Ann Love and Jane Drake have co-authored several books for kids about nature and environmental conservation, the last one focusing on garbage. The two sisters have more recently turned to sweeter-smelling material, and the results are delightful. In fact, reading their new book is a little like dipping into a grab bag from the candy store: the experience is fun, varied, and relatively cheap, considering the pleasure it gives. The difference is that you can take in the whole book at a single sitting and feel the better for it. Underneath its whimsical exterior – the humorous cartoon illustrations, the fun bits of trivia – there’s a centre of solid research.

The book’s historical sweep, beginning at 6000 BC, seems wildly ambitious, but is tidily presented on a timeline that runs across the bottom of the pages. There are wonderful tidbits along this line, like the fact that the Arabs first invented caramel around 950 AD and used it as a hair remover. The main text of the book focuses more narrowly, with sections devoted to early sweets, refined sugar confections, chocolate, and the business of selling candy.

The writing is clear and engaging, with the facts presented anecdotally. The bitter aspects of candy’s history (for example, slavery on sugar cane plantations) are not glossed over, and the authors explore unusual concepts such as the cultural relativity of what’s considered appetizing. Part of what makes this volume of information digestible is the effective design, with its large illustrations, spacious layout, maps, and timeline. This thoughtfully constructed book is a treat to read.