LET US EAT HEALTHY!

In this nonfiction kids’ book, Du (Bernard Goes to Music School, 2016, etc.) looks at the importance of nutrition from the perspective of her young son, Bernard.

After struggling to conceive for six years, the author says that she achieved “her baby dream” after consulting a book extolling nutritious eating habits. Here, Bernard appears in color photos with various dishes and explains how his mother’s culinary enthusiasm shapes his life. He recalls eating traditional Chinese food with grandparents and his mom’s reaction when he asked for a McDonald’s Happy Meal. Eating healthily, he surmises, makes him smart, because he can “tell all the big names of dinosaurs.” “Healthy eating rules” (such as “salt, sugars, and unhealthy fats are bad”) are in bold text. In an afterword, the author offers insights into cooking methods and the potential dangers of eating seafood. Du’s knowledge of nutrition is laudable, and the photos are engaging. However, Bernard’s vocabulary may be overly sophisticated for young children, as when he says that he listens to his mother “silently and ardently as her words strike my heart.” The details of Bernard’s life story also detract from the nutritional focus. This book would be best suited as a keepsake for Bernard’s loved ones or as an educational supplement for a parenting class.

A well-intentioned photographic journey into healthy eating.