The third Perfect Picture Book Friday of every month is pretty special. Many times, I feature one of the books by our Will Write for Cookies author. Tomorrow we will be welcoming the lovely Pat Miller…so today, I’m turning the spotlight on her latest book which launched THIS MONTH!!! And GUESS WHAT??? One lucky person will WIN THEIR VERY OWN COPY!!! Just leave a comment on this post telling me what other topic you’d love to see a nonfiction picture book written about. What would kids love to read about? Pat certainly picked a great subject that would appeal to all children and adults!
The Hole Story of the Doughnut
Written by Pat Miller
Illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch
Publisher: HMH (2016)
Ages: 6-9
Themes: Doughnuts, American history, ingenuity
Synopsis:
From Amazon:
“In 1843, fourteen-year-old Hanson Gregory left his family home in Rockport, Maine, and set sail as a cabin boy on the schooner Achorn, looking for high-stakes adventure on the high seas. Little did he know that a boatload of hungry sailors, coupled with his knack for creative problem-solving, would yield one of the world’s most prized and beloved pastries.
Lively and inventive cut-paper illustrations add a taste of whimsy to this sweet, fact-filled story that includes an extensive bibliography, author’s note, and timeline.
Opening Lines:
“Few remember the master mariner Hanson Crockett Gregory, though he was bold and bright.
But the pastry he invented more than 166 years ago is eaten daily by doughnut lovers everywhere.
This is his story.”
Why I like this book:
- The story is about a fascinating piece of history and the author deftly draws in both reader and listener. I couldn’t put it down!
- The illustrations are full of fun and very kid-friendly.
- Great read-aloud…the recommendation says for ages 6-9, but younger kids would love it also!
- Parents and teachers can use this story as a springboard for discussion about creativity and how people come up with new ideas.
Related Activies:
Make Doughnuts
Photo courtesy: http://allrecipes.com
Click here for detailed instructions – Thank you to Stephy for a super easy recipe that kids would love to help with…just make sure the little ones are nowhere around when you are deep frying.
This post is part of a series for parents and teachers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays hosted by Susanna Leonard Hill. Click on her link and find lots of other picture book suggestions with summaries and activities.
Please share this giveaway post on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media channels. And DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY! Just tell us what topic you think would make a great nonfiction picture book!
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, dear friends and readers. And make sure you come back tomorrow.
WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES
WITH
PAT MILLER
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
Vivian, I can’t wait to read this one! And the donuts look yummy. I’m still thinking about writing a picture book on Nathan’s hot dog eating contest. What do you think?
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Oh my gosh, Kristi…I grew up in NYC…and ate a ton of Nathan’s hot dogs…rode the carousel a million times…always trying to grab the gold ring. 😉
Yes yes yes….a book about the hot dog eating contest…that sounds like fun!!!
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Hey Vivian, looking forward to reading this one for sure, as donuts are my all time favorite treat. I think a picture book on the origin of the potato chip would be awesome–
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Hahahaha….donuts are a favorite of mine also, Midge. 🙂 The first potato chip is a great idea…I know there is one about George Crumb and the Saratoga Chip from 2011…and I know a couple of critique partners who were working on others…but as they say, there are only 7 truly different stories in the world…the key is to make yours unique somehow. 😉 😉
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Another great review of another great book! Thanks, Vivian, for all you do and for this wonderful blog! 🙂
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Thank you, my sweet friend! Glad you enjoyed the review, Beth!
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Looking forward to reading The Hole Story of the Donut! Thanks for a great review, Vivian!
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Thank you for stopping by, Donna…and you will love the story!
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Clever story. Thanks for sharing. I just put it on my library list.
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Isn’t it wonderful, Kathy? And I loved the tie ins with history…kids will be learning about life on the sea back in the 1800’s, without even realizing it is history. 😉
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What a clever title and fun idea! Who would wonder about the history of the donut, much less research and write about it? Well, obviously Pat Miller! Books like these make me approach my every day world with curiosity. Thanks for bringing this book to my attention, Vivian!
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And approaching your every day world with curiosity is the best way to come up with great topics for picture books, Jane! And Pat is a genius, right? 🙂
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My kind of story. I think adults will enjoy reading this book as well. It’s fun learning the history of such things as doughnuts. Look forward to reading Pat’s book. Love the cover!
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Totally my kind of story also, Patricia. And.that’s my hope in writing nonfiction picture books…I want to find these hidden gems and bring them alive for young readers and listeners.
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This looks like a Yummy read! Thanks for highlighting it, Vivian. For another food-related non-fiction, I’d love to learn how, and why, the pretzel got its twist.
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there is such a book: https://www.eerdmans.com/Products/5420/brother-giovanni39s-little-reward.aspx
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I had no idea! Thanks so much for letting me know & sharing the book information, so I can read it, too.
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Ooooh…the pretzel…that’s a great one, Pat…but I see that Jane has found a link to a story that is out about that already. No worries…there can be more than one story about a topic, right…just look at a year or so ago…there were like 4 books out on Benjamin Franklin…and each was totally unique. 😉
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Delectable choice, Vivian! I look forward to reading this and may also try making donuts with my kiddos.
I’d like to read a non-fiction PB about “real unicorns” (http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/giant-siberian-unicorn-may-have-existed-same-time-humans-fossilized-skull-hints)!
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GABI!!! Write that book…NOW! Glad you might try making the donuts…the recipe said it would be really easy…I used to make them years ago…might have to give it a whirl. 😉
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How I love the idea of the book, let me count the ways. What fun. And a recipe!
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You got it,Keila…and a recipe. I could definitely go for a fresh warm cinnamon and sugar sprinkled donut RIGHT NOW! I’ve been trying to be good…no sugar, no white flour, definitely nothing fried…I guess if I am going to be bad, I might as well go all the way. 😉
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Hi Vivian, I saw your book choice this morning and drooled over the doughnut that I didn’t have and the wonderful book title…The Hole Story……super clever! Love it!
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Thanks so much for stopping by, Julie! Super clever is right…Pat Miller knows what she is going…I’ll be there are a ton of other great stories out there…how exciting to be the archaeologists who are uncovering these gems. 😉
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I love books with a lesson or two, some history. This looks really good.
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Thank you for stopping by…yes, books with a lesson and some history are well worth reading…I think you would enjoy this one. 🙂
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Oh my goodness, my daughter and I would love this one. My favorite books as a child featured food. This one is great because it also teaches history. I think my daughter and I would love to read a non-fiction picture book on a child artist.
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A book about a child artist…great idea, Crystal…I know there are several about artists…but I don’t know if they began as children…that would be interesting to research. So glad you stopped by…hope you will come back again. 🙂
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What a great topic! Love how food can teach kids about history.
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Amazing, right? There could be a whole entire series….what a fun way to learn history, Andrea. 😉
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Can’t wait to read Pat’s new book! I would like to see a pb of some adventurous grandma sea divers on an island here in Korea. Maybe I can research that…
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So now I know what one of the next manuscripts of yours I will be reading, Tina! You go for it…that sounds like a GREAT topic!
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I love donuts so I know I’m going to “eat up” Pat’s new book (sorry, couldn’t resist). I remember as a child reading about the dust donuts in our Childcraft books. Anyone else remember those books? I think is was volume 9 (green binding anyway) that had all kinds of crafts to make. I’m thinking I need to go back to those books. I might find some great book ideas! Sorry for the stroll down memory lane.
I would like to see a book about fortune cookies.
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Love love love the stroll down memory lane…and the book on fortune cookies sounds great…I know of two out there now…Fortune Cookies and Fortune Cookie Fortunes…but it’s a topic that just needs a unique twist…that for you to do, right Angela? 😉
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Great review – and a reminder for me to find my copy to review. Which I’ll do after I eat a donut.
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Hahaha…that is funny, Sue! I love your reviews…and I love donuts also. 🙂
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I LOVE this book! I checked it out from my library last week and after reading it, I passed it to my daughter to enjoy. What a great story! I would never have guessed the doughnut found it’s beginning out at sea! My mom used to make jelly filled bismark doughnuts on New Years Eve. So, I have a strong love for this tasty, gooey treat…even though I can’t eat them anymore. Gluten-free doughnuts are not as yummy.
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I hear you about the gluten free, Leslie…I’m a sweet lover…and I’ve been really carefully these last few weeks…no sugar, no white flour…trying to eat super healthy.
Glad you enjoyed the book…I read it to my grandson last night when he slept over…he LOVED it!
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Will have to see if our library has it. I think a picture book about the building of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel would interest kids on both sides of the Bay here.
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What a GREAT idea for a nonfiction picture book! I believe I’ve driven over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.. I hope you get this one from your library. 🙂
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Can’t wait to read this one!
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YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!!! Thanks for stopping by, Julie!
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I love buttons. So a story about the origin of buttons would be interesting.
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WOW…a story about buttons WOULD be a great book for kids…super idea!
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I’m completely fascinated and NEED to know the “hole story”! Thanks for sharing with us at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com this week!
Tina
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Glad you were able to stop by, Tina! I hope you get a copy of the book…do you think they have it in your local library…if not, why not ask them to get a copy! It’s a really fun AND informative story. 😉
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What a great topic for a picture book! It looks awesome. I would love to read how Rubik’s cubes came about- I have a son who is slightly obsessed with them and all their interesting variations.
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Sandy…start writing that book…I don’t think there is a pb about it. 🙂 And thanks for stopping by here. 😉
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