Supermarket - Hardcover

Kathleen Krull has written much innovative nonfiction for young people, including six other books in the Live of...series, and has made a chatty, accessible approach to biography her hallmark. She lives in San Diego, California. Visit her website at www.kathleenkrull.com

reS-Gr 3-Information about this most frequent and important shopping place ranges from the early history of crops the Pilgrims learned to grow through the amazing, rich variety of products available today. The electric-eye doors open wide, and the shopping carts, piloted by people of all ages and types, roll in a jolly parade through a vast complex of bottles, boxes, cans, baked goods, fresh produce, dairy products, meats, and nonfood items to their final destination, the checkout counters. Added to this munificent display are all kinds of interesting facts about the food pyramid, the journey from field to unloading dock, the evolution of food marketing from barter to superstore, manager and employee activities behind the scenes, festive foods for holidays, and lots of pertinent statistics. Written in a clear and lively style, the text is printed in several typefaces and appears on boxes, bulletin boards, an ice-cream carton, etc., as well as in the usual places at the top and bottom of the pages, a format perfectly suited to the variety of subjects covered. Best of all, however, are the vibrant double-page gouache cartoon-style pictures using flat, decorative forms. Lots of busy people wander among the brilliantly colored arrangements of shapes and sizes for tremendous eye appeal. The only thing lacking is shoppers jabbering on their cell phones.

Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.