The Greatest Potatoes

I work for the author. She's an accountant & I'm a lowly bookkeeper, but I thought it was so cool that she wrote a book & got it published! She educates & makes history fun and interesting in this Potato Chip tale. I can't wait to read her next book...

Potato chips are one of America's favorite snack foods. But did you know that they were invented by an African American? In THE GREATEST POTATOES, author Penelope Stovall introduces a new generation of readers to this little known fact, through a story filled with humor and rather outlandish characters. The high-strung and hard to please Commander Cornelius Vanderbilt travels around the world to find the best potato dish. Unfortunately, his unsavory reviews have caused many of the restaurants he visited to close due to lack of business. When Commander Vanderbilt decides to visit Cary Moon's Lake House Restaurant, the chef is so afraid he refuses to cook, leaving the fry cook, George Crum, to prepare the potatoes. Commander Vanderbilt did not know it, but he had met his match in Crum. After repeatedly having his potatoes sent back, a frustrated George Crum sets out to teach Commander Vanderbilt a lesson. Surprisingly, what would later be known as a potato chip, was born. THE GREATEST POTATOES closes with a brief historical note, which tells about the real George Crum and delineates where the story deviates from the factual accounts of his famous invention. In addition, the author includes a kid friendly recipe for homemade potato chips. Over the top characters are paired with complimentary, engaging and vibrantly colored llustrations, which draw children into the story and keep them interested. THE GREATEST POTATOES is the perfect balance of history and fun, and sets the bar high for similar books that will follow. Reviewed by Stacey Seay of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

This is a picture book for ages 4 - 7 with lively, larger-than-life illustrations and plenty of sound effects for the dramatic moments. Kids will need help from their parents or teacher with some of the more sophisticated words and foreign terms. Trying to impress wealthy but finicky potato-lover Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, fry cook George Crum of Cary Moon's Lake House Restaurant in Saratoga, NY whips up culinary masterpieces such as an Eiffel tower of French fries. Vanderbilt is unimpressed and dish after dish is sent back to the kitchen. "Yuck! Utterly inedible!" he declares. Customers notice and start to abandon the restaurant. George Crum decides that if Vanderbilt thinks all his best potato dishes are bad, he'll show him bad. His diabolical carving, frying and seasoning, intended as a practical joke on a bad customer, turns out to be so more-ish Vanderbilt pigs down a plateful and demands more. A legendary snack food is born. I also enjoyed the "Great Potato Chip Recipe," and the Author's Note on the last page of the book where Stowell traces Crum's beginnings as the son of a former slave. Crum's "practical joke" is so successful, he opens up his own restaurant. Now, why didn't I know this important piece of history?

Loosely based on the "true" story of the invention of the potato chip, THE GREATEST POTATOES is a fun and entertaining read. When a picky millionaire comes to a restaurant on a mission to find the world's greatest potato dish, all the chefs tremble...all but George Crum, an African-American fry cook. He's convinced that his French fries are the best, but time and time again the picky millionaire Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt sends them back to the kitchen. Fed up with his customer's temperament, Crum determines to make him the WORST batch of fried potatoes ever. Since he complained that they were too thick-he slices them paper thin. Because he claimed they have no flavor...he salts them til they glisten. Etc. He serves a plate of fried, crispy, thin, salty potatoes-first called flaky fried potatoes-and history is made. Not only is Cornelius satisfied-soon Crum's potato chips are in high demand! The author's note explains the legend of the invention of the potato chip. A brief selected bibliography follows. The book even includes the "Great Potato Chip Recipe" broken down into parts for children and adults! Nice book.