Worms for Breakfast: How to Feed a Zoo

by Helaine Becker, Kathy Boake (Illustrator)

Ever wondered what zoo animals eat? Feeding time is one of the most popular events at zoos. It also prompts a smorgasbord of questions: what do different animals eat? How much food do they need to stay healthy? Where do zookeepers get all that chow? And what constitutes a special treat? New in paperback, Worms for Breakfast answers all these questions and more in a cookbook-style primer packed with facts from experts at zoos and aquariums. Covering everything from regular animal nutrition to feeding babies to mimicking how animals hunt and eat in the wild, this book explores the eating habits of carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, and insectivores. Inside, you’ll also find real-life recipes from zoos around the world for meals like eucalyptus-leaf pesto, kelp tank goulash, and mealworm mush. Beware! You probably don’t want to eat any of it yourself. Written in a plucky, conversational tone with delightfully wacky illustrations, a glossary, and tips for zoo animal care, this book is bound to appeal to picky readers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Picture Books, Juvenile, Nature, Conservation, Food

36 pages, Paperback

First published April 12, 2016

About the author

Helaine Becker has written over 70 books, including the #1 National bestseller, A Porcupine in a Pine Tree,and its sequel, Dashing through the Snow, Sloth at the Zoom, Dirk Daring, Secret Agent, the Looney Bay All-Stars chapter book series, non-fiction including Counting on Katherine, Worms for Breakfast and Zoobots (all Junior Library Guild Selections), Monster Science, You Can Read, Lines Bars and Circles, and Boredom Blasters, plus many picture books and young adult novels. She also writes for children’s magazines and for children's television. Her show Dr. Greenie's Mad Lab was a finalist at MIP.com Junior in Cannes.
She has won the Lane Anderson Award for Science Writing for Children twice,once for The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea and once for The Insecto-Files, and the Picture Book of the Year Award from the Canadian Booksellers Association for A Porcupine in a Pine Tree. She has also won three Silver Birch awards and a Red Cedar award.

Helaine Becker holds U.S. and Canadian citizenship. She attended high school in New York, university in North Carolina (Go Blue Devils!!!!) and now lives in Toronto with her husband and dog, Ella. She has two really handsome sons.

Reviews

[BrookesEducationLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This non-fiction book is perfectly put together to engage young readers with quizzes, recipes and information about feeding and caring for animals that live in zoos.

[Wunderdrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title is nominated for the 2018 Hackmatack Award in the non-fiction category.
Let me begin by saying that I am not someone that you would call an animal lover, although I certainly don't want to see any living thing suffer. Having spoken at length with another author during the tour last year about the unfairness of keeping wild animals penned up in zoos, I wasn't terribly keen on reading this one. However, it is evident that all of the experts who were consulted for this book are true animal lovers who are trying to do right by their animal charges, and I think that is all I will say about that. As far as the content of the book, I particularly enjoyed the little quizzes and the interviews with real life animal nutritionists. Liked the way that the recipes were introduced, I think it's a neat concept that will grab kids' attention.
This title will appeal to kids who are animal lovers, and kids who like 'gross out' type books.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What’s grosser than gross? It’s feeding time at the Zoo, and YOU are in charge of the hungry platapodes. WHAT DO YOU DO? The answer lies with the zoo nutritionists in WORMS FOR BREAKFAST: HOW TO FEED A ZOO, by Helaine Becker and Kathy Boake, a somewhat disgusting, fascinating look at the nutritional needs of various zoo animals. If you’ve ever wanted to know how to hide a chimpanzee’s treats to simulate foraging in the wild, or what sort of protein a flamingo chick craves, here ya go. With backmatter and puzzles throughout, there's plenty here to hold interest. The illustrations are downright peculiar, but the facts are terrific.

[Abby Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting information - a perfect fit for kids who have ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at zoos. I picked this one up because a young patron at the library loved it so much that she apparently wanted to check it out again and again, so I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

I would definitely recommend this to young readers who are interested in animals, but the illustrations made this one a no-go for me personally. I think the creepy, stylized illustrations are probably funny to most kids and a draw for young readers. But they were a turn-off for me.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

My students loved this book. I love how nonfiction books are becoming more and more fun and engaging. My eyes were reading all over the place. There is so much interesting information on what zoo animals eat. It even comes with recipes. I made the chimp food for the kids to see & so many brave teachers gave it a try. Fun Book!

[Lara Samuels · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the different approach to working with animals. I would consider this an additional purchase if funds are available for a library. It am likely to put in the mix of books to introduce students to endangered animals and dealing with the impacts of climate change through conservation. It is also a book to show the ways math and science are involved in career opportunities for animal lovers.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did you know there's a such thing as Monkey Chow? Learn more about what animals at the zoo eat and the zoo nutritionists who make the decisions. Includes recipes, you may find yourself even wanting to try one . . .

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very interesting informational book. The section titles are as follows: hungry, hungry hippos ... and more!; kitchen capers; babying the kids; a recipe for conservation; midnight snacks; the thrill of the hunt; brain food; picky, pickier, pickiest!; seafood special; big eaters; treat days!; for the birds; problems in captivity; be a bestie to the beasties!; glossary.
For each animal discussed there is a real recipe for their food, such as: gorilla gobble-'em ups and flamingo chick formula. Included is information about different endangered animals, zoo workers such as nutritionists, and the challenges to keep animals well fed. Great illustrations.

[Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that animals eat worms.

[Angel Mouser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book to introduce kids to conservation efforts at the zoo by explaining how much care goes into feeding the animals.

[Becca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting info, poor illustrations.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to mix up a batch of pangolin potage or predator popsicles? What do you feed an elephant on a slimming diet? Meet some zoo nutritionists whose charges and their appetites are as varied as they are interesting.

The photoshop illustrations are as lively and unusual as the topic but what a fun and fascinating book for any kid interested in animals or biology. Becker gets a lot done in this lively book although the main focus is what and how zoos feed their often fussy charges. Information on various species, the changing role of zoos and their conservation roles is included along with the often delightfully gross recipes. I loved the introductions to several zoo nutritionists - what a job that is! Packed with the sorts of details kids will want to share with anyone who will listen

[Linnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ages = 9+ (very detailed, may discourage some readers who are not as strong)

This book does a great job of covering a subject that would be interesting to kids (& adults) but would never occur to them. What does it take to be a Zoo chef? What do you do? What do zoo animals eat for breakfast, lunch, & dinner? (what about snacks)

This book covers all that and more with disgusting, random facts that kids love. For instance, I learned the rabbits eat their own poop because it contains some essential nutrients. Also that zoos will often make blood popsicles for large predators on hot days. I will be book talking it at the schools when I do summer reading visits.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know that it cost $1,000 a month to feed an elephant! This was an interesting book about what it takes to feed a zoo. If you are really ambitious there are recipes. Apparently monkey chow is something you can buy at a animal supply company. It is something like dog biscuits with grains, fats and proteins, add some carrots, eggs and ants to taste. Yum. It has real recipes in cups and lbs...just not sure how one goes about getting ordering meal worms (actuary beetles before the pupa state.). I am not much of a cook but I am in NO rush to make Predator Popsicles or Flamingo Chick Formula. All in all disgusting, interesting and fun!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun way to learn about how zoos feed their animals! Cropped photos arranged in collage manner show the various species and what they eat. Each page is topped with a red & white checked motif. Two activities encourage reader engagement. I wonder how many youngster will try to make the recipes! Glossary and detailed index

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Nonfiction
Plot: Reviews what (and how) animals in zoos eat. Includes recipes, facts, interviews with animal nutritionists, and puzzles. Briefly addresses the ethics of zoos and zoo nutrition. Appendix includes how kids can get involved to save animals, as well as answers to the puzzles, glossary, and index.
Readers' Advisory:
Recommended age: 7-10

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the concept of this book and the information in it--so many interesting tidbits on what animals eat, how zookeepers feed them, and even some recipes!

BUT... I just can't do the illustrations. Yuk.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun NF book about diets of zoo animals and the responsibility of caring for animals in captivity. Will appeal to students who enjoy a bit of the "eww" and "gross". Lavishly illustrated so it can be enjoye by those whose reading level is lower than RL 5.7, F&P X.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cool concept for a book, and very well executed.

[Shauna Yusko · Rating 4 out of 5]

2-5.

[Rani · Rating 5 out of 5]

When cooking for animals at zoo, you need to know more than the critters themselves! Innovative and creative book on an interesting topic.

[Christiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dug this information cum recipe book for what animals at the zoo get fed! It has cool asides from nutritionists and real recipes that are made at the zoo for special food!

[Carmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

For every kid who has ever wanted to go behind the scenes at a zoo.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting information; includes recipes.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

This idea is SO COOL but there are soooo many words on each page and I wish I could cook some of the recipes or I wish they had adapted some for human tastebuds... but as they are... ew!

[Kara Decarlo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of interesting information. The illustrations are digitally manipulated photo collages, and don't always reflect the information on the page.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do zoo animals eat? This book will give curious readers the inside scoop.