“Chomp-O-Rama” by Maria Birmingham: A Bite-Sized Look at Science in the Animal Kingdom

In a world where curiosity often starts with everyday questions, books that explore the natural world in a playful way can spark a love of learning. For Canadian families and classrooms, discovering the fascinating ways animals live, eat, and survive offers both entertainment and meaningful connection to science. Chomp-O-Rama: The Strange Ways That Animals Eat by Canadian author Maria Birmingham brings this curiosity to life in a way that feels both accessible and delightfully unexpected. Nominated for the 2026 Silver Birch Express Award® for Grades 3-4 and published by OwlKids Books, this engaging nonfiction picture book serves as an early introduction to STEM topics including zoology, biology, ecology, and life science for young readers. This title invites young readers to see the animal kingdom in a whole new way. Keep reading for an exclusive interview with award-winning Canadian children’s author, Maria Birmingham.

Books featuring animals have long been a powerful way to engage young readers, helping them build empathy, understand the natural world, and see their connection to it. In fact, many authors intentionally incorporate animals into children’s literature because these stories can teach responsibility, environmental awareness, and our interconnectedness with other living things. The playful comparisons in this book make scientific concepts easier to grasp while keeping students engaged and curious. The elementary and high school math and science tutors  at Teachers on Call recommend this book because it encourages inquiry, builds scientific vocabulary, and inspires meaningful conversations about the world around us. Having previously interviewed Maria Birmingham about her book Odd Couples, we’ve seen firsthand how her work resonates with young readers by blending humour, learning, and memorable facts that stick long after the final page.

Why the Forest of Reading Inspires a Nation of Young Book Lovers

The Forest of Reading continues to be a cornerstone of literacy engagement across Canada, inviting young readers to explore an incredible range of Canadian-authored books each year. Organized by the Ontario Library Association, this nationally celebrated program includes multiple award categories in both English and French, recognizing authors and illustrators at every stage of young readership. What makes the program particularly impactful is that students themselves vote for their favourite books, giving them a meaningful voice in the literary world. The experience culminates in the annual Forest of Reading Festival at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8), where thousands of students gather to celebrate reading alongside authors and illustrators. At Teachers on Call, we are proud to support initiatives like this that nurture a love of books while empowering students to share their opinions and discoveries.

About the Author: Maria Birmingham

Maria Birmingham is a Canadian children’s author based in Brampton, Ontario. Known for her engaging nonfiction titles, she has a talent for uncovering surprising facts about the natural world and presenting them in ways that are both accessible and entertaining for young readers. With a background in writing and a passion for research, Maria often draws inspiration from unusual animal behaviours and everyday curiosities, transforming them into books that spark wonder and discussion in classrooms and homes across Canada.

About the Illustrator: Kyle Reed

Kyle Reed is a Canadian illustrator and designer known for his bold, graphic style and ability to bring humour and personality to educational content. Through his work at Cut Draw Glue, Kyle combines illustration and storytelling to create visuals that are both eye-catching and informative, perfectly complementing nonfiction texts for young readers. Kyle lives with his family in Hamilton, Ontario.

About the Book

Chomp-O-Rama: The Strange Ways That Animals Eat is a lively nonfiction exploration of how animals dine in ways that are sometimes familiar and often surprising. From butterflies sipping liquids through straw-like mouthparts to sea otters cracking meals with tools, the book draws clever comparisons to human eating habits that make each fact more relatable. With its playful tone and engaging structure, the book encourages readers to think about science and biology in a fresh way while learning about a wide range of creatures. For more behind-the-scenes insights into the creation of this book, check out this feature with Owl Kids.

Read our Exclusive Interview with Maria Birmingham

In our last interview, we explored surprising animal relationships in Odd Couples. What drew you to focus on eating habits in Chomp-O-Rama this time around?

A few years ago, I wrote a book called Snooze-O-Rama that looked at unusual animal sleeping habits. It got me thinking about other strange habits that animals might have. Then I happened upon a video of butterflies in the Amazon that drink the tears of turtles. And that was all the inspiration I needed for Chomp-O-Rama. I knew that a book about animals and the way they eat could be a lot of fun for young readers.

Chomp-O-Rama uses fun comparisons between how humans and animals eat. What inspired you to structure the book in this playful, reveal-style format?

I was looking for a way to make animal habits more relatable to kids, and I thought this format might be an interesting way to do that. After all, we are animals, too. And giving the book this particular structure helps get that connection across to readers.

Some of the eating habits in the book are surprising and even a little gross. How do you decide what details will both fascinate and engage young readers?

I tend to enjoy strange and unusual facts. And I think readers do, as well. I try to come up with a combination of facts that are interesting, a little gross, and unexpected. I also consider the animals themselves. I always like to include a variety of creatures in my books, from birds to bugs to reptiles to mammals. So that plays a part in the details and animals I include.

The book is full of humour and lively facts. How do you balance making kids laugh while also teaching them about animal behaviour?

I feel like humour in a non-fiction book is always nice to have. But when I write, I try to keep the facts at the forefront. Often, I’ll present the facts in a lighthearted way using fun language and wordplay. When I write, the humour isn’t usually over the top. It’s the information that comes first. But I can’t resist a little pun here and there.

How can teachers use Chomp-O-Rama in the classroom to support science learning or spark inquiry and discussion?

I think there’s an opportunity to talk to kids about other animals that have unusual eating habits. Maybe they can research in books or online to discover creatures that aren’t in this book. As well, the conclusion of the book discusses why we need to eat and the categories that animals fall into: herbivore, omnivore, and carnivore. This provides an opportunity to discuss these three terms and perhaps work together to group familiar animals into these categories.

I also like to have a bit of fun with kids when I’m doing school visits. I remind young readers that we humans are also animals. And then we share the strange ways that each of us eat, whether that’s dipping cucumber into ketchup or making a French fry sandwich. Those are a few ideas kids shared at my most recent visit!

If you had to pick, which animal in the book has the most surprising or impressive way of eating, in your opinion?

I found it surprising that crocodiles eat rocks to help grind up and digest the food in their stomachs. No matter how much research I’ve done in the past and it’s a lot, I am always amazed when I find an unusual fact like that. It’s a reminder that the natural world is remarkable.

On a more personal note, is there a favourite place in or around Brampton where you like to write, research, or feel inspired?

There are pathways that wind throughout downtown Brampton alongside a river. They’re close to the hustle and bustle of the busy city streets, but the area feels like a world unto itself. It’s a surprisingly quiet spot where I can walk, take in nature, and get lost in my thoughts. Being surrounded by the natural world like that is a perfect way to take a break from my daily tasks and find inspiration.

For parents reading this book at home, what kinds of conversations or questions do you hope it encourages around the dinner table?

I hope readers will share the facts they’ve learned. And perhaps it will spark conversations about animals in general and other unusual facts about them, whether that’s specific to eating or something else entirely. Kids can often recall miscellaneous facts about creatures that they’ve heard or read somewhere before. And by sharing these, this can encourage lively conversations and offers a chance to learn new ideas.

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In Chomp-O-Rama, Maria Birmingham once again demonstrates how Canadian nonfiction can be both educational and genuinely fun. By intentionally using animals as a lens to explore science, she creates an experience that feels both relatable and surprising for young readers. Blending humour, fascinating facts, and meaningful comparisons, the book invites children to see themselves as part of the natural world. Whether used in the classroom or enjoyed at home, it is a reminder that learning often begins with curiosity and that the animal kingdom offers endless opportunities to spark questions, conversations, and discovery. 

Looking for more suggestions in the Silver Birch Express category, including standout reads from British Columbia creators? Don’t miss our Hooked on Books interview with Vancouver-based Angela Ahn about Julia on the Go! The Big Splash, Surrey-based Heather Tekavec’s This is How a Ball Rolls, and repeat Forest of Reading nominee from Vancouver, Danny Ramadan for Salma Speaks Up. For more animal nonfiction learning and discovery in this category, stay tuned for our upcoming Hooked on Books interview on Dogs vs. Humans: A Showdown of the Senses.