A new picture book, TWO OLD POTATOES AND ME by John Coy inspired this Potato-themed storytime. TWO OLD POTATOES is also a wonderful father-daughter story, and is a fun way to teach composting and recycling. Besides sending kids home to plant potatoes in their backyards (if they have yards at their homes), you can also play "Hot Potato" - kids form a circle and toss a potato back and forth as fast as they can. If someone drops the potato, that person is out. Then, make potato prints: before the storytime, cut the potatoes into shapes. Kids just dip them in paint and "stamp" art paper. For instructions, check out www.kinderplanet.com/vegprint.htm

• Coy, John. TWO OLD POTATOES AND ME.
  A father and daughter grow potatoes in the backyard, from two old, eye-growing potatoes that they cut into chunks.
• Katz, Michael. TEN POTATOES IN A POT.
  A collection of counting rhymes. Just read one or two rhymes between each picture book.
• Leedy, Loreen. THE POTATO PARTY AND OTHER TROLL TALES.
  Seven short illustrated stories; the title one is perfect for this theme.
• Farish, Terry. THE CAT WHO LIKED POTATO SOUP.
  An old man leaves his cat to go fishing, and the cat is afraid he won't return.
• Cazet, Denys. MINNIE AND MOO AND THE POTATO FROM PLANET X.
  Minnie and Moo, those two Marin cows, help an alien who has landed on their farm.
• Pomeroy, Diana. ONE POTATO: A COUNTING BOOK OF POTATO PRINTS.
  This counting book is illustrated with potato prints - it can inspire your art project.
• Rockwell, Anne. SWEET POTATO PIE.
  The farm is a busy place, but everyone stops work when it is time for Grandma's sweet potato pie.
• Speed, Toby. BRAVE POTATOES.
  At the County Fair, the potatoes stage a break and ride the Ferris Wheel to escape a mad chef.
• French, Vivian. OLIVER'S VEGETABLES.
  Oliver will only eat French Fries until Grandpa shows him the other veggies growing in the backyard.
• Selsam, Millicent. MORE POTATOES!
  In this easy reader science book, a girl learns how potatoes are grown from the corner grocer and a local farmer.
• Lied, Kate. POTATO: A TALE FROM THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
  Expressive cartoon illustrations by Lisa Campbell Ernst help tell this true story of a family who finds work picking potatoes.

August 24, 2003