Worms for Breakfast - by Helaine Becker (Paperback)

About the Book

"Feeding time is one of the most popular events at zoos. Kids are naturally curious to know what their favourite animals eat, and they're fascinated to see how they're fed, too. Worms for Breakfast is a fresh, new way to explore the zoo--through the kitchens! This book will look like a cookbook and read like a cookbook--but beware, if you try the recipes, your meals will not taste very good--to humans! That's because this (slightly) gross-out cookbook describes the meals prepared for and eaten by animals at the zoo! The recipes in this cookbook will open the door to topics such as nutrition, what/how zookeepers feed baby animals, what they substitute for food they can't source, and how they set up food to mimic how an animal hunts/eats in the wild. It will include recipes for kids' favourite carnivores, herbivores, omnivores and insectivores. It will also mention why some animal simply can't be fed in captivity. Illustrator Kathy Boake's digitally collaged photo-illustrations mimic the look of a photographed cookbook, but give the content an extra wacky flavor!"--

Book Synopsis

Ever wondered what zoo animals eat?

Feeding time is one of the most popular events at zoos. It also prompts a smorgasbord of questions: what do different animals eat? How much food do they need to stay healthy? Where do zookeepers get all that chow? And what constitutes a special treat?

New in paperback, Worms for Breakfast answers all these questions and more in a cookbook-style primer packed with facts from experts at zoos and aquariums. Covering everything from regular animal nutrition to feeding babies to mimicking how animals hunt and eat in the wild, this book explores the eating habits of carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, and insectivores. Inside, you'll also find real-life recipes from zoos around the world for meals like eucalyptus-leaf pesto, kelp tank goulash, and mealworm mush. Beware! You probably don't want to eat any of it yourself.

Written in a plucky, conversational tone with delightfully wacky illustrations, a glossary, and tips for zoo animal care, this book is bound to appeal to picky readers.

Review Quotes

"Animal lovers and aspiring vets or nutritionists will have plenty to feast on with this fun and informative book."-- "Quill & Quire"

"Animal lovers, especially the reluctant readers among them, will delight in the browsable approach and the window into zookeeping."-- "The Bulleting of the Center for Children's Books"

"Boake's off-kilter photo-collages suit the mix of silliness and science...should provoke giggles."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Fascinating and entertaining...disarmingly fun...a perfect book to read with a class before a trip to a local zoo, aquarium or animal sanctuary."-- "Canadian Children's Book News"

"Great for libraries in need of fun, browsable animal books."-- "School Library Journal"

"I love this book! ...We could probably eat the gorilla cookies without the monkey chow in them. We could eat the dead ants. People could eat the "Digger's Delight" recipe, but I wouldn't want to eat out of a log. People who like animals and people who want to open a zoo should read this book."-- "Nishaant, Age 7, Kids Book Buzz"

"Playful...helps children relate to animals through food and cooking...fun."-- "Green Teacher Magazine"

"The lively writing style will capture and hold reader attention throughout while the information presentation surprises and delights... Worms for Breakfast would be useful to share with a young person before or after a zoo visit, or to help kids think about the close and constant relationships we share with animals on a daily basis. Highly recommended."-- "Canadian Review of Materials"

"This book is a ticket to a different sort of zoo tour."-- "Ithaca Child"

"Unique...a great book for students fascinated with nonfiction and those who are reluctant readers. Recommended."-- "School Library Connection"

"While the tone is light and Boake's photo-collage illustrations zany, Becker doesn't avoid the tough stuff: though conservation and species protection are important jobs zoos do, animals kept there aren't always happy. Still, this inside look at zoo work is fascinating, and the gross-out appeal of the recipes is undeniable. Kiddos desperate to learn more about the zoo will scarf this down."-- "Booklist"

"With fascinating facts and a lively design, this is a surprisingly nourishing treat."-- "Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW"

"Written in a conversational, engaging way. It is appealing even for my picky readers."-- "US National Science Teachers Association"