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There was once an old woman who had a potato farm and two hardworking, loving sons. But one day one son ran away to the army of the east; the other son joined the army of the west.
Caldecott Honor artist Anita Lobel tells a powerful story of two brothers who become enemies at war, and their wise mother whose cleverness turns fighting into peace.
A new, full-color edition of the timely and timeless tale Potatoes, Potatoes.
Anita Lobel was born in Cracow, Poland, just before the beginning of World War II. In the proper Jewish household of her childhood there were several servants. One of them was Anita's beloved nanny, who had taken care of Anita and her younger brother since their birth. Throughout the war, this strong-willed Catholic countrywoman guarded Anita and her brother, passing them off as her own children. For five years they were moved from town to village until they were discovered hiding in a convent and taken to a concentration camp. Somehow they survived until liberation and were brought to Sweden. Eventually Anita's parents were located, and the family was reunited in Stockholm. There Anita went to high school and began taking art lessons. When the family emigrated to New York, Anita won a scholarship to Pratt Institute.
In New York she met and married Arnold Lobel. She became a textile designer, working at home while their two children were growing up. One Christmas she gave Susan Hirschman, then Arnold Lobel's editor, three small scarves that she had made from some of the intricate flowery prints that she specialized in, Susan suggested she do a picture book, and the result was Sven's Bridge. The book was published in 1965 and made the New York Times Best Illustrated Books of the Year list that fall. (It was redesigned in full color and reissued by Greenwillow in 1992.)
Anita soon discovered that she could combine the exuberance of her decorative fabric designs with the narrative form of picture books. There have been many books over the years, including pictures for texts by various writers; collaborations with Arnold, such as On Market Street and The Rose in My Garden; and her own adaptations from Scandinavian folk stories (King Rooster, Queen Hen; The Pancake; The Straw Maid).
Some of Anita's most challenging favorites have been Princess Furball and Toads and Diamonds by Charlotte Huck; This Quiet Lady by Charlotte Zolotow; and The Cat and the Cook retold by Ethel Heins; as well as her own alphabet books Alison's Zinnia and Away from Home-and The Dwarf Giant, the art for which was inspired by Japanese theater. Her most recent work is her memoir of her childhood in war-torn Poland called No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War.
Anita's interests in theater and music and foreign languages have served her well in her work both as an author and an illustrator. She has also designed clothes, embroidered tapestries, and designed stained glass windows. She has been an actress and a singer. "It is the 'drama' in a picture-book text that interests me the most," she has said. "I 'stage' the story the way a director might work on a theater piece. Even though I have been involved with picture books for many years, with each new text, whether or not I have written it, I am always looking for a new 'vision.' And in the past few years full-color printing techniques have been so improved that I have had a chance to rediscover the way I wanted to paint pictures when I was a young student in art school."
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Potato Magic,
By
This review is from: Potatoes, Potatoes (Library Binding)
This is a wonderful book with an uncomplicated plot.It is the age old story of the futility and suffering of war with a distinct potato flavor. Potatoes Potatoes is worth a look for the illustrations alone, intricate tapestiries capturing the period. Each detailed page is a stand alone work of art.
The message here is not necessarily profound, but it is powerful and moving.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Potatoes Potatoes by Anita Lobel,
By Nonny (Gainesville, FL) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Potatoes Potatoes -Op/77 (Hardcover)
I first read this book as a college student (studying Elem Education) and never forgot it. The plot is just marvelous and the book emphasizes the importance of family. As a middle-aged mother of two, I am now purchasing this out-of-print book for my family. This picture book is a MUST READ for children AND adults. You cannot go wrong with it!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nostalgic reaction,
By A Customer
This review is from: Potatoes, Potatoes (Library Binding)
I remember loving this look when I was little...it was a favorite of all my siblings as well, and we would often take it out from the library. I don't want to reveal too much of the plot, but it's the story of a family that always eats potatoes at every meal. The two sons get sick of their lives working in the potato fields and each runs off to join an army...two different armies that must eventually fight each other. That's all I'll say about the plot, but I remember liking the drawings and the anti-war ending. I hope you can find a copy of this wonderful children's book!
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