Finally, there's a book that packages the complex concepts of sustainable agriculture especially for kids, a book that is "fun and practical at the same time!" according to food activist John
Robbins (Diet for a New America, The Food Revolution, Healthy at 100). The book's important message starts with the title itself- "No Eat Not Food" - meaning, if it ain't real food, don't eat
it! The plot teaches that real food is healthy for the individual and for the planet. It makes clear the responsibility implicit in food choices. The book's characters use two "rulers," one to
measure health, the other sustainability. Using these rulers, "False Food" is easy to identify.Written for 8- to 12-year-olds, but now influencing 6- to 60-year-olds, the book addresses
important issues like oil depletion, the dangers of pesticides, the importance of soil health and the joy of growing your own food. It is a teacher's dream because of the many points of
departure for discussion. The book advocates cooperation to solve difficult problems. It encourages a personal relationship to food and a sensitivity to how it feels in our bodies. No wonder
Molly Katzen (Moosewood Cookbook) says "every child in America deserves and needs this message." This book delivers the right message to the right people at the right time.
