Bite by Bite: American History Through Feasts, Foods, and Side Dishes

Explore the fascinating history of America as told through the lens of food in this illustrated nonfiction middle grade book that lays out the diverse cultures that have combined to create the rich and delicious tapestry of the American country and cuisine.
As American as apple pie. It’s a familiar saying, yet gumbo and chop suey are also American! What we eat tells us who we are: where we’re from, how we move from place to place, and how we express our cultures and living traditions.
In twelve dishes that take readers from thousands of years ago through today, this book explores the diverse peoples and foodways that make up the United States. From First Salmon Feasts of the Umatilla and Cayuse tribes in the Pacific Northwest to fish fries celebrated by formerly enslaved African Americans, from “red sauce” Italian restaurants popular with young bohemians in the East to Cantonese restaurants enjoyed by rebellious young eaters in the West, this is the true story of the many Americas—laid out bite by bite.
Review
★ “. . . Aronson and Freedman here set out a cultural anthropology of American cuisine sure to please history buffs and foodies alike. . . . There’s plenty of depth and context in each short chapter to leave readers satisfied, while end-of-chapter asides (dubbed 'Side Dishes') offer palette cleansers that focus mostly on the origins of specific foods.” -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books , STARRED REVIEW
“[This] book . . . represents other American food traditions, including those of European, Native American, and African influence. There’s a great deal of well-organized information here for readers intrigued by the history of food in North America.” -- Booklist
“The text-heavy pages and an ample index will appeal to students researching history or food. Those reading for pleasure will be immersed in the captivating writing . . . A recommended purchase that will find a satisfied audience among tweens and teens researching food or American
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