There’s No Ham in Hamburgers: Facts and Folklore About Our Favorite Foods

Gr 4-8–Where do some of our favorite foods come from and how did they get their names? Zachman tackles this mystery and the history of favorite foods. She begins with the classic hamburger, digging back in history to a 15-year-old running out of his traditional fair food, and questioning whether credit for the first hamburger should go to Genghis Kahn. The book explores all of this and more with fascinating facts, cultural influences, a little kitchen science, and some lighthearted fun along the way. Readers learn eel is one of the most popular pizza toppings in Japan, black olives are really just green olives soaked in a special solution, and why dachshunds have their loveable nickname. The layout of the book is simple but effective. Simple illustrations and boxes highlight extra tidbits about each food. Every chapter also has a page with “Oh No! Nutrition” and “Chew on This” sections. These sections discuss the foods’ healthy and not-so-healthy elements and fun facts.