Chocolate

by Claire Llewellyn

Presents facts about the cocoa bean, including how it is grown, harvested, and marketed, and finally turned into a variety of chocolate products

Genres: Nonfiction

31 pages, Library Binding

First published March 12, 1998

About the author

Claire Llewellyn is a prize-winning author of non-fiction for young readers – in 1991, she was shortlisted for the prestigious TES Junior Information Book Award for Take One: Rubbish – and in 1992, she won that award for My First Book of Time. Since then, Claire has written more than 100 children’s books on a wide range of subjects. Ask Dr K Fisher About Animals was shortlisted for the 2008 Royal Society prizes for Science Books Junior Prize.

Reviews

[Erin Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Field Guide to Summer Reading 2023 (L)

[Lisa the Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rounded out our "chocolate unit" with my second grade classes. We had previously read a chapter book and a picture book about children who loved chocolate.

This is a good and simple overview of how chocolate is made, from growing cocoa beans to processing and pouring into molds.

I was a bit dismayed that the book didn't make it more clear that the cocoa powder that results from the processing is actually bitter. It says that "cocoa powder is used to make chocolate drinks or it can add a chocolate flavor to sauces, cakes and ice cream." While this is technically true I also found it slightly misleading, cocoa is very bitter and I felt that was skipped.

The text did go on to point out that milk and sugar are added to make chocolate candy.

I really liked the photos that showed the process of growing and harvesting cocoa beans.

[Pamela Hatch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking for titles to include in curriculum for chocolate and found this older title suitable for younger readers. The pictures look a little outdated but the information is still good since the chocolate industry hasn't changed much. I like this one much better than FROM COCOA BEAN TO CHOCOLATE (9780761365600).

Large glossary of 19 words, uses large font, good general overview.
Uses the phrase -- "gives us energy" which I found amusing.

But even better is BEANS TO CHOCOLATE (Rooke Read-About Science) / by Lisa M. Herrington

Good general overview -- but I decided not to include in my LEARNING WITH CHOCOLATE (Homeschooling Curriculum for the Whole Family)

[Cara Frazee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grade: Preschool-2
Informational
A simple book with information on chocolate that gives information on where it comes from and how it is used. For kids wanting to learn more about chocolate this book could be a fun way to get the answers they are looking for.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little picture book on what chocolate is, where it comes from, and how it's used. Will make you crave a bit of the yummy stuff as you read it.

Excellent photography.