Zack and Zara Chew At The Zoo with Mrs Anteater
by
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“You’ve no teeth? I thought every animal had teeth!” Zara said, surprised.
“Oh that’s different, just like your nose!” said Zack. The anteater didn’t respond. They tried to tell the keeper that they were talking to her before and that she could talk, but he just laughed and didn’t believe them.
Mrs Anteater put her nose in the grass and flicked out her tongue and the ants stuck on it’s sticky mucus. The keeper explained, “So anteaters don’t have teeth. They eat about 30,000 termites and ants every day for protein and energy. These are so small that anteaters don’t need to chew them!” The keeper added, “Children, you have teeth because you need to chew your food. After all, there are no teeth in your stomach!” The twins laughed with the keeper.
“Can you imagine having teeth in your tummy?!” asked Zack.
“Eww, that would be weird!” said Zara.
As the keeper left, they heard Mrs Anteater ask, “Is that avocado I smell in your sandwiches?” Zack and Zara nodded yes. Mrs Anteater then stuck out her tongue again to grab a piece of avocado and fed it to her baby. She started to talk again. “You know, avocados are packed with vitamins C, E and B6 and minerals like potassium, iron and magnesium. They also have healthy unsaturated fats called monunsaturated fats. My baby needs those healthy fats for his eyes and brain to grow and develop. Did you know your brain is about 65 percent fat?”
“Wow,” replied Zara. “So do babies and children like us need those vitamins, minerals and the healthy unsaturated fats for our bodies and brains too?”
Mrs Anteater replied, “Yes, you do.”
“So Mrs Anteater, not all fats are bad for us?” asked Zack. “Mum is always telling us how good avocados are for us. She says that they help our hearts be healthy by increasing the good cholesterol and decreasing the bad cholesterol.”
Mrs Anteater explained, “That is right. Some fats are unhealthy for you but fine to have in moderation. Others are needed to carry vitamins around your body.”
“What vitamins?” asked Zara.
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Book Details
About the Book
Twins Zack and Zara receive an annual pass to the zoo for their birthday and use it to visit Mrs. Anteater and her new baby. They eat a healthy picnic, including avocado, and watch the zookeeper feed Mrs. Anteater an avocado for a treat. Can you imagine Zack and Zara’s excitement when they discover that they can talk to a zoo animal that eats the same food as them? Zack and Zara have fun learning from Mrs. Anteater about how she is different and why she eats avocados. Zack and Zara make the connection that they are animals too and learn the benefits of eating avocados and healthy fats for their bodies.
“Zack and Zara Chew at the Zoo is a great learning tool for children, with positive, healthy messages. It is important to teach children about nutrition while they are young so they can carry their healthy habits throughout their lifespan. Sarah did an excellent job explaining healthy fats and unhealthy fats in a way that children can understand, and she wrote the book in a playful, creative way. This book is a wonderful way to start having healthy discussions with your children or students.”
—Katie Abbott, MS, RD, LD, HHC
About the Author
About the Author
Sarah Chaplin is a national healthy schools program award winner and a US ambassador for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, to fight childhood obesity. She has taught science and health for eighteen years in England and America, where she was named Visiting International Faculty Teacher of the Year. She has a chemistry degree, a postgraduate certificate in education, and a master’s degree in initiatives in educational transformation. Sarah is a yoga instructor, and holistic health coach graduate from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She holds a certificate in wildlife studies from the Smithsonian National Zoo, where she volunteers. Sarah’s passion for education, healthy living, and animals creates an exciting unique first book.
About the Illustrator
Amanda O’Donnell Shaw earned her bachelor’s degree in art education from Buffalo State College and her master’s degree from George Mason University, USA. She has National Board certification and has been teaching art for nine years in elementary school. Amanda feels it is important for children to lead healthy, active lifestyles and that the book’s concept is a great fun way to educate children about the benefits of healthy eating. Amanda enjoys painting, drawing, and spending time with her family. This is Amanda’s first book, and she can’t wait to read it, make the recipes, and grow the food with her son and students.