One the “Science of Nutrition” series, this title explores the role of proteins in our diet, why they are needed and what happens to your body if you do not get enough. The ten chapters, designed for upper elementary and middle school students, utilize an attractive layout of bold text, color photos, charts, and graphs to explore the importance, characteristics, sources, and the amount of proteins needed for optimum health. Beginning with a generalized chapter about food as fuel, the remaining chapters go on to define proteins, detail foods containing proteins, daily requirements, protein body builders, how proteins are digested, how the body utilizes them, and food allergies. Each chapter includes a boxed “Did You Know” feature, a “Body Talk” bubble and a “Try This” column. Two pages of food facts and statistics that feature amounts and sources of recommended daily amounts of foods for various ages, a glossary, sources for further information, and an index are included. Focusing on food and its importance to one’s health could not be more important as obesity and resulting health problems continue to rise in this country. Providing the “why” certain foods are important gives students the information they need to make wise choices and promotes the usefulness of science for those not into “science.” Reviewer: Meredith Kiger, Ph.D.