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No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas
Discover the incredible true story of how one of history's most successful potato farmers began life as a slave and worked until he was named the "Potato King of the World"!
Junius G. Groves came from humble beginnings in the Bluegrass State. Born in Kentucky into slavery, freedom came when he was still a young man and he intended to make a name for himself. Along with thousands of other African Americans who migrated from the South, Junius walked west and stopped in Kansas. Working for a pittance on a small potato farm was no reason to feel sorry for himself, especially when he's made foreman. But Junius did dream of owning his own farm, so he did the next best thing. He rented the land and worked hard! As he built his empire, he also built a family, and he built them both on tons and tons and tons of potatoes. He never quit working hard, even as the naysayers doubted him, and soon he was declared Potato King of the World and had five hundred acres and a castle to call his own.
From award winning author Tonya Bolden and talented illustrator Don Tate comes a tale of perseverance that reminds us no matter where you begin, as long as you work hard, your creation can never be called small potatoes.
Junius G. Groves came from humble beginnings in the Bluegrass State. Born in Kentucky into slavery, freedom came when he was still a young man and he intended to make a name for himself. Along with thousands of other African Americans who migrated from the South, Junius walked west and stopped in Kansas. Working for a pittance on a small potato farm was no reason to feel sorry for himself, especially when he's made foreman. But Junius did dream of owning his own farm, so he did the next best thing. He rented the land and worked hard! As he built his empire, he also built a family, and he built them both on tons and tons and tons of potatoes. He never quit working hard, even as the naysayers doubted him, and soon he was declared Potato King of the World and had five hundred acres and a castle to call his own.
From award winning author Tonya Bolden and talented illustrator Don Tate comes a tale of perseverance that reminds us no matter where you begin, as long as you work hard, your creation can never be called small potatoes.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published October 16, 2018
1 person is currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Tonya Bolden
79 books186 followersAuthor and publisher Tonya Wilyce Bolden was born on March 1, 1959, in New York City to Georgia Bolden, a homemaker, and Willie Bolden, a garment center shipping manager. Bolden grew up in Harlem in a musical family and loved to read; she attended Public M.E.S. 146, an elementary school in Manhattan, and then graduated from the Chapin School, a private secondary school, in Manhattan in 1976. Bolden attended Princeton University in New Jersey, and, in 1981, obtained her B.A. degree in Slavic languages and literature with a Russian focus. Bolden was also a University Scholar and received the Nicholas Bachko, Jr. Scholarship Prize.
Upon graduating from Princeton University, Bolden began working as a salesperson for Charles Alan, Incorporated, a dress manufacturer, while working towards her M.A. degree at Columbia University. In 1985, Bolden earned her degree in Slavic languages and literature, as well as a Certificate for Advanced Study of the Soviet Union from the Harriman Institute; after this she began working as an office coordinator for Raoulfilm, Inc., assisting in the research and development of various film and literary products. Bolden worked as an English instructor at Malcolm-King College and New Rochelle School of New Resources while serving as newsletter editor of the HARKline, a homeless shelter newsletter.
In 1990, Bolden wrote her first book, The Family Heirloom Cookbook. In 1992, Bolden co-authored a children’s book entitled Mama, I Want To Sing along with Vy Higginsen, based on Higginsen’s musical. Bolden continued publishing throughout the 1990s, releasing Starting a Business from your Home, Mail-Order and Direct Response, The Book of African-American Women: 150 Crusaders, Creators, and Uplifters, And Not Afraid to Dare: The Stories of Ten African-American Women, American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm and The Champ. Bolden became editor of the Quarterly Black Review of Books in 1994, and served as an editor for 33 Things Every Girl Should Know, in 1998. Bolden’s writing career became even more prolific in the following decade; a partial list of her works include:, Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists, Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl, MLK: Journey of a King, Take-Off: American All-Girl Bands During World War II, and George Washington Carver, a book she authored in conjunction with an exhibit about the famous African American inventor created by The Field Museum in Chicago.
(source; http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biogr...)
Upon graduating from Princeton University, Bolden began working as a salesperson for Charles Alan, Incorporated, a dress manufacturer, while working towards her M.A. degree at Columbia University. In 1985, Bolden earned her degree in Slavic languages and literature, as well as a Certificate for Advanced Study of the Soviet Union from the Harriman Institute; after this she began working as an office coordinator for Raoulfilm, Inc., assisting in the research and development of various film and literary products. Bolden worked as an English instructor at Malcolm-King College and New Rochelle School of New Resources while serving as newsletter editor of the HARKline, a homeless shelter newsletter.
In 1990, Bolden wrote her first book, The Family Heirloom Cookbook. In 1992, Bolden co-authored a children’s book entitled Mama, I Want To Sing along with Vy Higginsen, based on Higginsen’s musical. Bolden continued publishing throughout the 1990s, releasing Starting a Business from your Home, Mail-Order and Direct Response, The Book of African-American Women: 150 Crusaders, Creators, and Uplifters, And Not Afraid to Dare: The Stories of Ten African-American Women, American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm and The Champ. Bolden became editor of the Quarterly Black Review of Books in 1994, and served as an editor for 33 Things Every Girl Should Know, in 1998. Bolden’s writing career became even more prolific in the following decade; a partial list of her works include:, Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists, Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl, MLK: Journey of a King, Take-Off: American All-Girl Bands During World War II, and George Washington Carver, a book she authored in conjunction with an exhibit about the famous African American inventor created by The Field Museum in Chicago.
(source; http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biogr...)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
November 27, 2018
A delightful rags to riches picture book story of Junius G. Groves the "potato king" of Kansas. Bolden's old-timey narration adds to the charm, "Negative natterings of naysaying neighbors snaked their way to Junius G's ears. He did a dumb deal, these people humphed. He would never pay off that debt in a year, they tut-tutted." Ah, but he did pay it off. What began on a potato farm earning forty-cents a day grew into a rich harvest of roughly twelve million potatoes! A great story of dedication and hard work.
November 5, 2018
Loved the illustrations; I fear that this is a book that adults will enjoy more than children will. It has a great message and is about a tough and tenacious guy who built an empire on hard work and potatoes (!), however, there is something about the blocks of text that I fear are off-putting.
January 21, 2019
Perfect for Kansas state history!
February 13, 2021
Junius G. Groves was not someone that I had known about prior to reading this book, but he was a real-life person who, through hard work, became the "Potato King of the World." Junius G. Was born in Kentucky to two slaves, but he set about achieving everythign he could as soon as he and his parents were liberated.
He, along with a large number of other freed slaves, made their way west from the South into the wide open lands of the west. Junius G. ended up settling in Kansas, where he found work on a small potato farm. Through hard work, he not only found promotion in being made a foreman, he was also able to save enough money to start his own potato farm. As his family grew, so did his farm, and the result was that he not only built a large farm with jobs for not only his family members, but also many others while also helping to create a new town centered around it.
This was such an interesting read about a truly interesting person. The illustrations, which have the feel of a cartoon are fun, but also capture the story being told in the text they accompany. There is a lot of use of illiteration that makes learning about Junius G. even more fun.
He, along with a large number of other freed slaves, made their way west from the South into the wide open lands of the west. Junius G. ended up settling in Kansas, where he found work on a small potato farm. Through hard work, he not only found promotion in being made a foreman, he was also able to save enough money to start his own potato farm. As his family grew, so did his farm, and the result was that he not only built a large farm with jobs for not only his family members, but also many others while also helping to create a new town centered around it.
This was such an interesting read about a truly interesting person. The illustrations, which have the feel of a cartoon are fun, but also capture the story being told in the text they accompany. There is a lot of use of illiteration that makes learning about Junius G. even more fun.
January 25, 2021
Picture book biography of Junius G. Groves, who I had not ever heard of. The story itself is very interesting. But there was something about it - I think it may have been the fact that it felt faux-inspirational? - that just didn't land right with me. Graves was able to overcome huge obstacles, pay off a ridiculous amount of money, and become a very rich man, but not all Black men in that day and time could have done the same. I'm not expressing myself super well, but it just felt like, hey - this guy did it, so what's your problem if you couldn't?
I'm probably reading too much into it, and I am glad that I learned about Groves' story.
I'm probably reading too much into it, and I am glad that I learned about Groves' story.
January 4, 2019
Wow! What a fantastic story about a man who just would not quit. I'm so glad Bolden decided to research and tell the story of Junius Groves.
June 30, 2020
Makes me want to visit! And related in an unrelated way, also makes me want to learn more about Nicodemus.
May 8, 2019
Excellent! An African-American man, born into slavery, becomes the "potato king" of Kansas through hard work and perseverance.
August 10, 2019
This award-winning author brings us the story of Junius G. Groves, born into slavery in Kentucky in 1859. He went on to become one of the wealthiest black Americans of his time, earning the moniker in 1902 of “Potato King of the World” after out-producing every one else in America.
When Groves was twenty, he left Kentucky and became an “Exoduster,” one of thousands of people from the South who “shook the dust from their feet” and headed west to the Plains to make better lives for themselves and their families.
Groves is said to have walked the whole way to Kansas - more than five hundred miles - working at odd jobs along the way. He ended his journey in the Great Kaw Valley near Kansas City, and got a job on a potato farm. Under his care the crops thrived so much that he was promoted to foreman of the whole farm. Groves also rented nine acres from his boss to grow his own crops, some of which were white potatoes.
Groves continued to rent more land, growing ever more potatoes. He was helped by his wife Matilda. In 1884, they bought eighty acres near the mouth of the Kaw River. They worked hard, paid off the loan to buy the land in just a year, and bought more - eventually owning more than 500 acres. Because of his astounding success in optimizing potato growth, a railroad company even built a special spur to his potato house. But he wasn’t done yet.
The author writes:
“Over the years, the Potato King grew more than a big family, more than cabbage and carrots and corn, more than fruit trees. More than potatoes.
Junius G. grew jobs - hiring farmhands.
Junius G. grew a park - Groves Park.
And a cozy community - Grovers Center.
And a church - Pleasant Hill Baptist.
A store that sold groceries and other goods.
A golf course, too.”
Groves had a large family to take care of as well. According to the Kansas Historical Society, “Groves and his wife, Matilda, built a 20-room mansion, which featured the latest comforts of the day — electricity, hot and cold running water, and telephones.” Moreover, although the author doesn’t go into details, much of what Groves built was for the benefit of other African American families. For his Groves Center community, small tracts of land were sold to black families, and the golf course was for the use of African Americans, a rare amenity in the segregated country at that time.
Groves was a founding member of the Kansas State Negro Business League, the Kaw Valley Potato Association, the Sunflower State Agricultural Association, and the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Society. He was featured in Booker T. Washington's book, The Negro in Business, (1907).
Junius Groves died in 1925.
The author concludes with a timeline, a glossary, and a list of selected sources for more information.
Illustrator Don Tate, also an award winner, uses mixed media illustrations dominated by the green and brown colors of the farm to flesh out the story.
Evaluation: The author celebrates all of Groves’ achievements without going into the mechanics. How did he overcome the racist attitudes and policies of his time? What was he doing that made his potato farming so much more successful than anyone else’s? Adults who read this book to kids may want to follow up on the story by pursuing some of the resource materials provided by the author. But the positive focus on achievement and what can be accomplished by hard work will provide plenty of thought-provoking and inspirational appeal to the intended audience of ages 5-8.
When Groves was twenty, he left Kentucky and became an “Exoduster,” one of thousands of people from the South who “shook the dust from their feet” and headed west to the Plains to make better lives for themselves and their families.
Groves is said to have walked the whole way to Kansas - more than five hundred miles - working at odd jobs along the way. He ended his journey in the Great Kaw Valley near Kansas City, and got a job on a potato farm. Under his care the crops thrived so much that he was promoted to foreman of the whole farm. Groves also rented nine acres from his boss to grow his own crops, some of which were white potatoes.
Groves continued to rent more land, growing ever more potatoes. He was helped by his wife Matilda. In 1884, they bought eighty acres near the mouth of the Kaw River. They worked hard, paid off the loan to buy the land in just a year, and bought more - eventually owning more than 500 acres. Because of his astounding success in optimizing potato growth, a railroad company even built a special spur to his potato house. But he wasn’t done yet.
The author writes:
“Over the years, the Potato King grew more than a big family, more than cabbage and carrots and corn, more than fruit trees. More than potatoes.
Junius G. grew jobs - hiring farmhands.
Junius G. grew a park - Groves Park.
And a cozy community - Grovers Center.
And a church - Pleasant Hill Baptist.
A store that sold groceries and other goods.
A golf course, too.”
Groves had a large family to take care of as well. According to the Kansas Historical Society, “Groves and his wife, Matilda, built a 20-room mansion, which featured the latest comforts of the day — electricity, hot and cold running water, and telephones.” Moreover, although the author doesn’t go into details, much of what Groves built was for the benefit of other African American families. For his Groves Center community, small tracts of land were sold to black families, and the golf course was for the use of African Americans, a rare amenity in the segregated country at that time.
Groves was a founding member of the Kansas State Negro Business League, the Kaw Valley Potato Association, the Sunflower State Agricultural Association, and the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Society. He was featured in Booker T. Washington's book, The Negro in Business, (1907).
Junius Groves died in 1925.
The author concludes with a timeline, a glossary, and a list of selected sources for more information.
Illustrator Don Tate, also an award winner, uses mixed media illustrations dominated by the green and brown colors of the farm to flesh out the story.
Evaluation: The author celebrates all of Groves’ achievements without going into the mechanics. How did he overcome the racist attitudes and policies of his time? What was he doing that made his potato farming so much more successful than anyone else’s? Adults who read this book to kids may want to follow up on the story by pursuing some of the resource materials provided by the author. But the positive focus on achievement and what can be accomplished by hard work will provide plenty of thought-provoking and inspirational appeal to the intended audience of ages 5-8.
February 1, 2019
The inspiring true story of how one humble man born in slavery on a Kentucky plantation became the "Potato King of the World" through hard work and perseverance. Excerpts from primary sources round out Bolden's engaging text.
November 14, 2018
I love a picture book biography that celebrates the life of an individual that few no of but most should. Tonya Holden has chosen Kansas potato king Junius Grove as the central focus of her new book. Born into slavery, the reader follows the life of Grove as he stays focus on accomplishing his goal of becoming an independent potato farmer. Sprinkled with quotes from Junius, the story illustrates his intelligence and hard work. End notes show a nice timeline of the events with a glossary and links to other resources. Great book to add to a classroom collection.
November 15, 2018
Utterly fascinating, but it lacks some of the ease of readability that I was looking for. But so very interesting and educational.
December 8, 2018
This picture book's title says it all: What Junius G. Grove accomplished was no small potatoes. Even though most readers might doubt that anyone could take a lowly tuber and build it into a (very)
profitable farm, they will come to realize quickly that resilience and hard work can pay off in big ways as they do here. There is little doubt that talented storyteller Tonya Bolden has a way with words, and she mines this story for gold, carefully selecting just the right details to tell her rags-to-riches tale. She had me hooked from the opening lines, and my interest never flagged. Born into slavery in Kentucky, Junius headed west after slavery was abolished, eventually settling down in Kansas where he worked on a potato farm for less than fifty cents a day. Eventually, he rented land of his own on which to grow potatoes, and used the profits to buy his own land. Eventually, his potato farm consisted of 500 acres, and in 1902, experts reckoned that he was, indeed, king of the spuds world, having grown an astonishing 12 million potatoes in one year. He used the proceeds of his labor to build a 22-room mansion overlooking his fields. There is a glossary, interesting source notes, and additional information about his life in the book's back matter. The mixed media illustrations are perfect complements to the lively text, showing potatoes, that humblest of vegetable, to advantage. Along with his wife, Matilda, Junius was willing to work hard to accomplish his goals, and his philosophy on life, that someone is more likely to work hard for what they own rather than in labor for someone else, proved true in unimaginable ways. What a triumph! And what a great book for students to read as they wonder whether hard work is worth the effort or whether it's possible for someone who starts off with little or nothing to become financially independent. Here's one excellent example of someone who did just that. This is a must-have for a social studies classroom.
profitable farm, they will come to realize quickly that resilience and hard work can pay off in big ways as they do here. There is little doubt that talented storyteller Tonya Bolden has a way with words, and she mines this story for gold, carefully selecting just the right details to tell her rags-to-riches tale. She had me hooked from the opening lines, and my interest never flagged. Born into slavery in Kentucky, Junius headed west after slavery was abolished, eventually settling down in Kansas where he worked on a potato farm for less than fifty cents a day. Eventually, he rented land of his own on which to grow potatoes, and used the profits to buy his own land. Eventually, his potato farm consisted of 500 acres, and in 1902, experts reckoned that he was, indeed, king of the spuds world, having grown an astonishing 12 million potatoes in one year. He used the proceeds of his labor to build a 22-room mansion overlooking his fields. There is a glossary, interesting source notes, and additional information about his life in the book's back matter. The mixed media illustrations are perfect complements to the lively text, showing potatoes, that humblest of vegetable, to advantage. Along with his wife, Matilda, Junius was willing to work hard to accomplish his goals, and his philosophy on life, that someone is more likely to work hard for what they own rather than in labor for someone else, proved true in unimaginable ways. What a triumph! And what a great book for students to read as they wonder whether hard work is worth the effort or whether it's possible for someone who starts off with little or nothing to become financially independent. Here's one excellent example of someone who did just that. This is a must-have for a social studies classroom.
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February 3, 2019No Small Potatoes is a phenomenal book about Junius G. Groves who was born into slavery and once he got freedom when slavery was abolished eventually became the "potato king". This book would be a wonderful book to use with upper elementary students after they learned about slavery. They should understand what slavery was and how awful it was for any slave including those born into it such as Junius Groves. Bolden does a wonderful job of telling his story after slavery and his journey to succeed.
Bolden is able to depict how everyone doubted him and he never gave up hope that he could be more than a slave. It would be a good book to use to discuss strength, bravery, and perseverance. It could spark a conversation to have with upper elementary students to discuss how even after slavery was abolished people were still doubting many ex-slaves abilities. It could also be used as a discussion of how even when one doubts someone, that does not mean that the dream is impossible. Bolden writes about it being difficult for Junius Groves to succeed and how his fight was extremely long and arduous. However, the reward is also clear at the end of the story when Bolden is telling the story of once he succeeded and his family. Overall, Bolden did an excellent job at depicting the difficulties of chasing a dream even when almost all are against you and how it was not impossible for slaves to be more than a slave.
Bolden is able to depict how everyone doubted him and he never gave up hope that he could be more than a slave. It would be a good book to use to discuss strength, bravery, and perseverance. It could spark a conversation to have with upper elementary students to discuss how even after slavery was abolished people were still doubting many ex-slaves abilities. It could also be used as a discussion of how even when one doubts someone, that does not mean that the dream is impossible. Bolden writes about it being difficult for Junius Groves to succeed and how his fight was extremely long and arduous. However, the reward is also clear at the end of the story when Bolden is telling the story of once he succeeded and his family. Overall, Bolden did an excellent job at depicting the difficulties of chasing a dream even when almost all are against you and how it was not impossible for slaves to be more than a slave.
March 13, 2020
Discover the incredible true story of how one of history's most successful potato farmers began life as a slave and worked until he was named the "Potato King of the World"!
Junius G. Groves came from humble beginnings in the Bluegrass State. Born in Kentucky into slavery, freedom came when he was still a young man and he intended to make a name for himself. Along with thousands of other African Americans who migrated from the South, Junius walked west and stopped in Kansas. Working for a pittance on a small potato farm was no reason to feel sorry for himself, especially when he's made foreman. But Junius did dream of owning his own farm, so he did the next best thing. He rented the land and worked hard! As he built his empire, he also built a family, and he built them both on tons and tons and tons of potatoes. He never quit working hard, even as the naysayers doubted him, and soon he was declared Potato King of the World and had five hundred acres and a castle to call his own.
Junius G. Groves came from humble beginnings in the Bluegrass State. Born in Kentucky into slavery, freedom came when he was still a young man and he intended to make a name for himself. Along with thousands of other African Americans who migrated from the South, Junius walked west and stopped in Kansas. Working for a pittance on a small potato farm was no reason to feel sorry for himself, especially when he's made foreman. But Junius did dream of owning his own farm, so he did the next best thing. He rented the land and worked hard! As he built his empire, he also built a family, and he built them both on tons and tons and tons of potatoes. He never quit working hard, even as the naysayers doubted him, and soon he was declared Potato King of the World and had five hundred acres and a castle to call his own.
October 19, 2018
An excellent book depicting the life of Junius G. Groves, Potato King of the world. Junius was born into slavery in 1859, but soon struck out on his own as a young twenty year old no longer a slave. He moved from Kentucky to Kansas where, through his hard work, he managed to buy his own farm and turn it into a potato empire.
Beautiful illustrations about this hard-working man and his life. Inspirational and highly recommended.
Beautiful illustrations about this hard-working man and his life. Inspirational and highly recommended.
August 23, 2022
An inspiring story of a man who worked hard as a farmer and became the potato king of the world. Great illustrations and quotes throughout the story. A timeline and additional information are included at the end of the book. There is also a glossary to help readers understand unfamiliar words. Highly recommended for students in grades 3-5.
February 16, 2019
2/10/2019 ~ An interesting person, a compelling story. The look of the book is also interesting: the perspectives of the pages change (face on, from above); there are also some graphics and insets.
Award:
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Award:
https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2...
January 21, 2019
My favorite kind of picture book biography - about a fascinating person that I don't know much about but someone I want readers to know more about. Junius G. was someone who epitomized the importance of hard work and determination.
Includes extensive backmatter.
Includes extensive backmatter.
February 20, 2019
Engaging, lyrical language coupled with delightful yet earnest illustrations. Author’s phrasing and voice makes this a treat to read. Such an inspiring picture book biography. Don’t miss Don Tate’s illustrator’s note under the acknowledgments. “Double wow!”
November 6, 2018
lyrical language, evocative illustrations, and a clear presentation of both the individual and the times he lived in; great read
April 25, 2020
No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas is a children's picture book written by Tonya Bolden and illustrated by Don Tate. It is a biographical picture book of Junius G. Groves who was born into slavery to become the richest black man in America and dubbed the Potato King of the World.
Junius George Groves was an American farmer and entrepreneur remembered as one of the wealthiest black Americans of the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Known as the "Potato King of the World" by 1902, Groves optimized potato growth methods, out-producing anyone else in the world to that point. His vast financial success was utilized to help combat racism by providing economic opportunities for other black Americans.
Bolden's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Every few pages, a sidebar punctuates Bolden's chatty, colloquial narrative with words from Groves himself. Backmatter includes a glossary, a timeline, and en excellent research resource. Tate's mixed-media illustrations, awash in blues, greens, and browns, successfully represent the expansiveness of the land and the momentous nature of Groves' accomplishments.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. This entertaining biography celebrates an African-American hero born into slavery in the late 1850s in Kentucky who realized his dreams for himself and eventually for his large family. Settling in the Great Kaw Valley, Kansas, Junius began working on a potato farm for forty cents a day, but he was determined to own a farm one day. Eventually he bought over 500 acres on which he grew 72,150 bushels in one year, 1902. With 12 children and lots of hired hands, Junius built Groves Park, the community of Groves Center, a church, a store, and even a golf course.
All in all, No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas is an appealing story will give readers a new appreciation for spuds.
Junius George Groves was an American farmer and entrepreneur remembered as one of the wealthiest black Americans of the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Known as the "Potato King of the World" by 1902, Groves optimized potato growth methods, out-producing anyone else in the world to that point. His vast financial success was utilized to help combat racism by providing economic opportunities for other black Americans.
Bolden's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Every few pages, a sidebar punctuates Bolden's chatty, colloquial narrative with words from Groves himself. Backmatter includes a glossary, a timeline, and en excellent research resource. Tate's mixed-media illustrations, awash in blues, greens, and browns, successfully represent the expansiveness of the land and the momentous nature of Groves' accomplishments.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. This entertaining biography celebrates an African-American hero born into slavery in the late 1850s in Kentucky who realized his dreams for himself and eventually for his large family. Settling in the Great Kaw Valley, Kansas, Junius began working on a potato farm for forty cents a day, but he was determined to own a farm one day. Eventually he bought over 500 acres on which he grew 72,150 bushels in one year, 1902. With 12 children and lots of hired hands, Junius built Groves Park, the community of Groves Center, a church, a store, and even a golf course.
All in all, No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas is an appealing story will give readers a new appreciation for spuds.
November 26, 2018
This is one of those little biographies that won't take long for kids to read, and tell an interesting little story.
Junius Groves was born enslaved, and no one was very careful to preserve his birthdate, which was probably sometime between 1858 and 1861. His father died when Junius was young, while serving in a regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops at the end of the Civil War.
Junius went west from Kentucky to be a farmer, and worked his way up to being one of the most successful potato farmers in the country. This book describes how that happens, and tells a little bit about his life.
A more detailed biography might have been better in terms of filling in the history, but this isn't about that, or about the details of the African American communities in Kansas. No, it's the story of one man and his family trying to do something with their lives, in a way that everyone around them thought to be crazy. Junius and his family proved the doubters wrong, and this is the part of the story that is best.
Junius Groves was born enslaved, and no one was very careful to preserve his birthdate, which was probably sometime between 1858 and 1861. His father died when Junius was young, while serving in a regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops at the end of the Civil War.
Junius went west from Kentucky to be a farmer, and worked his way up to being one of the most successful potato farmers in the country. This book describes how that happens, and tells a little bit about his life.
A more detailed biography might have been better in terms of filling in the history, but this isn't about that, or about the details of the African American communities in Kansas. No, it's the story of one man and his family trying to do something with their lives, in a way that everyone around them thought to be crazy. Junius and his family proved the doubters wrong, and this is the part of the story that is best.
April 9, 2019
An inspiring story of a man who never gave up. Born into slavery, Junius G. Grove took advantage of his freedom after the abolishing of slavery to head out west to the Plains states, ending up in Kansas. Some say he walked the entire 500 miles, working at odd jobs along the way. He landed a job on a potato farm at a impossibly low pay rate, but put his mind and energy to work, receiving pay raises and finally becoming foreman of the farm. But wanting more, he rented land and became a share-cropper. He and his wife worked that land, putting away money by avoiding buying anything but the necessities. All this so he could realize his dream of owning his own farm. With much work and great risk, he planted those acres, paid off the debt and become the Potato King. He continued to grow his farm, a park, a church and a community.
August 21, 2023
Junius G. Groves was born into slavery, but was freed when he was still young. Junius goes to Kansas to work on a potato farm, but he doesn't get discouraged by how little he is paid. Junius dreams of owning his own farm, but until he can afford it, he does the thing closest to it. He rents out the land he is working on! Join him on his journey to create a potato kingdom! I love Don Tate's illustrations in this book, they're so fun! The expressions on the character's faces in all the different scenes are amazing! I had no idea about this man and what he did for potatoes everywhere until I read this book. I hope you like it as much as I do! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for more fun book recommendations!
August 13, 2023
Wow- what a great story! Tonya Bolden did a remarkable job taking a heroic American story and making it accessible for children. A Black man, Junius G. Groves, becomes the greatest potato farmer in the country.
Along the way, Bolden touches on slavery, emancipation and a bit of the Homestead Act.
Not only is this a great story about the ability of African-Americans to overcome when mostly left free from interference, but it also personalizes a time period that rarely gets examined. We tend to focus on the Gilded Age from 1870-1900, but by definition, most people still had to be farming, mining and scratching out a living.
Along the way, Bolden touches on slavery, emancipation and a bit of the Homestead Act.
Not only is this a great story about the ability of African-Americans to overcome when mostly left free from interference, but it also personalizes a time period that rarely gets examined. We tend to focus on the Gilded Age from 1870-1900, but by definition, most people still had to be farming, mining and scratching out a living.
February 17, 2019
The story of Junius George Groves, known as the Potato King. He started as the son of slaves, traveled west, working on other farms for wages.
“By keeping my eyes open, always attending to duty and doing more, rather than less, than was required of me, I soon succeeded in having my wages raised.” Through hard work and determination he managed to make enough money to purchase land. And soon his farm and his family, as well as his reputation began to grow.
An extensive timeline and bibliography are in the back for students to find out more about this interesting man in history.
“By keeping my eyes open, always attending to duty and doing more, rather than less, than was required of me, I soon succeeded in having my wages raised.” Through hard work and determination he managed to make enough money to purchase land. And soon his farm and his family, as well as his reputation began to grow.
An extensive timeline and bibliography are in the back for students to find out more about this interesting man in history.
December 3, 2018
A biography of Junius G. Groves and his potato farm in Kansas. This is a good resource to teach or talk to children about what it took to survive slavery and working for another man while trying to save and purchase land and grow crops to support his family and build his own home. Not a good read aloud in one sitting as the book is long for one sitting and for younger children. Middle elementary grades would be better fit. Good biography material for a reader.
April 8, 2019
This is a book about a man who had been a slave and when slavery was abolished he headed west to Kansas. He worked hard and saved. He eventually bought some property from his boss and started his own farm. Keep working hard is the motto and you can reach your dreams.
I liked the illustration, the quotes, the family and the settlement that followed, the time line and sources. Really well done.
I liked the illustration, the quotes, the family and the settlement that followed, the time line and sources. Really well done.
July 16, 2021
Instead of concentrating on race as the central focus of this book, the life lessons of hard work and being able to work toward you want come through very strongly. Because of the very good illustrations you are also aware that Junius Groves was a very wise, adventurous and ambitious man of color. You could almost think this is a story book but it is clear over and over that this was a real man to be admired and emulated.
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