Showdown At The Food Pyramid
PreSchool-Grade 2–In this dynamic picture book, personified foods fight a battle over good nutrition. Following the wisdom of the Great Food Guide tacked on the wall, the various edibles that form the pyramid have always tried to remain in balance. Then, dangerous interlopers overrun them and take over the top level ("They had strange names like Hot Dog, Candy Bar and Donut, and they liked to cause trouble"). The healthy foods almost give up trying to make things right again, but the problem is resolved when the pyramid is destroyed by its own excess; with all of that fattening stuff on top, it collapses "under its own weight." The foods then rebuild the structure, a process shown in a literal and amusing way, with sturdy starches supporting bright fruits and vegetables, and finally, way up on top, a few sweets and fats, which are allowed to return. The message is up front, but the humorous tone keeps the story from becoming overwhelmingly didactic. The pictures are great, with vivid colors and lots of drama and personality. Barron's light touch and child-friendly approach make this offering more enjoyable than most of the books available on nutrition.–Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, ILCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.