What Eats That?

Written by Ryan Jacobson
Photography by Stan Tekiela
Published September 26, 2017

Why we chose this book:
T has been asking this very question lately. When I found Whose Baby Butt?, I also saw this and guessed it would be a great fit. The publisher provided a review copy.

Mom's Review

An engaging introduction to the food chain.

With fun questions, bright photographs, and straightforward information, What Eats That? is a delightful look at a food chain. Starting with the sun and a flower, the book asks its namesake question for each level of the food chain: What eats that (flower, snake, mosquito, etc.)? Each two-page spread features an animal in the food chain; a bright photograph, a question or two for the audience to answer, and a lead-up to the next level of the food chain have kept T interested and involved each time we've read this. Now that we have read the book a few times, he's able to remember what eats some of the animals (snakes are eaten by raccoons, I was surprised to learn), and he is excited to give the right answers and name the upcoming animals.

A few facts about each animal are just enough to inform a young audience while also sparking interest in further reading. Back matter elaborates on the variety of food chains and on the featured animals, and T insists we read that as well. This is a fun way to learn, an easy conversation starter, and an inspiration for further reading and research. And just to be perfectly clear, it is a great fit!

Son's Review
(age 3)

Mom: What did you like about this book?

Son: That it was a food chain book.

Mom: What's a food chain about?

Son: Food. People eat animals. The animals eat plants and meat. And garbage.

Mom: What was the most interesting thing you learned? I thought the most interesting thing was that raccoons ate animals. I knew they ate garbage and cat food because they used to eat my cat's food, but I didn't know they ate snakes.

Son: That some of the animals ate trash.

Mom: What animal was your favorite?

Son: The wolf. Wolves don't eat people.

Mom: Is there an animal you'd like to learn more about?

Son: The wolves. Why do they eat other animals?

Mom: That's a good question. Did you learn in this book why they eat other animals?

Son: For food!

Mom: What was your favorite part of reading the book? I liked all the questions.

Son: The animals.

T asked to read and review this as he was finishing breakfast.