This is the Way We Eat Our Lunch: A Book about Children Around the World

One of the most positive forces to arise in the American educational system in the last few decades has been the increase in multicultural studies. As the world becomes much more intertwined and interdependent, it has become critical that people have a greater understanding of those in other places and cultures. Few, if any markets are completely local anymore, using the Internet, it is now possible to sell your goods to someone anywhere in the world. That education needs to start early and one of the best ways to begin is to learn what other people eat. Children will have an instinctive understanding of this and having the referenced foods made available for in-class snacks can reinforce the terms from the book. Therefore, this book is an excellent resource for multicultural studies at the elementary school level and children will enjoy the associated research projects.

I used this book (in conjunction with 3 others) to make a lesson plan about the history of immigration in the United States and diversity. Children really enjoy learning about what other kids do (and eat). I think this is a wonderful book to teach children about different cultures and customs.

This book is a whirlwind tour of eating habits of children around the world. In the first part of the book, we see and learn about regional menu items that North American children might eat for lunch, such as clam chowder or gumbo. In the remainder of the book, we visit other continents, and see lunches in countries such as Ghana, Israel, Italy, and China. There is a map at the end of the book, and recipes for fruit salad, hummus, and soup. There is a also a glossary of some of the new words used in the book. The text rhymes, and there are about 270 words.

Edith Baer's rhyming text explores lunch the world over, going far beyond the typical American lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She uses simple couplets to cover everything from veggie burgers to tacos to fish chowder (in the United States) and then goes well beyond American borders to look at Colombia, Italy, Puerto Rico, Japan, England, Australia, China, India, and more. Not only do the lunches sound delicious (and teach children reading the book of the astonishing diversity of culinary habits the world over), but Steve Bjorkman's cheerful, colorful illustrations go a long way towards making the unusual seem utterly appetizing. This talented artist's work has appeared in national publications (he used to illustrate regularly for BETTER HOMES & GARDENS magazine, and I miss seeing his work there!). The simple lines and happy look of his pictures perfectly suit Edith Baer's text.