Two Old Potatoes and Me

Author: John Coy

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Divorce

Year of Publication: 2009

Publisher & Location: Alfred A. Knopf, New York

ISBN#: 978-0040417903

Target Age Level: Lower Elementary

# of Pages: 31

Quality of Illustrations: Unique, colorful illustrations, but the text is integrated with the illustrations and gets too busy and confusing at times.

Brief Summary: A girl finds two old potatoes in a cupboard at her father's house. They plant the potatoes in the spring, care for them, and reap a full harvest in September. The girl's parents are divorced, and while this is mentioned, the focus of the book is on the girl and her father's relationship and the creation of a new tradition.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: This book portrays the father/daughter relationship nicely. The girl lives with her mother but spends her weekends with her dad. I liked the metaphor of good things coming from something that at first seems bad.

Activities:

1. Have children share a tradition they share with their mother or father. They can bring an object from home that represents the tradition and can share with the class.
   
2. Print off pictures of a potato. Have students cut out the pictures. On one side of the potato have children write the hard things about their parents getting divorced. On the other side write the things that may turn out okay or for the better. Share as a group.