The Vegetarian Factfinder [Hardcover]

Ellen Klavan (Author), Adrienne Hartman (Illustrator), Adrienne O. (Illustrator Hartman (Author), Angela M. (Editor) Hederman (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

"Mom, I think I want to become a vegetarian. But will that really help save the rain forest? More and more children are asking such questions. The Vegetarian Factfinder defines vegetarianism and discusses why people choose such a lifestyle. The author describes the history of the vegetarian movement and the different types of vegetarian diets. Children discuss their decision not to eat meat and offer guidelines for getting along with parents and for living in a meat-eating culture. Up-to-date information on nutrition is included, as well as photos, full-color illustrations, a timeline, a map, and a chart. Teachers and librarians will find The Vegetarian Factfinder explores many topics that are part of elementary and middle school curricula.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

diet for small people on a small planet Ellen Klavan's Vegetarian Factfinder, illus. by Adrienne Hartman, explores such issues as why some people become vegetarians and how vegetarians stay healthy. Short biographies of famous vegetarians, including Pythagoras, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein and John Harvey Kellogg (the inventor of cornflakes) fit vegetarianism into the history of ideas.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Little Bookroom; Paper Over Board edition (June 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964126214
• ISBN-13: 978-0964126213
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,152,549 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Slightly too mainstream for this reviewer!, September 17, 2002

By 

Frances D. Granatino (Malvern, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Vegetarian Factfinder (Hardcover)

This book, to its credit, is a very positive introduction to vegetarianism for *children* of all ages. It does what a children's nonfiction book should do - dazzles the reader with provocative photographs - and informs in a kind and gentle way. A photograph of a calf in a crate, destined for veal, was a courageous choice, nicely juxtaposed with photographs of cows roaming the streets in India, where they are revered.

My children gravitated to the information regarding the cruel treatment of animals sent to slaughterhouses. They snored a bit through the "Food for Thought - Vegetarian Philosophy" section but snapped to attention at the picture of Dick Gregory on his historic march to Memphis in 1966.

We all agreed that the section entitled "How Do Vegetarians Stay Healthy?" was a bit too glib. My daughter, who has done a *lot* of research on this topic, was chagrined by sentences like, "The easiest way to get calcium is by drinking milk or eating milk products like yogurt or cheese." She observed that it probably is the "easiest" way to get calcium, but pointed out the plight of dairy cattle in the United States and wished that soy products were touted as an strong alternative, rather than as an afterthought. In this section, we also wished that some funky, fast vegetarian or vegan recipes had been included to illustrate the points the author was making.

In sum, it's an earnest, visually pleasing introduction for the neophyte (be it child or parent or both) who wants an overview of the topic. Career vegetarians and vegan parents will find it slightly lacking, but folks who want an overview will be pleasantly surprised.