Pistes d'exploration

Before reading, examine the front cover of the book and predict what role a monkey might have in the production of chocolate.

Complete a graphic organizer to show all the animals and insects that help the cocoa trees survive.

Make a list of all the things you can make with chocolate. Create a menu for a meal that is full of chocolate. Would this be healthy? Why or why not?

Create an advertisement for an imaginary chocolate bar. Choose a suitable name for it.

Read the front and inside covers of the book and predict what the story will be about.

Make a KWL chart about chocolate.

Talk about the book. What is a bookworm? Why are the two bookworms in the story? Can you do some of the things in the section “What you can do to help?” Why or why not?

Make a graphic organizer to show all the animals and insects that help the cocoa trees survive.

The Plants That Shook the World, Planet Ark: Preserving Earth's Biodiversity

Mots-clés

Non-fiction , cacao , chocolate , cocoa beans , ecology , plants , rainforests

Commentaire descriptif

Two bookworms provide lively commentary in this non-fiction story about chocolate’s main ingredient. Working backward from harvest and production, sections such as “Cocoa pods can’t form without cocoa flowers. . .” trace the stages of growth, while others show creature contributions to the cocoa plant’s success. Young readers will enjoy the expository text of the main storyline “. . . tender, new leaves on a cocoa tree, the little insects race to reach them” as much as the humorous asides of two inquisitive bookworms: “Brain-eating maggots? That’s disgusting!” Readers can speculate on the monkeys of the title, and their role in this complex system. Clear, delicate illustrations convey facts in an editorial style that suits the story structure. Peel-back corners show the cartoon worms in every spread, including the cover. While the focus is on the cocoa tree, this book can be used as an overview of plant reproduction, growth, nourishment and the interdependence of natural ecosystems. Back material includes additional information about cocoa, the rain forest and its conservation, and an author’s note.