Meatless?: A Fresh Look At What You Eat

by Sarah Elton, Julie McLaughlin (Illustrator)

Overview

Humans are eating more meat than ever before. At the same time, vegetarianism is capturing more widespread attention. From Meatless Mondays to vegan options, people are talking more about meat and whether or not to eat it.



Journalist Sarah Elton tackles the topic by explaining what vegetarianism is, why people choose it, and how their reasons—including religion, animal rights, food security, and the environmental cost of eating meat—have changed over time. The book closes with practical tips for making the switch, and perspectives from vegetarian kids.



As a conflicted meat eater herself, Elton encourages freedom to choose. Lively illustrations, sidebars, and sources, plus a glossary, index, and further reading suggestions make this a friendly, comprehensive introduction to why some people eat meat, why others don't, and what kids might consider when making that choice for themselves.


LEVELING
Grade Range: 4–8
Fountas & Pinnell: T
Lexile: 1020L

COMMON CORE
W.5.1,2,4,6,7,8,9,9b,10
SL.5.1,1a,1c,1d,2,3,4,5,5
RF.5.3,3a,4,4a,4c
L.5.3,4,4a,4b,4c,5,5a,6
RI.5.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781926818436
Publisher:	Owlkids Books
Publication date:	05/16/2017
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sarah Elton is an award-winning author and journalist who specializes in writing about food. Her book for children, Starting from Scratch: What You Should Know about Food and Cooking, was published in 2014 to wide acclaim. Her bestselling books for adults include Consumed: Food for a Finite Planet and Locavore: From Farmers’ Fields to Rooftop Gardens, How Canadians Are Changing the Way We Eat. Sarah was the food columnist for CBC Radio's Here & Now for more than a decade. She lives in Toronto. Visit sarahelton.ca and find Sarah on Twitter @SarahAElton.

Julie McLaughlin is the Vancouver-based illustrator of the Norma Fleck Award–winning Why We Live Where We Live, and The Art of the Possible: An Everyday Guide to Politics.

Editorial Reviews

"The author's balanced approach to this topic is broad and yet includes specifics that would relate to a wide audience of readers... Recommended."

Canadian Review of Materials

"This text is interesting and thought provoking, presenting many points of view. It should certainly lead to lively discussion."

Resource Links

"Whether reading for research or looking to make a lifestyle change, this book will provide readers with ample information."

Green Teacher

"This even-handed, supportive, and well-written examination of food choice will fill a gap in many nonfiction collections."

Booklist

"Take[s] a look at...food related issues with great success. ...Using a straightforward approach, the author delivers a text that is both engaging and insightful."

Quill & Quire

"This even-handed, supportive, and well-written examination of food choice will fill a gap in many nonfiction collections."

Booklist

04/01/2017
Gr 2–5—Canadian journalist and children's author Elton (Starting from Scratch: What You Should Know About Food and Cooking) examines what it means to be a vegetarian and why people make that choice. Opening with the attention-grabbing introduction "The Day I Killed a Chicken," Elton explores the history of eating meat (including the role of religion), discusses why people "go vegetarian," and proposes some practical alternatives to meat (nuts, flaxseed, etc.) and several meal ideas. The content is informative and topical, providing a complex look at the benefits and pitfalls of consuming meat. For instance, readers learn about the nutrients humans receive from eating meat, in addition to the environmental consequences of a robust meat industry. Sidebars about various related issues such as food security and how Pythagoras was the father of vegetarianism are interspersed throughout. Elton's prose is clear and kid-friendly, while McLaughlin's vibrant illustrations are light and often humorous. Further reading suggestions offer recommendations of vegetarian cookbooks. VERDICT Great for discussions on health, diet, and the environment.—Sarah Wilsman, Bainbridge Library, Chagrin Falls, OH

School Library Journal

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