Chowder Rules!: The True Story of an Epic Food Fight

by Anna Crowley Redding, Vita Lane (Illustrations)

Maine lawmaker Cleveland Sleeper loved steamy, creamy, dreamy clam chowder. Thoughts of tomatoes in his chowder made him see red. So he proposed a bill to make it a crime to add tomatoes to clam chowder. New Yorkers were offended! A war of words raged, until finally a duel of chefs settled the matter once and for all. The story behind the great chowder cook-off of 1939 is told by author Anna Redding with gusto, humor, and, of course, good taste.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Nonfiction, Food, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 13, 2020

About the author

Before diving into the deep end of writing books, Anna Crowley Redding’s first career was as an Emmy-award winning investigative television reporter, anchor, and journalist. The recipient of multiple Edward R. Murrow awards and recognized by the Associated Press for her reporting, Anna now focuses her stealthy detective skills on digging up great stories for young readers — which, as it turns out, is her true passion. Anna's books have been translated into Russian and Czech.

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Which is better: Manhattan Clam Chowder or New England Clam Chowder? That question has been argued for decades. Mainer Cleveland Sleeper, Jr., thought there was only one way to enjoy the traditional comfort-style milky broth. But when people from New York City tossed in tomatoes, Cleveland saw red, and called it vegetable soup. He sought to have a law passed, but failing that, he proposed a culinary duel. And the winner was….

Great imagery and prose: “...it was the entire stature of Maine in a single bite…”

Full color illustrations show many of Maine’s famous icons, and perspective is given by including a map of the United States, and having the Statue of Liberty hoisting a tomato atop her torch. These visuals assist younger readers in accessing the locals and history.

One detail about the debate is how the state of Iowa had a huge tomato industry at the time so some residents were very much against such a law banning tomatoes. This book would be an interesting way to introduce how laws are made, advertising hype, and how to debate an issue. This would also be a fun book for Maine or culinary history for middle elementary students.

[Melanie Ellsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHOWDER RULES is a fun, pun-filled read featuring delicious words and illustrations about an actual cook-off that took place in 1939 to determine whether traditional chowder or Manhattan chowder would rule the day. Those of us following the present-day controversy around calamari’s status in Rhode Island will enjoy seeing how history lives on in New England food wars! This is a perfect gift to give to family and friends who love cooking shows and traditions around food. There’s even a clam chowder recipe at the end. Be warned - the gorgeous illustrations will make you want to move to Maine if you don’t live here already. Lane cleverly uses different colors to distinguish the NY and Maine scenes, and I love the detail of the tomato in the Statue of Liberty’s torch. This book will make you smile and send you running for the closest bowl of clam chowder (without tomatoes, of course).

[Abi Cushman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a native New Englander, I of course know that real clam chowder is creamy and potatoe-y and definitely does not have tomatoes in it. But I didn't know the specifics of this hilarious story about Maine lawmaker, Cleveland Sleeper, Jr., who in 1939, tried to make it an actual CRIME to add tomatoes. This true story is energetically and sassily told by Anna Crowley Redding, and the wonderful illustrations by Vita Lane really bring it home. Thoroughly enjoyable, like clam chowder without tomatoes.

[Andrea Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books about food history, and Anna Crowley Redding's CHOWDER RULES is no exception. Being a native Bostonian, I already knew which side of the food fight I was on before reading the book, but I still found myself enthusiastically rooting for Cleveland Sleeper, Jr. and his battle against including the "alien tomato" in clam chowder. Told in a hilarious conversational voice and vibrantly illustrated by Vita Lane, this book will entertain and engage readers no matter how they like their chowder. I wish more arguments could be settled with a cook-off!

[Kelly Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rollicking fun sprinkled with humor and history! CHOWDER RULES masterfully tells the story of a battle between New England Clam Chowder and Manhattan Clam Chowder. I'm a lifelong New Englander and frequent Clam Chowder consumer and I had no idea that chowder brought intrigue, politics, battles and fierce competition! Thanks to Anna Crowley Redding for filling me in -- grab the book so you'll know the story too!

[Genetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a witty portrayal of a real-life food fight!
In 1939, Maine state legislator Cleveland Sleeper, Jr wrote a bill to make Manhattan Clam Chowder (with tomatoes) illegal in the state of Maine. He debated NY Yankees star Joe Dimaggio on the radio over their chowder choices. The issue was settled at a cook-off.
You’ll have to read this entertaining book to see if Manhattan Clam Chowder became illegal in Maine. Highly recommend!

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This humorous story introduces children to more courteous ways to solve disagreements. It’s a deliciously true story about an epic food fight. When a politician from Maine learns that chefs in New York City are polluting his beloved clam chowder with tomatoes, he sees red! He decides to write a law that makes adding tomatoes to chowder illegal. Tempers flair throughout the country. Can this debate be solved civilly? Yes -with a chowder showdown!

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Crowley Redding's Chowder Rules is a delightful story based on a true event from 1939 about chowder and whether to tomato or not. If you ever been to Maine, just a single taste of chowder captures the entire state of Maine in that one spoonful. Vita Lane's illustrations are wonderful. I love how she brings so much to the story through her art.

This is an over-and-over read.

[Debbi Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clam chowder - milky and clammy. But wait, what about Manhattan clam chowder....with tomatoes! Scandalous? That's what Cleveland Sleeper Jr. thought and he wanted to make it against the law. Read this fun and interesting picture book to learn what happened in this "battle for authentic clam chowder." And there's a recipe at the back, too!

[Gina Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun and engaging story - and reads aloud smashingly well. Full of facts, humor, vibrant illustrations, and a good deal of suspense (tomato or NO tomato?). Kids will enjoy putting in their vote even if they've never had clam chowder. Teachers will enjoy the thorough back matter and themes - cooking, debate, resolving conflict, and the legislative process.

[Jennifer Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your kids have never tried chowder, this book might persuade them to give it a try. A book about Maine's 1939 Great Chowder War, in which New England clam chowder duked it out with it's tomato-ey cousin, Manhattan clam chowder. A fun read about a quirky bit of New England history. Great for those who love Maine and a good cup of chowdah.

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful read! The lively illustrations bring this true story to life.
A great book for little chefs and their foodie parents.
And how much fun they will have creating the delicious recipe!

[Katia Wish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is the chowder better with or without a tomato? Such a simple question, but it becomes a fascinating culinary story with lots of twists and turns! The illustrations are vivid and engaging and add another layer of drama to the story.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious read--and who knew there was a war over chowder in our country? Sure to draw in readers on both side of the bowl.

[Darshana Khiani · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deliciously fun read!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun! I would love to read this to the whole school and have a tasting party once the pandemic is over.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Maine story!

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true ‘taste’ of Maine history, this is the hysterically funny true story behind the great chowder cookoff of 1939. It all started with Maine lawmaker Cleveland Sleeper, a New England clam chowder enthusiast. He was outraged to learn that New York city chefs had added tomatoes into their clam chowder. So he proposed a bill to make it a crime to put tomatoes in clam chowder. This began a nationwide debate over the proper ingredients of clam chowder that ended, not with the passage of the bill, but in a highly publicized chowder cook-off instead. Backmatter includes the winning recipe. Illustrator Vita Lane cleverly illustrated the front endpapers with the ingredients of New England clam chowder, while the back endpapers are illustrated with the ingredients of Manhattan clam chowder.
Recommended grades 3-6.