NONFICTION - ELEMENTARY

Miss Betti, What Is This?: How Detroit’s School Lunch Lady Got Good Food on the Menu

by Lela Nargi (text) & illus. by Kristen Uroda
Sleeping Bear. Jul. 2025. 32p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781534113251. Gr 1-4
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Gr 1-4–Betti Wiggins was a school lunch administrator in Michigan who decided to make some big changes to the school lunch program there. The schools were providing meals that were not particularly nutritious or appealing to her young patrons; Wiggins pushed to get better vegetables, switching out iceberg for romaine, more local produce, and removing sugary flavored milk. She also encouraged schools to start school gardens and salad bars so that students could get a better idea of, and appreciate, where their food came from. The cheerful, modern artwork is an excellent counterpart to the concise and interesting text. This would be an excellent book for teaching students about community workers, food production, their own school community, as well as nutrition and healthy food choices.
VERDICT With themes of making a difference, taking care of others, and the inclusion of African American innovators, this is an excellent addition to nonfiction collections for elementary students.
Reviewed by Debbie Tanner , Jun 26, 2025

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