Eat Your U.S. History Homework: Recipes for Revolutionary Minds

by Ann McCallum Staats, Leeza Hernandez (Illustrations)

Examine the birth of America through a delicious FOOD! This history-themed recipe book is third in a scrumptious series and proves that cooking never gets old.

This collection of unique recipes will fill you up with lip-smacking history facts that reveal what cuisine was like for people between the 1600s to the 1800s, during the birth of America. Budding chefs will devour time-period inspired recipes for healthy entrees and snacks, as well as desserts, including Thanksgiving Succotash, Revolutionary Honey-Jumble Cookies, Colonial Cherry-Berry Grunts, and more. History buffs will appreciate the diverse experiences represented, from the Native Americans and the pilgrims, to slaves and plantation owners.


"...some tasty ways for kids to connect with the history curriculum."
- Booklist

Genres: History, Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Childrens

48 pages, Hardcover

First published October 13, 2015

About the author

A former educator with a master's degree in education, Ann McCallum Staats is an award-winning author. Her book "Fantastic Flora: The World's Biggest, Baddest, and Smelliest Plants" (Candlewick/ MIT Kids Press) shares how some of the weirdest plants survive and thrive. She is also the co-author with astronaut Karen Nyberg of "A Quilt of Stars," releasing Fall, 2026. When she's not writing, Ann travels, mentors, and connects with audiences. Find out more at www.annmccallumbooks.com or on Instagram @annmsbooks or other social media.

Reviews

[Sunday]

This book is a refreshing (and often times humorous) perspective on American history from 1620-1776 via the food that might have been prepared in that period. I'd recommend this to 3rd-5th grade teachers and students. The layout and design is student-friendly and systematic with three 2-page spreads devoted to each major event during this period. (BTW - Some background knowledge of this period is helpful in understanding the content.) Each of the three 2-page spreads include a description of what happened in history, a connection to the foods eaten, a recipe (very easy recipes, modernized and accessible) and then a wrap up. The author does treat the beginning of slavery very seriously (no humor but still an appropriate tone for this age) and also addresses how there were other peoples in North America before the pilgrims came. The illustrations are entertaining (why rabbits as characters though?) and the illustrations also support and sometimes even extend the text.

As I read this, I thought about how useful this might be in an intermediate classroom studying the American Revolution. This perspective on history might serve to motivate students who are not as interested in the American Revolution as we would hope ;) With some thought, the recipes could be used in the classroom or sent home for feedback. There are no outrageous ingredients or tools needed.
This text might also be used as a mentor text for researching and writing about other periods of history or to launch an inquiry unit or for independent study.

[Ms. B]

May be of interest to teachers of pre Revolutionary American history as a way to engage students. Even though, the recipes include modern cooking quantities and methods; the book does a nice job providing facts about the colonial days.

[Lynne Marie]

We devoured this book and enjoyed it on many levels!

[Cheryl]

Oh my goodness this is surprisingly wonderful! The recipes are wholesome and straightforward, the details and themes of history engagingly presented and relevant.

I'm definitely going to do my next "grunt" (cobbler) on the stovetop. And I'm very tempted to make a close version of the succotash, and maybe the hoe cakes to use the cornmeal I have on hand.

My only complaints? No bibliography, and not enough recipes. I will look for Staats' other 'eat your homework' books for sure!

Highly recommended, especially to homeschooling families with children age 6 to 16.

[Becky]

I love the premise behind Ann McCallum's Eat Your U.S. History Homework. I think it is a clever idea to write a cookbook with American History in mind.

The book only covers early American history. The first recipe--around the times of the Pilgrims settling America--is "Thanksgiving Succotash." The last recipe--around the time of the American Revolution--is for "Independence Ice Cream." There are six recipes in all.

The topics or subjects these recipes are supposed to supplement: Pilgrims at Plymoth, 1620; The Thirteen Original Colonies, 1607-1776; The French and Indian War, 1754-1763; Slaves and the Southern Planation, 1619-1863; The American Revolution, 1775-1783; The Declaration of Independence, 1776.

Some recipes you might recognize under another name. For example: "Revolutionary Honey-Jumble Cookies" and "Lost Bread" are snickerdoodles and french toast.

I like the focus on food. I like the historical tidbits. I like everything but the illustrations.

[Emily]

A fun book with a combination of U.S. History and recipes-- the book covers a limited amount of time and the illustrations are goofy, but the info is great