SLIS 5420 - Module 11 - What the World Eats

Bibliography

Menzel, P., & D'Aluisio, F. (2008). What the world eats. Berkeley, Calif: Tricycle Press.

Summary

What the World Eats is a photographic journey through over 20 countries looking at traditions and conditions of the world’s oldest social event: eating. The book profiles families from each country and looks at what food is eaten, how much is spent on food in an average week, and the lifestyle of the family. In addition to giving a good insight into the types of food eaten by the families, the book gives a good look at the economic status of the area where the families live, as well as the sociological practices in their unique communities. Good information is provided about the countries, as well as lots of statistical data about various food related information, for example, the number of McDonald’s and obesity rates in each country. The pictures are very helpful when looking at what foods are consumed by different families, as well as giving a good picture of what cultural differences each family has.

Impression

The book was very interesting and provided a lot of statistical information. The book would definitely be for an older reader, someone who would be able to read through the information without becoming bored or confused. On the other hand, it would be a good book for an adult and child to read together because the child would be able to find a lot of interest in the photographs the book has while the adult would be able to explain the details if the child had questions.

Reviews

“Can too much information give readers intellectual indigestion? When is it better to graze through a book rather than consuming it in one sitting? Is it possible to make good-for-you information as delicious as (guilty) pleasure reading? The adapted version of Hungry Planet: What the World Eats (2005) raises all of these questions. Intended to inform middle-schoolers of the wide variety of food traditions as well as discrepancies in access to adequate nutrition, this collection of photos, essays and statistics will require thoughtful concentration. Adapted and abridged text, a larger font size, the addition of small maps and basic facts about each country and the deletion of some photos that might have been judged inappropriate or disturbing help to make the wealth of information accessible to this audience. The plentiful photos are fascinating, offering both intimate glimpses of family life and panoramic views of other lands. Whether used for research or received as a gift from socially conscious adults, this version offers children plenty to chew over--but it'll take them some time to truly digest.”

(2008). WHAT THE WORLD EATS. Kirkus Reviews, 76(14), 163.

“Adapted from last year's Hungry Planet, this brilliantly executed work visits 25 families in 21 countries around the world. Each family is photographed surrounded by a week's worth of food and groceries, which Menzel and D'Aluisio use as a way of investigating not only different cultures' diets and standard of living but also the impact of globalization: why doesn't abundance bring better health, instead of increased occurrences of diabetes and similar diseases? These points are made lightly: delivered almost conversationally, the main narrative presents friendly, multigenerational portraits of each family, with meals and food preparation an avenue toward understanding their hopes and struggles. A wealth of supporting information--lush color photographs, family recipes, maps, sidebars, etc.--surrounds the text (superb design accomplishes this job harmoniously) and implies questions about global food supplies. Pictures of subsistence farmers in Ecuador cultivating potatoes from mountainous soil form sharp contrasts with those of supermarkets in a newly Westernized Poland. Fact boxes for each country tabulate revealing statistics, among them the percentage of the population living on less than $2 per day (47% in China, where the average daily caloric intake is nonetheless 2,930 per person); the percentage with diabetes; number of KFC franchises. Engrossing and certain to stimulate. All ages.”

(2008). What the World Eats. Publishers Weekly, 255(35), 53-55.

Library Use

A great reference book for the younger researcher, What The World Eats has a lot of easy to understand information about food and food consumption that can be very stimulating to a young reader. The photographs in the book are also great for showing all the different types of food and variations of familiar food to young readers.