Eat Your Words: A Fascinating Look at the Language of Food [Hardcover]

Charlotte Jones (Author), John Obrien (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 11, 1999 | Age Level: 9 and up

Baked Alaska, melba toast, hush puppies, and coconuts. You'd be surprised at how these food names came to be. And have you ever wondered why we use the expression "selling like hotcakes"? Or how about "spill the beans"? There are many fascinating and funny stories about the language of food -- and the food hidden in our language. Charlotte Foltz Jones has compiled a feast of her favorite anecdotes, and John O'Brien's delightfully pun-filled drawings provide the dessert. Bon appetit!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Why do we use the expression "selling like hotcakes"? Who put Melba in melba toast, and what the heck is a hush puppy? Charlotte Foltz Jones, author of the delightful, fact-filled books Mistakes That Worked and Accidents May Happen, applies her bloodhound-like research talents to the language of food in Eat Your Words. As she states in her introduction, "Because food is necessary to survival, our entire culture is based on it. It's in our laws, our money, our superstitions, our celebrations, and especially our language." She calls her book "a shopping list of curious food etymology, and a menu of the origins of funny-sounding food." Indeed. Readers will discover who the Stroganoff is in Beef Stroganoff and how a Caesar Salad has nothing to do with Julius Caesar. (Clearly if your child has only heard of peanut-butter sandwiches, these astonishing revelations won't be that exciting.) You'll also find "Great Moments in Candy History." (The Tootsie Roll has been around since 1896--and still isn't stale!) And, you'll discover where the names of foods like eggplant and coconut came from. One of our favorite sections is "Talking Turkey," where we learn that the "cold shoulder" is really meat. John O'Brien's funny, pen-and-ink illustrations add just the right touch to an already-whimsical potpourri of trivia. This book guarantees fascinating restaurant conversation for the rest of your life. ("Did you know that Caesar Salad had nothing to do with...?") (Ages 9 to 109) Karin Snelson

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-After an introduction to the importance of food in our culture, Jones takes readers on a tour of gastronomical words and phrases. The first three chapters describe dishes with people's names (eggs Benedict), those named after places (Buffalo wings), and "Four-Legged Foods" that contain the names of animals (horseradish). "Eat, Drink, and Be Merry" looks at the etymology behind treats associated with parties and fun (canap?s), while "What's in That Shopping Cart" does the same for a random sampling of groceries (eggplant, marmalade, po' boys). Phrases such as "couch potato" and "eat humble pie" are described in a chapter on favorite sayings. Jones also examines words that don't seem to deal with eating at all, but have food hidden in their histories (parasite comes from parasitos, Greek for "guests at a meal"). "Food for Thought" sections present fascinating trivia ranging from silly laws about edibles to food-related rituals. Appropriately, the author finishes with a history of the toothpick. The layout and accessible writing style make this book easy to understand and interesting to read. It is filled with anecdotes and amusing illustrations. This is a great title for browsing, and youngsters will want to share these stories with their friends.
Linda Wadleigh, Oconee County Middle School, Watkinsville, GA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (May 11, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385325754
• ISBN-13: 978-0385325752
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,929,666 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mouth watering, March 10, 2002

By 

Alyssa A. Lappen (Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Eat Your Words: A Fascinating Look at the Language of Food (Paperback)

Each one of the seven chapters in this mouth (excuse me, book) full of word play is more scrumptious than the last.

There's a chapter on the people behind famous dishes --- like the sandwich and Graham Crackers. Readers can also devour tasty treats from the map --- like Bacon, Georgia; Cherry, Nebraska; Rice, Minnesota; Hominy, Oklahoma and Pine Apple, Alabama, for starters.

The third chapter revels through menus full of meat. Or so it seems until we learn that hush-puppies are not really dogs and steaks named Tartare don't come from central Asia. Horseradishes of course don't gallop across your plate, and hot dogs, like hush puppies had an interesting etymology.

The fourth chapter covers some of the sweetest goodies you're ever likely to eat, including Chess pie (made with a filling of sugar, cream and eggs), lollypops (including how they got their name), pie in general (and the derivation of that term), Sundaes and pretzels.

Kids will also find out about bakers' dozens, and various other gastronomical odds and ends.

But my favorite parts are the bite-sized Food For Thought sections in each chapter. One lists various laws on various books about various illegal practices related to food --- like throwing banana peels on the sidewalk in Waco, Taxes or putting cake in a cookie jar in Joliet, Illinois. Another lists food festivals. January is Carrot Festival month in Holtville, California, for example, while February hosts California Kiwifruit Day and the annual pancake race between Olney, England and Liberal, Kansas.

Events that made candy history will tickle kids with a sweet tooth. Those who fib now and then may enjoy Phoney Baloney, you know, stuff that's not really what it's called on the menu. (Examples include head cheese, Bombay duck, peanuts and Welsh rabbit).

My kids love this book. It's mouth-watering fun.

--- Alyssa A. Lappen

5.0 out of 5 stars Eat it up!, March 8, 2007

By 

Skate Diva (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eat Your Words: A Fascinating Look at the Language of Food (Paperback)

My daughter loves this book--we got it out of the library so many times she finally begged me to buy it.