The Greatest Potatoes
Kindergarten-Grade 2–In this colorful tale, fry cook George Crum invents the potato chip after a complaining customer, millionaire Cornelius Vanderbilt, sends his plate of french fries back to the kitchen in disgust. According to an author's note, George Crum, descendant of an African-American father and a Native American mother, created this thin, crispy fried potato snack at Moon's Lake House Restaurant in Saratoga Springs, NY. Attractive watercolor illustrations, emphasizing greens and blues and curlicue designs, bring whimsy to the tale. Potato dishes are designed to look like the American flag or the Eiffel Tower, but none pleases the irascible Vanderbilt. An appended potato-chip recipe separates instructions for children from those tasks for adults. This unique offering about a favorite snack food will be a memorable addition for picture-book sections.–Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.