What's on Your Plate?: Exploring the World of Food

Gr 1–4—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, but many of the procedures, such as boiling water, mixing ingredients in a blender, chopping ingredients on a cutting board, and cooking with a nonstick frying pan will require assistance from adults. Engel's illustrations of cartoon children are brightly colored and add touches of whimsy.