The Potato King

Illustrated by Christoph Niemann

A king's clever ploy turns a rejected crop into a beloved staple.

3.7 Goodreads · 361 ratings

32 pages· AD440L

$9.95Save 4%

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Bookroo's summary

In Prussia, King Frederick faces resistance as he introduces the potato to his people. Unfazed, he devises a cunning plan to make the spurned crop desirable. Will his strategy succeed, transforming the potato into a cherished food? Discover the king's ingenious tactics and the surprising rise of this now-common staple, all illustrated with playful potato-stamp art.

From the publisher

Once upon a time there was a Prussian King, Frederick, also known as Fritz, who saw potential in the lowly potato – a newly introduced crop from South America – and decided to plant it for his people. However, it quickly became clear that his subjects didn’t like being told what to eat. Determined to see the potato thrive, Fritz cleverly used reverse psychology to pique his people’s curiosity and make the crop popular, and the potato has flourished ever since. Potato-stamp illustrations throughout are simple and effective, exhibiting Niemann’s trademark wit and playfulness. The book includes a short informational note on the historical background to the story. Readers will be interested to discover how one of today’s most common foods likely rose to popularity and may also be inspired by the king’s creative problem solving.

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