Two Old Potatoes and Me

Coy, J., & Fisher, C. Two Old Potatoes and Me. (2003). NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

Lexile Score: AD480L

Summary: A young girl finds two old potatoes in the cupboard at her dad’s house, but just as she’s about to throw them away, her dad suggests they try to grow new potatoes from the old ones.  The story goes through the potato growing season (May-September) and includes all the basic steps for growing potatoes while subtly dealing with the parents’ recent divorce.

Evaluation: The illustrations definitely make this story the fun, heartwarming, joyful, tale that it is. The storyline takes the reader on a journey beginning with a great father-daughter relationship and ending with an even better relationship. It’s a realistic relationship between a father and daughter. Many students in today’s classrooms can relate to this story and in a positive way rather than having to read about the negative aspects all the time.

The potential effects on the child’s self and social identities are all positive through this uplifting story. The way the text is written on the page and connected with the pictures makes the story very engaging for students. There is one particular representation of symbolism in the story. Just like the new potatoes that emerged from ugly old potatoes, this father and daughter move on and make a new life together in the face of unavoidable and unpleasant change.

This is high quality literature because of the cultural backgrounds represented. Also, throughout the story the father and daughter have worked at making the old gross potatoes new ones and, at the end, make mashed potatoes with them. At the very end, there is a recipe for these mashed potatoes that the father and daughter have created. Overall, this is a loving, heart-warming story that brings some humor to the story through the creative illustrations.

Literary elements: Illustrations- The pictures are goofy and tie in with the heart-warming theme and even connect with the text itself.

Setting- The story goes in chronological order and takes place during the potato growing season, which is from May to September and is at the father’s house.

Symbolism- the two old potatoes symbolize the father and daughter’s relationship growing and changing over time.  

Mini lesson: With my students, I would discuss what chronological order means and practice making time lines. I could use this book, or any book, or even a history story, or science experiment/project to practice writing timelines.

Target Audience: 3^rd – 6^th grade because of the discussion of divorce and the way the text is written.