Eat Your Words

My daughter loves this book--we got it out of the library so many times she finally begged me to buy it.

Each one of the seven chapters in this mouth (excuse me, book) full of word play is more scrumptious than the last.There's a chapter on the people behind famous dishes--like the sandwich and Graham Crackers. Readers can also devour tasty treats from the map--like Bacon, Georgia; Cherry, Nebraska; Rice, Minnesota; Hominy, Oklahoma and Pine Apple, Alabama, for starters. The third chapter revels through menus full of meat. Or so it seems until we learn that hush-puppies are not really dogs and steaks named Tartare don't come from central Asia. Horseradishes of course don't gallop across your plate, and hot dogs, like hush puppies had an interesting etymology.The fourth chapter covers some of the sweetest goodies you're ever likely to eat, including Chess pie (made with a filling of sugar, cream and eggs), lollypops (including how they got their name), pie in general (and the derivation of that term), Sundaes and pretzels. Kids will also find out about bakers' dozens, and various other gastronomical odds and ends. But my favorite parts are the bite-sized Food For Thought sections in each chapter. One lists various laws on various books about various illegal practices related to food--like throwing banana peels on the sidewalk in Waco, Taxes or putting cake in a cookie jar in Joliet, Illinois. Another lists food festivals. January is Carrot Festival month in Holtville, California, for example, while February hosts California Kiwifruit Day and the annual pancake race between Olney, England and Liberal, Kansas. Events that made candy history will tickle kids with a sweet tooth. Those who fib now and then may enjoy Phoney Baloney, you know, stuff that's not really what it's called on the menu. (Examples include head cheese, Bombay duck, peanuts and Welsh rabbit).My kids love this book. It's mouth-watering fun. Alyssa A. Lappen