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Bugs for Breakfast: How Eating Insects Could Help Save the Planet
Most North Americans would rather squish a bug than eat it.
But mopane worms are a tasty snack in Zimbabwe, baby bees are eaten right out of the can in Japan, and grasshopper tacos are popular in Mexico. More than one-fourth of the world’s population eats insects—a practice called entomophagy. Bugs for Breakfast helps middle-grade readers understand the role insects fill in feeding people around the world.
Readers will be introduced to the insect specialties and traditions around the globe. They'll discover how nutritious bugs can be and why dining on insects is more environmentally friendly than eating traditional protein sources. Kids will see how making small changes in their own diets could help ensure no one goes hungry. It even includes 13 insect recipes!
No doubt about teachers, librarians, and parents are hungry for books that entice young readers to be active participants in science.
Bugs for Breakfast may not completely remove the yuck-factor from the notion of eating bugs, but it will open young readers’ minds to what is happening in the world around them.
But mopane worms are a tasty snack in Zimbabwe, baby bees are eaten right out of the can in Japan, and grasshopper tacos are popular in Mexico. More than one-fourth of the world’s population eats insects—a practice called entomophagy. Bugs for Breakfast helps middle-grade readers understand the role insects fill in feeding people around the world.
Readers will be introduced to the insect specialties and traditions around the globe. They'll discover how nutritious bugs can be and why dining on insects is more environmentally friendly than eating traditional protein sources. Kids will see how making small changes in their own diets could help ensure no one goes hungry. It even includes 13 insect recipes!
No doubt about teachers, librarians, and parents are hungry for books that entice young readers to be active participants in science.
Bugs for Breakfast may not completely remove the yuck-factor from the notion of eating bugs, but it will open young readers’ minds to what is happening in the world around them.
- GenresNonfictionMiddle Grade
128 pages, Paperback
Published October 19, 2021
1 person is currently reading
82 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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June 12, 2021BUGS FOR BREAKFAST is a f-ANT-astic blend of fun and facts that will inspire readers to not only #EatBugs but also think about how humans live on the planet and what improvements we can make for ourselves and others around the world. This is a comprehensive yet accessible resource that includes recipes, a guide to raising crickets at home, and even science fair project ideas. BUGS FOR BREAKFAST is a tasty treat that goes well with everything from French flies to maggot-aroni and cheese to bee-ritoes. Bug appetit!
November 10, 2021
A fascinating and engaging read. This book would be especially great for middle grade readers interested in science, and middle school classrooms and libraries.
October 20, 2021
This book is allegedly targeted to the junior high-age audience (or maybe slightly younger), but adults will also find it very interesting, convincing and pretty pragmatic. Its author concedes tastes are slow to change, but notes that American colonists considered lobster "trash food" and that most of us weren't into eating raw fish and seaweed a generation or two ago. Now there are, she reports, 4,000 sushi restaurants in America. And you know what lobster costs.
This book addresses all the "ick" issues concerning insect consumption head-on (sorry), provides more than a few arguments about why insect farms may have to be part of the future and even offers some guidance on possible related science fair projects. Along the way you'll visit a cricket farm in Iowa and the Disgusting Food Museum in Sweden where you can sample crunchy locusts alongside Pop-Tarts.
Be prepared: Give this book to a young person and you may be offered a chance to sample one or more of the 13 insect recipes included. And pretend you already knew the FDA allows 30 insect fragments in a quarter pound of peanut butter.
This book addresses all the "ick" issues concerning insect consumption head-on (sorry), provides more than a few arguments about why insect farms may have to be part of the future and even offers some guidance on possible related science fair projects. Along the way you'll visit a cricket farm in Iowa and the Disgusting Food Museum in Sweden where you can sample crunchy locusts alongside Pop-Tarts.
Be prepared: Give this book to a young person and you may be offered a chance to sample one or more of the 13 insect recipes included. And pretend you already knew the FDA allows 30 insect fragments in a quarter pound of peanut butter.
December 10, 2021
THIS BOOK WAS SO FUN! And informative, thought provoking and well written. I had always thought of eating bugs as a novelty but this book really taught me about the concrete ways we can alleviate so many issues by transitioning to a bug based protein/fat diet. HIGHLY recommend!
May 20, 2022
The legs are the tricky part. Cricket legs tend to get stuck in your throat or under your tongue. And, seriously, who wants to go through the day with a cricket limb wedged between their front teeth? Not cool. So, pinch off the legs and start eating. page 1
SUCH A DELIGHTFUL READ. Boone's content on the benefits of eating bugs to the world is dense but her writing style is tasty and digestible and kid-friendly ;). Some interesting sub-topics including the history of bug eating (e.g., eating lobsters used to be considered "trash eating"), current bug eating trends/diets (e.g. cricket protein powder in your smoothie), the trials and tribulations of being a cricket farmer (e.g., baby crickets can drown in a drop of water), recipes that can easily be made at home (e.g., chocolate chip cookie dough). FASCINATING STUFF that will keep our kids reading.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND BOOK TALKING in 4th-8th grades - read aloud the first four paragraphs and it will surely be grabbed up. OR make this part of a "nonfiction" book club. Lots of "food for thought" that is worthy of discussion and further research. A BIG THEME in this book is that education about entomophagy - eating insects - is the way to bring this much needed change to a warming planet. Students might have a lot to say about this.
PAIR THIS TEXT WITH -
There's No Ham in Hamburger by Kim Zachman - another fascinating read. Reading both might lead to critical thinking about authors' points of view and how they develop their ideas with this viewpoint in mind.
SUCH A DELIGHTFUL READ. Boone's content on the benefits of eating bugs to the world is dense but her writing style is tasty and digestible and kid-friendly ;). Some interesting sub-topics including the history of bug eating (e.g., eating lobsters used to be considered "trash eating"), current bug eating trends/diets (e.g. cricket protein powder in your smoothie), the trials and tribulations of being a cricket farmer (e.g., baby crickets can drown in a drop of water), recipes that can easily be made at home (e.g., chocolate chip cookie dough). FASCINATING STUFF that will keep our kids reading.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND BOOK TALKING in 4th-8th grades - read aloud the first four paragraphs and it will surely be grabbed up. OR make this part of a "nonfiction" book club. Lots of "food for thought" that is worthy of discussion and further research. A BIG THEME in this book is that education about entomophagy - eating insects - is the way to bring this much needed change to a warming planet. Students might have a lot to say about this.
PAIR THIS TEXT WITH -
There's No Ham in Hamburger by Kim Zachman - another fascinating read. Reading both might lead to critical thinking about authors' points of view and how they develop their ideas with this viewpoint in mind.
March 7, 2022
well, guess I eat bugs now.
November 4, 2021
This book could be a Life-Changer
Wow! Saving the world - one meal at a time. Eating bugs was Never something I'd consider, until the macro- world view shown through the lens of this book. Filled with the answers to all the 5 W's you could possibly ask on the topic, it is a book for teens and grown-ups alike. The evidence brought up in this book shows that this is a means saving people across the globe, and possibly the globe itself.
Wow! Saving the world - one meal at a time. Eating bugs was Never something I'd consider, until the macro- world view shown through the lens of this book. Filled with the answers to all the 5 W's you could possibly ask on the topic, it is a book for teens and grown-ups alike. The evidence brought up in this book shows that this is a means saving people across the globe, and possibly the globe itself.
October 26, 2021
This is one of those books that is both interesting and fun. The best kind of science book, the sort I loved as a kid. My daughter is only three, but I grabbed it for her, and she is already enjoying the idea of eating a bug LOL… Anyway, highly recommend. This would make a great gift for a science loving child!
October 26, 2021
I'm looking forward to sharing this book with my nephew. When I was a young boy scout I spent an afternoon at camp learning how to gather and cook grasshoppers. I was surprised at how tasty they were. The stigma of eating as gross went away for me that day. I'm honestly amazed that insects have yet to catch on. Reading this book reawoken a craving.
December 17, 2021
Bugs for Breakfast is for kids and adults! The book provides clear, understandable, and interesting scientific information. I particularly liked the recipes, Questions and Answers and DIY cricket farming. I purchased as a gift for my 9 year old granddaughter. I anticipate an initial “yuck” and then getting engrossed in the book. And yes, I read it before gifting!
September 16, 2023
A while back I read the book Chirp. At about the same time, I had my students in Debate Club discuss entomophagy. I also had an eat-a-bug challenge of chapulines which I posted to Instagram. Soon thereafter, the author, Mary Boone wrote to me and sent me a copy of this book.
It took me a while to read the book because I tend to read thematically. Well, it's almost time for our next nonfiction unit. I started in.
First thing was I received a small bit of swag (bookmark!) in the book. It was a pleasant surprise. I also like all the definitions found in the first few chapters--I can totally see how to work that into assignments and TEKS. I'm tempted by the recipes, too.
Since receiving the book, my husband has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. He needs new sources of protein since it will eventually become difficult for him to chew meat. I wonder if crickets will be our family's answer.
It took me a while to read the book because I tend to read thematically. Well, it's almost time for our next nonfiction unit. I started in.
First thing was I received a small bit of swag (bookmark!) in the book. It was a pleasant surprise. I also like all the definitions found in the first few chapters--I can totally see how to work that into assignments and TEKS. I'm tempted by the recipes, too.
Since receiving the book, my husband has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. He needs new sources of protein since it will eventually become difficult for him to chew meat. I wonder if crickets will be our family's answer.
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November 16, 2022Kai’s thoughts: This title made me cringe when I first saw it! However, after reading this entertaining and informative book, I developed a different view on entomophagy (insect eating) and was enlightened by its huge benefits to the environment: conserving water, reducing carbon emissions, and feeding a larger population. I might not be able to put insects on my breakfast plate immediately, but this book definitely encouraged me and many other readers to think about what we can do for ourselves and others on the planet.
October 25, 2021
Great for kids but I learned a ton as well. Thanks to Mary Boone I now know there are so many reasons to give bugs a try!
March 23, 2022
My daughter (11) and her friends chose to read BUGS FOR BREAKFAST for their book club. What a wonderful blend of entertainment and information! They even had a bug tasting at their final meeting. BFB is a great read for all ages.
November 27, 2021
This book perfectly blends fun and excitement with facts. My boys got a kick out of it and talk about which bugs to eat all time now.
March 17, 2022
Very enlightening. Not that I want bugs for breakfast, and definitely nothing with legs or wings, but ground powders mixed in to goodies might not be too bad.
October 29, 2021
Full disclosure, I’m vegan and won’t be eating any bugs, myself... or not knowingly (I was shocked by the number of bugs we all consume without knowing it)! I learned a lot from this book and was thoroughly engaged, and left encouraged if most of us would participate (go vegan! haha) for the future of our only home for now: planet earth. Mary Boone has done a brilliant job with “Bugs for Breakfast,” and I highly recommend it for classrooms as well as an addition to any omnivore’s cookbook shelf.
September 20, 2022
Two Sentence Review: My students are ecstatic that this will be our reading for our sustainable living unit/environmental science unit. I perused the recipes and found one we'll use, and we can't wait to utilize some ideas for the district science fair--an excellent buy and highly recommended!!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews