Here’s a fun read for Perfect Picture Book Friday.
Title: Mr. Crum’s Potato Predicament
Written by: Anne Renaud
Illustrated by: Felicita Sala
Kids Can Press, 2017, historical fiction
Suitable for ages: 4-8
Themes/topics: cooking, potato chips, perseverance
Opening:
George Crum loved to cook. He fricasseed and flambéed, boiled and braised, poached and pureed. He made sorbets and soufflés, stews and succotashes, ragouts and goulashes.
Brief synopsis (jacket flap)
Diners flock from far and wide to sample George Crum’s delectable dishes – sorbets and soufflés, stews and succotashes, ragouts and goulashes. George is considered the best cook in the county.
That is until, one day, George is put to the test when a customer comes in with a hankering for potatoes. Just potatoes. Cooked to perfection. Will it be a tater triumph, or will the spud stickler leave unsatisfied?
Activities and Resources:
Try potatoes a new way. Follow a recipe. Then, think of a way to make it just a little different.
Alliteration abounds in this story. Have some fun finding examples, and create more of your own.
Why I like this book:
I must confess – I love potatoes. They really are the most versatile vegetable. And who doesn’t wonder where the potato chip idea came from?
Even the best cook in the county doesn’t always get it right the first time. But Mr. Crum doesn’t give up. Nope. When a persnickety customer drives him to the extreme, he ends up with the irresistible potato chip. It’s always fun to learn about inventions and innovations that resulted from mistakes or about people who just kept on trying.
The text delights the tongue with sumptuous words, and illustrations tickle the senses. Enjoy!
Visit author Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Books for a plethora of picture books listed by title and topic/theme, each with teacher/parent activities and resources.
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 
What a yummy choice! Who doesn’t love potatoes. I love learning stories about people who make contributions to the world.
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As soon as I saw this cover, I knew it HAD to be the same artist illustrating Patricia Valdez’ debut PB Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles! What an interesting artist – this book sounds fabulous!
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I didn’t connect at first – and I absolutely LOVE Joan Proctor, Dragon Doctor cover! And I just saw another cover by this illustrator – WoW!
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I do, too!!! This sounds like a scrumptious book! Any recipes included, perchance?
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I got this book a while ago and have forgotten if there were recipes…
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LOVE Sala’s work! And I know just about everything you can do with a potato from my poor-pocket days as an apprentice!
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I love picture book origin stories. I have wanted to check this one out for a while now. Thanks for reminding me. I love the added lesson or perseverance.
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It’s always wonderful to read reviews of my favorite books. I just found this gem at my library last week. Such a fabulous and fun story!
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What a fun book! I have to admit that potatoes are my favourite veggie, too!
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Beth, I loved this line – “Even the best cook in the county doesn’t always get it right the first time.” What a great book. Can’t wait to read it!
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Can’t wait to read this. And I bet I can’t read it just once…
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🙂
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