The Monster Health Book: A Guide to Eating Healthy, Being Active & Feeling Great for Monsters & Kids!

by Edward Miller

Beginning with concise discussions of each of the food groups, along with the newly redesigned food pyramid, Ed Miller looks at all aspects of health and nutrition in this accessible and informative book. Fun facts about different foods are included throughout to keep the reading upbeat and clear distinctions are made between healthy and not-so-healthy meal choices. Readers will learn about nutrients, how to read foods labels and what it means to count calories. Readers will also learn how to develop healthy habits, such as making time for breakfast, tips for packing the best lunch, and the benefits of having a sit down (versus fast food) dinner. Overviews on food illnesses and disorders are included as are the importance of sleep and exercise. With Edward Miller's comprehensive writing and clear format, making healthy choices truly becomes easier.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Health, Nutrition, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 2006

About the author

Edward Miller is the author of many nonfiction children's titles. A prolific graphic designer and longtime art director in children's publishing, Miller lives in New York City.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of good information, but the tone is preachy. The monster makes this look as if it's for younger children, but the text is for middle to upper elementary school students. Disappointing. Stick to Loreen Leedy's Edible Pyramid which was recently revised.

[Jamaie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really great book for older children and it is great for adults as well. I learned so much and got so many ideas for healthy meals. I borrowed this one from the library for a course I'm taking right now. It was a very good pick.

[Heather]

good book about nutrition for kids

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an accessible, fun book that teaches important facts about health while also sharing many fun facts about humans and our care & feeding. When you need to explain something health-related, from eating your vegetables to the dangers of smoking, this will be a good starting place.

[Breighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

grade: 2
genre: informational nonfiction
I liked this book. The incorporation of monsters definitely makes learning about a healthy diet more fun!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty judgmental. Seems like it’s for kids because of the illustrations but the message is not age appropriate.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Monster Health Book: A Guide to Eating Healthy, Being Active, and Felling Great for Monsters and Kids! is a great informational health and wellness picture book that includes the main aspects of what it takes to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The opening of this book begins with the basic food groups, and discusses what is healthy is in each food group and what is not-so-healthy. The books gives suggestions for all different meals of the day, including snacks. It mentions which popular snacks to avoid, and which to opt for on a regular basis. This book also includes aspects of exercise and how to make exercise fun. It also touches on mental health issues such as depression, self-esteem, and the effects drugs and alcohol can have on your psychological well-being. I am doing a lesson plan on this book about health, therefore it would be great to incorporate into any health lesson plan as it includes such a wide variety of topics within the health and wellness area. This book helps remind students that there are consequences to bad behavior, and emphasizes the importance taking care of your body in order to be happy. The book is very colorful and includes many diagrams of the food pyramid for the children to observe. I liked the way the auhthor used a theme of monsters rather than humans because I feel this will keep young learners intrigued and amused. It is a great book to help remind children how they can stay active and healthy, as well as explain specifics on food portion size, mental health, and appropriate exercise routines.

[Laura Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summarize the book
This book is a health book for kids. It is about how kids and monsters alike can be and stay healthy. There is so much information in this great little book. There is all sorts of nutritional information ranging from the food groups to fast food, good and bad fats, eating breakfast and healthy snacking. There is information on allergies and illnesses, self-esteem, being active, getting enough sleep and drugs and alcohol. On each page there are monsters and kids and a ton of really great visuals. The book is very visually stimulating.
· Identify the characteristics from the text that support the specific genre
This is an informational text as it is giving a lot of informative facts about health.
· Identify specific concepts that could be integrated into the classroom.
I took this book to be integrated into a health/content reading lesson. So that could be something that this book could be good for. There is a lot of reading and a lot of great stuff about health.
Provide any other suggestions that would be useful regarding literary content, reading level, and other ways in which the book might be integrated.
There is so much information about so many different health issues that I feel that an entire health unit could be devoted to this book. There is a lot of reading in it as well and it is all broken up into different sections. So the students could focus on one or more sections of each page depending on their reading level.

[Miri Gifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great approach to teaching kids about health. I noticed one little slogan on the back cover that I don't especially like - "Run and jump, don't be a lump!" - but in general it teaches all kinds of healthy attitudes. You shouldn't compare your body to others' because what's good for you isn't good for everyone; being healthy isn't about what you look like; it's normal for everyone to feel sad sometimes but if you feel sad all the time you should talk to an adult you trust about it. It's matter-of-fact and non-fetishistic (no obsessing about weight or fat), and I think it's just a good, healthy approach.

[Nicole Maendel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely written book for informing children as to how they may best care for their bodies through exercise and good nutrition. It explains the food groups, defines the vitamins and minerals, and does so colorfully and creatively so as to hold the young reader's attention. The book teaches children to become food-label conscious, to understand how food choices and behaviors can both positively and negatively impact health and well-being. I do wish that the book addressed the importance of choosing organic and non-GMO if/when possible and differing perspectives regarding the standard food pyramid.

[Kodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about healthy eating for children and it puts a silly spin on things from it being in the eyes of a monster. This book introduces the different food groups and examples of what food goes into each category.
The illustrations in this book are bright and express the text vividly. I feel like I really know the monster and know everything that he is eating and everything he shouldn't be eating.
I would use this specific book to put a twist on healthy eating for children. Still introducing the food groups but bringing rich text and bringing a different experience to the table.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grades 2-5. Bright, happy illustrations and the "monster" angle make this a fun book about eating right. Food groups are presented with fun facts about different foods. This book was written before "My Plate" and features the modified food pyramid, however serving sizes are described. Students learn how to read labels, the importance of being active, food choices and sleeping habits. Eating disorders are also briefly described. This books would be good for pulling out parts to read aloud-- but whole-book sharing would be a little too long.

[Jessica Ranard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always always loved childrens literature, but suddenly I am obsessed with children's non-fiction like this adorable & fun picture book about MONSTERS who EAT HEALTHY. I mean, c'mon - I knew Frankenstein was a cool dude, but what makes him cooler? You said it, his love of B12 vitamins, a healthy sleep schedule, regular excersize, and 3-5 servings of vegetables a day! I'm guessing this is not for adults, but here we are.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally good and clear information about staying healthy and eating good foods. My biggest complaint is that the text and illustrations are out of sync -- the writing is for older elementary or even middle school students but the illustrations will appeal to much younger students. Recommended for school libraries with reservations.

[Chardell · Rating 2 out of 5]

It gives an introduction to the food pyramid. It teaches students how many servings you should eat from each food group.

[Gideon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a good health book for you. This is a book about good food that you should eat to keep you healthy. When to go to the doctor for what type of pain and what the pains are.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of information on each page. Too much for preschoolers to pay attention to while reading the book. Better for older kids who can comprehend more without a true "story"

[Cassie]

Really detailed. More detailed than I would want to get in a 30 minute program.

[Cynthia R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bright colors, concise explanations and works well for teaching tool.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about nutrition. Better for older kids. Very descriptive & has lots of great ideas.