From plant to plate

Gr 2--5--A worthy addition to the DK canon, this cookbook is half recipes and half information about the inextricable link between food and the environment. The authors explain that the objective is to help readers understand where their food comes from and how it connects us to the planet. Each page is bright, cheerful, and visually appealing, a lush combination of color photography and illustration. The first portion features spreads on planting, composting, biodiversity, growing conditions, and lots of nutritional information, all presented by the book's "bug squad"--a group of cute cartoon insects who act as guides and provide fun facts throughout. The second portion highlights about 20 healthy recipes that can be made with foods that readers have just learned how to grow, from pesto to hummus to granola. Some of the ingredients are on the obscure side, but the value of this book far outweighs such concerns. VERDICT A lovely, highly informative tool for learning about how food is grown, the value in healthy eating, and how to respect the environment while also taking care of one's body, this farm-to-table offering is highly recommended for school and public libraries.--Kate Newcombe

Gr 2–5—A worthy addition to the DK canon, this cookbook is half recipes and half information about the inextricable link between food and the environment. The authors explain that the objective is to help readers understand where their food comes from and how it connects us to the planet. Each page is bright, cheerful, and visually appealing, a lush combination of color photography and illustration. The first portion features spreads on planting, composting, biodiversity, growing conditions, and lots of nutritional information, all presented by the book's "bug squad"—a group of cute cartoon insects who act as guides and provide fun facts throughout. The second portion highlights about 20 healthy recipes that can be made with foods that readers have just learned how to grow, from pesto to hummus to granola. Some of the ingredients are on the obscure side, but the value of this book far outweighs such concerns. VERDICT A lovely, highly informative tool for learning about how food is grown, the value in healthy eating, and how to respect the environment while also taking care of one's body, this farm-to-table offering is highly recommended for school and public libraries.—Kate Newcombe