Food fight! A mouthwatering history of who ate what and why through the ages

The history of civilization is packed with fascinating facts about food, and this boldly illustrated volume takes a stab at introducing it to kids. Chapters cover the prehistoric era; ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome; Mongolia and the Silk Road; textbook eras in Europe and America (the Renaissance, Industrial Revolution, WWI, American colonialism, and so on); and a speculative look at the future of food. While the capsule histories opening each chapter give helpful context for the food facts, some elements miss the mark: the Eurocentric focus ignores some pivotal, world-changing food history, and the comical tone is occasionally too glib, as when Yucky Habits of Yore includes ancient people eating insects, a practice that's prevalent (and not "yucky") in many cultures' cuisines today. The splashy, graphics-rich pages are likely to lure in curious browsers, and the recipes will be achievable for experienced young cooks who have adult help (though the photos occasionally don't match the intended result). Useful for piquing interest, though readers will need to seek out more-comprehensive volumes elsewhere.--Sarah Hunter Copyright 2018 Booklist

Fifteen chapters cover diets in mostly Western-civilization eras (plus the rise of the Mongols and the importance of the Silk Road) from prehistory to the 1960s. Each chapter features "Day in the Life" sections, eating customs, menus, tools, quizzes, and recipes. A final chapter speculates about food on Mars in the future. The lighthearted tone, many photos, and thick, glossy paper have appeal. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.