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DK Readers: The Story of Chocolate
A mouthwatering book about chocolate for advanced young readers. Includes gorgeous photography and a full glossary. Full of deliciously tempting facts about everyone's favorite candy.
Did you know that the average person eats 100 chocolate bars a year? Or that the largest chocolate confection ever made weighed as much as 140,000 chocolate bars?
This history of chocolate fulfills cravings for knowledge by helping children to develop reading skills and a general curiosity about the world around them.
Stunning photographs combine with lively illustrations and engaging, age-appropriate stories in DK Readers, a multilevel reading program guaranteed to capture children's interest while developing their reading skills and general knowledge.
With DK Readers, children will learn to read—then read to learn!
Did you know that the average person eats 100 chocolate bars a year? Or that the largest chocolate confection ever made weighed as much as 140,000 chocolate bars?
This history of chocolate fulfills cravings for knowledge by helping children to develop reading skills and a general curiosity about the world around them.
Stunning photographs combine with lively illustrations and engaging, age-appropriate stories in DK Readers, a multilevel reading program guaranteed to capture children's interest while developing their reading skills and general knowledge.
With DK Readers, children will learn to read—then read to learn!
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2005
3 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 29, 2016
Warning to literalists:
1. May contain irony.
2. Does not contain spoilers, as it does not refer to the book at all.
It so happened that I challenged the stomach of a very good GR friend with my macabre recent readings, reaching from horrible religious characters in Wise Blood to pseudo-rationalist arguments for cannibalism of the worst kind in A Modest Proposal.
To top it off, I made a promise I can't keep. I said I would review a yummy cookbook instead. My middle son has an impressive collection from all over the world, as he buys one in every city we visit. However, they are a mystery to me. I cook because my family is hungry and we need energy to read, write, draw, paint ... I don't understand cookbooks, though. My son spends hours looking at the pictures, reading up on ingredients, thinking of variations, and then sends me to the grocery store with a strange list that requires detective skills, before making my kitchen look like a war zone for hours. I am not patient enough. I love to eat what he produces, but reviewing a cookbook?!? Not possible. I once reviewed The Alchemist as a challenge, and that is as far as I get. No further.
However, I owe my dear friend something for the ordeal I put him through, so I decided to review this lovely DK Reader, that I used to read with school children some eons ago, when the history of chocolate was on the curriculum. Chocolate is actually a quite global historical topic, and one of the reasons we Europeans should always, always remember who has to be grateful to whom in the Columbian Exchange. We got chocolate, and we brought war, disease and colonisation as a compensation. Classic win-lose!
Chocolate happens to be my second best medicine after coffee, another product telling the story of humankind's exploration and exploitation. And I offer it here, not necessarily as a reading suggestion (I think you are beyond reading level 3, Jean-Paul!), but as a recognition of my sin and a confession of my guilt. I have a feeling I will have to review some more early readers soon, as I am in the process of reading some quite heavy stuff...
Always have chocolate and coffee (or any other brew of your preference) ready if I start my reviews with words like "Jesus!" or "Macabre".
1. May contain irony.
2. Does not contain spoilers, as it does not refer to the book at all.
It so happened that I challenged the stomach of a very good GR friend with my macabre recent readings, reaching from horrible religious characters in Wise Blood to pseudo-rationalist arguments for cannibalism of the worst kind in A Modest Proposal.
To top it off, I made a promise I can't keep. I said I would review a yummy cookbook instead. My middle son has an impressive collection from all over the world, as he buys one in every city we visit. However, they are a mystery to me. I cook because my family is hungry and we need energy to read, write, draw, paint ... I don't understand cookbooks, though. My son spends hours looking at the pictures, reading up on ingredients, thinking of variations, and then sends me to the grocery store with a strange list that requires detective skills, before making my kitchen look like a war zone for hours. I am not patient enough. I love to eat what he produces, but reviewing a cookbook?!? Not possible. I once reviewed The Alchemist as a challenge, and that is as far as I get. No further.
However, I owe my dear friend something for the ordeal I put him through, so I decided to review this lovely DK Reader, that I used to read with school children some eons ago, when the history of chocolate was on the curriculum. Chocolate is actually a quite global historical topic, and one of the reasons we Europeans should always, always remember who has to be grateful to whom in the Columbian Exchange. We got chocolate, and we brought war, disease and colonisation as a compensation. Classic win-lose!
Chocolate happens to be my second best medicine after coffee, another product telling the story of humankind's exploration and exploitation. And I offer it here, not necessarily as a reading suggestion (I think you are beyond reading level 3, Jean-Paul!), but as a recognition of my sin and a confession of my guilt. I have a feeling I will have to review some more early readers soon, as I am in the process of reading some quite heavy stuff...
Always have chocolate and coffee (or any other brew of your preference) ready if I start my reviews with words like "Jesus!" or "Macabre".
June 18, 2012
Long book to read out loud in one sitting for my non-readers, but it was interesting. Good photography to illustrate the text.
June 21, 2016
I read this to my first grade summer school class with the theme for these three weeks being the Rain Forest. I liked this book but first graders thought it was a bit dry.
October 8, 2019
An interesting timeline for the history of chocolate as food and money. Goes over lots of topics but not in great detail - large font, usually three pictures for two page spread. I found this title while working on a curriculum on chocolate. For that purpose I would suggest using this as a general outline especially making readers aware of chocolate history and giving the reader topic ideas to do more indepth research.
Reduced the rating from four to three stars -- liked THE OFFICIAL M&Ms HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE by Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue better. (10/07/19)
Reduced the rating from four to three stars -- liked THE OFFICIAL M&Ms HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE by Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue better. (10/07/19)
July 11, 2019
A bit typical nonfiction informational kids book, it still contained good information on chocolate. I used it for a third grade summer school class on chocolate as a research project. To review the topic I used the photos and adapted the text to make it interesting to the kids. My Latino and African kids were quite proud that cacao is grown in their part of the world. A video I showed them the day before on making chocolate became more comprehensible with the book. Overall it was helpful. We also discussed mole sauce and the original taste of cocoa which is bitter.
November 9, 2018
"The Story of Chocolate" tells the story of how chocolate was created and used in ancient America. The book uses groups of people, as well as the process of how chocolate came to be a solid, creamy, sweet treat to engage the reader.
The book uses elements such as maps, informational text boxes, and a glossary to communicate important information to the reader. Although the book is told in story format, the information is not fiction and present science and historical fact.
"The Story of Chocolate" uses repetition of how chocolate is made, as well as the integration of other facts about chocolate to engage the reader.
I really, enjoyed the book! It was so educational and presented information that I never had before considered! I would definitely recommend this a must read.
The book uses elements such as maps, informational text boxes, and a glossary to communicate important information to the reader. Although the book is told in story format, the information is not fiction and present science and historical fact.
"The Story of Chocolate" uses repetition of how chocolate is made, as well as the integration of other facts about chocolate to engage the reader.
I really, enjoyed the book! It was so educational and presented information that I never had before considered! I would definitely recommend this a must read.
January 25, 2019
Short but informative read on history of chocolate and how cocoa pods become a dish of pleasure.
It was interesting to know that first civilization on earth to drink hot chocolate was Mayans :)
In historical parts, it shows how curiosity around cocoa ignited innovation on chocolate. You see how gradually Henri Nestle, Rudolfe Lindt, Milton Hershey created famous chocolate brands using their innovative minds.
It was interesting to know that first civilization on earth to drink hot chocolate was Mayans :)
In historical parts, it shows how curiosity around cocoa ignited innovation on chocolate. You see how gradually Henri Nestle, Rudolfe Lindt, Milton Hershey created famous chocolate brands using their innovative minds.
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September 8, 2020Read it when I was learning English, borrow it from a local library in Cairo, what a delicious way to learn English ;).
That year in secondary school was a turning point in my English learning journey which I am still grateful for it, for English has brought incredible worthy memories.
That year in secondary school was a turning point in my English learning journey which I am still grateful for it, for English has brought incredible worthy memories.
March 15, 2022
A pretty good book that delves into almost all the steps of chocolate making and its history. Nice combination of historical pictures and real-life photos. Deals with colonialism better. For a child who can read on their own.
October 1, 2018
Very informative and interesting. The book details the ancient cultivation of cacao trees and how over it time the cocoa transformed into the chocolate we know and love today.
August 10, 2021
đồ hoạ dễ huông, cung cấp kiến thức cơ bản, xem ảnh Cocoa pods xong sốc, phải mua thêm mấy quyển của DK public luôn để bổ sung kiến thức 🥲
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May 6, 2014Really great book! We've been studying about chocolate and expected this book to have more of the same info, but we're pleasantly surprised to find that it had quite a bit of new info and perspective!
Chocolate is fascinating stuff! Highly recommend checking this book out! A nice long, info-filled picture book. But not too long...just right!
Chocolate is fascinating stuff! Highly recommend checking this book out! A nice long, info-filled picture book. But not too long...just right!
July 19, 2013
A DK Level 3 non-fiction reader that touches on the botany, history and economics of chocolate. It introduces foreign words and utilizes phonetic spelling for difficult vocabulary much like a school textbook. A good bridge between pleasure and academic reading for young readers.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews