Reviews
"A multi-hued crew of cartoon cats presents the various food groups and the practices of a healthy lifestyle. Each book reports which foods are in the titled group and provides simple explanations of how they affect the body. Cleary's consistent reminders to children to help the adults in their lives eat better are helpful, too. The books also provide servings guides, recommended intake levels, and a 'MyPyramid' chart. Overall, the scientific material in these books is slim, and their attempts to be informative are overshadowed by their simplicity. Also, like the titles, the narratives are written in goofy verse. The meter is often uneven and the rhymes forced." --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple, "With highly readable bits and pieces about which yummy foods have which nutrients and vitamins, these books in the Food Is CATegorical series are just right for sharing with young kids, introducing the value of healthy foods and exercise through silly rhymes, puns, and zany color cartoons of cats in wild action. The scenarios in Apples, Cherries, Red Raspberries range from cat characters picking apples in an orchard to a big cat that triumphs in a boxing ring after eating 'cool' bananas ('Whether on cereal / or with your lunch, / this fruit's / sure to pack / a potassium punch!'). Green Beans, Potatoes, and Even Tomatoes shows that, though often a side dish, the veg is key: 'It's a great source of vitamins A, C, and E.' Sweet potatoes, carrots, and more are portrayed as both wholesome and tasty, and green is cool, too, especially when spinach helps a cat show off its skateboarding skills. Then there is what vitamins do: 'Vitamin A helps our eyes and our skin.' Both books play with words: fruits are 'peachy'; potatoes have eyes; corn grows in ears; cabbage and lettuce are sold in heads. The back matter, featuring the food pyramid and a guide to recommended daily quantities, is part of the fun." --Booklist, "Cleary and Goneau make learning about nutrition fun with silly rhymes and goofy illustrations. Food prep, portion size, vitamin values, and vegetable colors and textures are presented at just the right level for little ones, and they will delight in the antics of the brightly colored cats that romp across the page. Match this up with a show and tell with real vegetables to help kids understand groups like leafy greens, starches, and legumes" --School Library Journal's Extra Helping, "Developed in conjunction with a dietician, Brian Cleary's new series makes learning about nutrition and exercise both fun and easy with full-color cartoon-like illustrations and rhyming verse. Amusing creatures animate each page, demonstrating the major points of the text with a humorous approach. Each title begins with a definition, examples, recommendations on amounts, health benefits, etc. Ending with a reference to the food pyramid and concrete examples of quantities, each book also references activities, teacher materials, etc. available on the author's website. Although this new series is clearly designed to entertain and make learning enjoyable, the text of each volume is carefully chosen to convey an abundance of detailed information about nutrition and exercise. The series is a perfect complement to a science or physical education curriculum making a sometimes dreary topic both entertaining and memorable. Recommended." --Library Media Connection
