-follow recipe. The facing page features a brightly colored, full-page agricultural map of the country with landmarks and typical foods indicated. Young foodies can see, for example, where rice, tea leaves, and peaches are harvested in China. The final spread offers ideas for sharing this acquired food knowledge with others. A delectable way to highlight diversity. Booklist; Stewart takes readers on a celebratory tour of world cuisine, focusing on common foods served across 14 countries, along with as many simple recipes. Each spread contains a picture map of each region, with icons that represent types of food, as well as popular attractions and geological features. Photo spot art shows the foods featured in the recipes: for Spain, Stewart highlights a recipe for ham and cheese tapas and snapshots of tortilla de patates, a bowl of gazpacho, and a skillet of paella, and for Ethiopia, she offers a recipe for injera, or spongy flatbread. Engel's (the ABC for Me series) presentation is lively and welcoming, with wide-eyed children from the different countries happily sampling foods. A final spread shows children sharing an array of global dishes, suggesting to readers that trying new foods can be just as much fun as sharing their own favorites. Ages 5-9. (Mar.) Publishers Weekly
