LEE & LOW BOOKS celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and to recognize how far the company has come, we are featuring one title a week to see how it is being used across the country in classrooms and libraries today.
Today we are featuring one of our favorite titles: George Crum and the Saratoga Chip. This fun story looks at the history behind everyone’s favorite snack food: the potato chip!
Featured title: George Crum and the Saratoga Chip
Author: Gaylia Taylor
Illustrator: Frank Morrison
About the book: Growing up in the 1830s in Saratoga Springs, New York, isn’t easy for George Crum. Picked on at school because of the color of his skin, George escapes into his favorite pastimes — hunting and fishing. 
Soon George learns to cook too, and as a young man he lands a job as chef at the fancy Moon’s Lake House. George loves his work, except for the fussy customers, who are always complaining! One hot day George’s patience boils over, and he cooks up a potato dish so unique it changes his life forever.
Readers will delight in this spirited story of the invention of the potato chip — one of America’s favorite snack foods. George Crum and the Saratoga Chip is a testament to human ingenuity, and a tasty slice of culinary history.
Awards and Honors:
- Texas Bluebonnet Masterlist, Texas Library Association
- Best Children’s Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education
- Distinguished Children’s Biography List, Cleveland Public Library
Author Gaylia Taylor began writing for children after she retired from many years working as a Reading Recovery® teacher. Taylor stumbled across George Crum’s story while researching African American inventors on the Internet.
“I’m always looking for a story to tell, and George Crum caught my attention because his invention, the potato chip, is loved by so many people,” says the author in an interview. “I have to admit that a story about the potato chip peaked my own curiosity, because it is my favorite snack.” The more Taylor read about George Crum, the more interested she became in his life. The author says that all her research described George Crum as having a very distinct and colorful personality. “I just couldn’t let him go,” says Taylor. “I said, ‘George, we’ve got a story to tell!’”
Resources for Teaching With George Crum and the Saratoga Chip:
- George Crum and the Saratoga Chip Teacher’s Guide from LEE & LOW BOOKS
- George Crum and the Saratoga Chip on TeachingBooks.net
Explore Other Books About Food:
by F. Zia, illus. by Ken Min
by Kathleen D. Lindsey, illus. by Charlotte Riley-Webb
written and illus. by Lynne Barasch
by Dorina Lazo Gilmore, illus. by Kristi Valiant
Also check out our Food and Cooking Collection! These books explore different foods and cuisines from around United States and around the world!
Have you used George Crum and the Saratoga Chip? Let us know!
Celebrate with us! Check out our 25 Years Anniversary Collection.
