The Greatest Potatoes

by Penelope Stowell, Sharon Watts (Illustrator)

Feast your eyes on the world's most delectable disaster! George Crum is the very best fry cook at Cary Moon's Lake Lodge Restaurant. When Cornelius Vanderbilt, the richest and most rancorous man in America, returns from France, everyone panics. Vanderbilt has been known to shut down restaurants that aren't up to his culinary standards. But George Crum isn't moved, until . . . Vanderbilt repeatedly sends his potatoes back to the kitchen. And George decides that if Vanderbilt wants a bad potato, well, that's exactly what he's going to get! The result is the tastiest, most scrumptious, potato haute cuisine ever invented and an especially riotous picture book for tout le monde.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Food

36 pages, Hardcover

First published June 29, 2005

Reviews

[Christi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the book by Gaylia Taylor.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some things you just don’t think about and the history of the potato chip is one of those things! But what an interesting story this is!! I have never heard this story about a picky millionaire and a fry chef who got so irritated by this irrational customer who kept sending back his “perfect” French fries. So this chef plays a joke on him by cutting the potato too thin and cooking it too long and lastly by adding too much salt. BUT, instead of spitting it out, this picky billionaire (who just happens to be Cornelius Vanderbilt no less) LOVES this new creation, later to be called the “potato chip”, and asks for more! What a great story!

I read this to my 4 year old and my 3rd grader and 6th grader who all thought it was fascinating! A great book for all ages! I love it when a book is both entertaining and educational!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was recommended to me by a patron who kept checking it out (along with Poodlena by E.B. McHenry about a perfectly coiffed poodle who gets dirty). It's an interesting history of the invention of chips. Serving a very picky Vanderbilt, an annoyed chef made the worst preparation of potatoes that he could -- cooked to a crisp and over-salted -- and they were perfect!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found in L4L Volume 117.

[Gail Barge]

I was shocked to hear that is was really the story of how potato chips came to be! I love finding out a story is true after I have read it and I know students enjoy this as well. I would use this for a fun science lesson about cooking, or a math lesson about measuring and have the students actually make potato chips. A cute story with lots of fun words and sound effects (as well as French exclamations) that young students would find hilarious!

[Dave Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how random childrens books can be...the imagination of writers never stops amazing me. In this story, Stowell weaves a tale about Cornelius, who is seeking the best potato meal in the world. Chef Crum tries to create a disaster just to spite when he actually concocts the best tasting potato dish ever. Fun and colorful read. (2005)

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

To old for a two year old, probably better for elementary school, but I enjoyed it. The story of how potato chips were invented.

[Katie Rybakova · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really cute! A nice historical biographical piece. Would definitely share!