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The Potato Man
Grampa recalls his 1920s boyhood when he tells the children of a frightening one-eyed potato man who gave him bad luck until he gathered the courage to look the man in his lone eye
Library Binding
First published March 1, 1991
About the author
Megan McDonald
321 books751 followers"Sometimes I think I am Judy Moody," says Megan McDonald, author of the Judy Moody series, the Stink series, and THE SISTERS CLUB. "I'm certainly moody, like she is. Judy has a strong voice and always speaks up for herself. I like that."
For Megan McDonald, being able to speak up for herself wasn't always easy. She grew up as the youngest of five sisters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father, an ironworker, was known to his coworkers as "Little Johnny the Storyteller." Every evening at dinner the McDonalds would gather to talk and tell stories, but Megan McDonald was barely able to get a word in edgewise. "I'm told I began to stutter," she says, leading her mother to give her a notebook so she could start "writing things down."
Critically acclaimed, the Judy Moody books have won numerous awards, ranging from a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year to an International Reading Association Children's Choice. "Judy has taken on a life of her own," the author notes, with nearly 3 million Judy Moody books in print. Interestingly, the feisty third-grader is highly popular with boys and girls, making for a strong base of fans who are among Megan McDonald's strongest incentives to keep writing, along with "too many ideas and a little chocolate." And now -- by popular demand -- Judy Moody's little brother, Stink, gets his chance to star in his own adventures! Beginning with STINK: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING KID, three more stories, and his own encyclopedia, STINK-O-PEDIA, Stink's special style comes through loud and strong -- enhanced by a series of comic strips, drawn by Stink himself, which are sprinkled throughout the first book. About the need for a book all about Stink, Megan McDonald says, "Once, while I was visiting a class full of Judy Moody readers, the kids, many with spiked hair à la Judy's little brother, chanted, 'Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink!' as I entered the room. In that moment, I knew that Stink had to have a book all his own."
More recently, Megan McDonald has recalled some of her own childhood with the warmth, humor -- and squabbles -- of three spunky sisters in THE SISTERS CLUB.
Megan McDonald and her husband live in Sebastopol, California, with two dogs, two adopted horses, and fifteen wild turkeys that like to hang out on their back porch.
For Megan McDonald, being able to speak up for herself wasn't always easy. She grew up as the youngest of five sisters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father, an ironworker, was known to his coworkers as "Little Johnny the Storyteller." Every evening at dinner the McDonalds would gather to talk and tell stories, but Megan McDonald was barely able to get a word in edgewise. "I'm told I began to stutter," she says, leading her mother to give her a notebook so she could start "writing things down."
Critically acclaimed, the Judy Moody books have won numerous awards, ranging from a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year to an International Reading Association Children's Choice. "Judy has taken on a life of her own," the author notes, with nearly 3 million Judy Moody books in print. Interestingly, the feisty third-grader is highly popular with boys and girls, making for a strong base of fans who are among Megan McDonald's strongest incentives to keep writing, along with "too many ideas and a little chocolate." And now -- by popular demand -- Judy Moody's little brother, Stink, gets his chance to star in his own adventures! Beginning with STINK: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING KID, three more stories, and his own encyclopedia, STINK-O-PEDIA, Stink's special style comes through loud and strong -- enhanced by a series of comic strips, drawn by Stink himself, which are sprinkled throughout the first book. About the need for a book all about Stink, Megan McDonald says, "Once, while I was visiting a class full of Judy Moody readers, the kids, many with spiked hair à la Judy's little brother, chanted, 'Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink! Stink!' as I entered the room. In that moment, I knew that Stink had to have a book all his own."
More recently, Megan McDonald has recalled some of her own childhood with the warmth, humor -- and squabbles -- of three spunky sisters in THE SISTERS CLUB.
Megan McDonald and her husband live in Sebastopol, California, with two dogs, two adopted horses, and fifteen wild turkeys that like to hang out on their back porch.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 30, 2012
The Potato Man is a great picture book for children to learn about the immigration issues of the early 20th century, and also the ever important lesson of treating people how you want to be treated. The illustrations beautifully depict the world of the 1900's, well drawn and realistic, children will enjoy looking at the great detail put into each picture. The story follows an old man who is telling his grand children about how he used to jeer and taunt the old "potato man", who was disfigured. Over the story he is punished and decides to start treating the potato man with kindness and respect, and is surprised when that is exactly what he gets in return. Lessons about empathy are very important for young readers, especially when they can be given and educational historic context.
April 18, 2022
A grandpa shares a story with his grandchildren about his childhood and a peddler that he and his friends would pick on.
December 12, 2022
Great book to use when talking to your kids about people who are different, about righting a wrong, and forgiving.
January 31, 2014
This book is about lessons we learn along the way in life. The potato man is not liked by many children because of his lumpy face and one eye. Although children are curious and eager to get into mischief, the Potato man is always there to make sure they somehow get back on the right track. The children, one in particular, come to accept and value the potato man.
April 14, 2015
This book teaches what I feel is important for everyone to learn in life, treat everyone with respect, and treat them how you want to be treated. The grandfather shares his story of how the potato man was treated and how nobody seemed to like him because of his looks. This happiness all the time in school, and just like the potato man, the kids are always just as normal as everyone else.
February 11, 2014
This book was a good book to learn a lesson from. The boy in the story felt like the potato man was the reason his bad luck was around but in the end he realized the man was just a friendly man passing through.
February 11, 2014
This book teaches the lesson of learning from your experiences and sharing them with others. The grandfather shares his story of how the potato man was treated and they soon found out he wasn't so had after all
February 3, 2009
An older picture book that has stood the test of time and contains a good message about tolerance and understanding.
October 18, 2009
Good historical fiction for kindness
June 12, 2014
Great!
August 31, 2016
beautiful illustrations
story not so great
story not so great
October 30, 2013
Beautiful illustrations and a real sense of history.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews