The Amazing Potato: A Story in Which the Incas, Conquistadors, Marie Antoinette, Thomas Jefferson, Wars, Famines, Immigrants, and French Fries All P

by Milton Meltzer

A look at the potato's influence on the civilizations of the world discusses its impact on the empire of the Incas, the history of Ireland, its use during wars, and its current use in the fight against world hunger.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Juvenile

116 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1992

About the author

Milton Meltzer wrote 110 books, five of which were nominated for the National Book Award. With Langston Hughes, he co-authored A Pictorial History of Black Americans, now in its sixth edition. He received the 2001 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his contribution to children's literature, the 1986 Jane Addams Peace Association Children's Book Award, and the 2000 Regina Medal. He died in New York City of esophageal cancer at age 94.

Reviews

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had been writing this review 30 years ago, I would have given it five stars. I like the scope of it and I know that little-me would have eaten it up even though it lacks the pizzazz of today's non-fiction texts for kids. But for today's young readers, I imagine it would be a bit of a slog. I admire the serious nature of the book-- it has sources, notes on the sources, and an index. Thank you Milton Meltzer for treating children with such respect.

[Amanda Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A vegetable is the center of attention in Milton Meltzer’s entertaining and informative book The Amazing Potato: A Story in Which the Incas, Conquistadors, Marie Antoinette, Thomas Jefferson, Wars, Famines, Immigrants, and French Fries All Play a Part. Intended for upper elementary and middle school readers, this work of nonfiction contains nine chapters, each with interesting titles and subject matter such as ‘A Strange, Funny Looking Vegetable,’ ‘Fear and Folklore’ and ‘A Delicious Dish - In Any Language.’

Meltzer’s makes the vegetable intriguing by including anecdotes, unusual facts, and the simple little-known history of the popular potato. From its beginnings in South America to the famine in Ireland and today’s French fries, students will enjoy learning about potatoes thanks to the author’s high-quality book that includes helpful visuals.

A bibliography and note on sources proves the accuracy of The Amazing Potato and verifies the history and fun facts included in the text. The authors easy-to-read and appealing style of writing resulted in flowing text that catches the readers attention, such as the statement on page 10, “Then one day, pulling up the plant someone finds that below the ground are tubers and munches one; it tastes good. The people have discovered the vegetable that will end hunger for millions” and on page 38 “To the factory owners the potato seemed a heaven-sent gift.” While the style of the writing in The Amazing Potato is excellent, the book’s design as a text meant to be read cover-to-cover weakens its appeal to young readers. The book includes photographs, potato-related art, and recipes, which add to the text, but none are in color and many pages have no visual aids at all.

Meltzer has created a good work of nonfiction with this text. The text is excellent and written in a narrative way. This book would be improved with more white space on the pages, more illustrations, including some in color, and a more interactive layout. Students without an interest in vegetables can even enjoy this work, provided they have good reading skills because of this book’s design. The history of the potato proves to delight in The Amazing Potato.

[Jennifer Sommer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In tribute to this author's recent death, a man who thought children should have interesting non-fiction books to read long before it was popular, here is only one of his over 80 books published in the areas of history, biography, and social reform. With the subtitle, "A Story in Which the Incas, Conquistadors, Marie Antoinette, Thomas Jefferson, Wars, Famines, Immigrants, and French Fries All Play a Part", Meltzer only hints at the amazing facts about the potato in which no one would guess. Did you know that the potato is part of the nightshade family, the same as tobacco? Or that sweet potatoes are part of the morning glory family and not really a potato at all? Beginning with the Incas in Peru, (where potatoes had been harvested and preserved for many years before the Spaniards came to the New World and brought them back to Europe), to modern day uses and benefits of the potato, this book is packed with fun and educational information useful for school reports. Doing a report on Thomas Jefferson? No problem. Throw in a tidbit about how, in his love of all things French, he brought the potato back from Europe and helped popularize it to Americans by making various yummy dishes served at the White House, including pommes frites (french fries.) The book also includes black and white photographs, index, and bibliography. If after reading this you decide you are really interested in potatoes and want to read something else, try Susan Campbell Bartoletti's Black Potatoes, the Story of the Great Irish Famine,1845-1850. Recommended for grades 4-8.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting, if not spectacular book. I certainly know more now about potatoes than I did last week. Probably the most interesting point in the book is the fact that the potato is one of the most perfectly nutritionally balanced foods in the world. The potato gets a bad rap as being "junk food," probably because many potatoes end up being fried in some form. But their perfect nutrition meant that extremely poor people through history who subsisted almost wholly on the potato were able to survive. Would be a great resource for a science project/paper on potatoes or the Irish potato famine.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book. I've been reading all the books I can't get my kids to read and I ate this one up (couldn't help myself). Clear, concise and interesting. Who knew about the Inca's freeze dried potatoes? Who knew we had only been farming for only 7 minutes out of 24 hours of our existence? Who knew of the population explosion after farming began? You may have, but I didn't. The Irish potato famine was also put into historical context with both the potato and the U.S. Well worth the 30 minutes it takes to read.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starting with the Incas, the potato went on to become one of the most important vegetables in the world. Meltzer traces the history and importance of the potato, and how it applies to today’s society. This text-heavy book includes a scattering of photographs and images, and would be appropriate for an older elementary reader.

[J.D. Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is dated but delightful. I'd rescued it for my personal collection when the local high school was deeply weeding its library collection, and I regret nothing (unless there were more like this, that I missed).

It does contain some outdated information, black and white images, and a sanitized history of how the Incas and Irish were treated.

But the marvel it takes in the edible tuber is contagious, and I enjoyed reading it. Because potatoes are amazing.

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look into the origin of the potato, its journey across the world and how it impacted the life of people. Interest level: middle, high school.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book as it did not meet its potential. Milton Meltzer included many fascinating facts about potatoes and its history, but got bogged down writing about history and forgot about his subject-the potato. No where did he really explain about the potato plant and how it grows and the environment it prefers. He spent little time discussing the varieties of potatoes or the fungus which caused the potato famine. If you are interested in history, you might enjoy this book, but if you are actually looking to learn about the potato I think you should try another source.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm actually researching beans/chickpeas/hummus, but there's not enough about them and I need a more popular vegetable to compare them with so that's why I read this book. One fact that I'm going to tie into a folktale book about potatoes is that at one time, they were more valuable than gold or silver. I have to wonder though, if we didn't have potatoes (or corn for that matter), would we eat more beans? Something to think about.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yum, yum, yum, yum and yum.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

it is an interesting story and also will want to keep the reading on acount of such weird things happening and catchy titles

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative!

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute little book for kids! I now know more about the history of potatoes to share with my niece and nephews. Another productive day in the garden :)