Written by Tonya Bolden & Illustrated by Don Tate
[From the Dust Jacket ]
To build a kingdom is no small potatoes.
First you start with nothing. Then you plant a seed.
Then you watch it grow and grow and grow.
For Junius G. Groves, life began with very little on a plantation in Kentucky. As a young man, Junius headed west, determined to build a new life.
He settled in Kansas and found land to farm and a crop to grow. And that crop? Can you guess?
Bushels and bushels of potatoes later, Junius had more acres to farm, but nothing that belonged to him. Rather than feel down, Junius worked harder than ever and then bought eighty acres of his very own. But he didn’t stop there!
Tonya Bolden and Don Tate bring Junius G. Groves to vivid life and prove that with hard work and determination, even if you start with nothing, anyone can be a king.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Ages 4 to 8 years | 40 pages
Hardcover | Knopf Books for Young Readers | 2018 | ISBN 9780385752763
Ebook | Knopf Books for Young Readers | 2018 | ISBN 9780385752787
. . . . . . . . . . . .
“No Small Potatoes” Made the List …
Association for Library Service to Children: 2019 ALSC Notable Children’s Book (Middle Readers)
Cooperative Children’s Book Center – 2019 CCBC Choices (Category: Historical People, Places, and Events)
NCSS/CBC – 2019 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
. . . . . . . . . . . .
“No Small Potatoes” Reviews
“This entertaining biography celebrates an African-American hero born into slavery in the late 1850s … who realized his dreams for himself and eventually for his large family. A glossary, a timeline, and other helpful backmatter make this an excellent research resource for teachers and students alike. This a-peel-ing story will give readers a new appreciation for spuds. [Read full review] — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“… a delightful picture book biography of Junius G. Groves, who was born into slavery … but went on to create an agricultural empire that earned him the title “Potato King of the World” … A charming mix of biography, history, agriculture, math, and lots of potatoes—a great addition to nonfiction collections. [Read full review] — School Library Journal, starred review
“Dynamo book creators come together to tell a long overdue story … Far more than a tale of tubers, this is an inspiring account of hard work and a wonderful picture-book biography of a self-made farmer. [Read full review] — Booklist
“‘No Small Potatoes’ a book your child really can ‘dig'” [Read full review] — The Meridian Star
. . . . . . . . . . .
A Junior Library Guild Selection | December 2018