A lovely insight into the traditional fish and chips and how they originated. Explains the story behind them in an easily understood way. Really enjoyed reading it.

This was a cute little origin story of fish and chips and I think kids and adults of all ages will really enjoy reading this.

Kind of a clever, if probably apocryphal, story about a popular food combination The book is well put together, the language accessible.

WARNING: The Fabulous Tale of Fish and Chips will leave you salivating while reading! The Fabulous Tale of Fish and Chips tells the story of how the most famous dish came to be, fish and chips. (There is also a recipe on how to make the traditional fish in the book!). I absolutely loved this book and it’s illustrations. This book would be perfect for any type of story time. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book! I really enjoyed it! (This review is also on GoodReads.)

I loved this book! It's the true story of how fish and chips came to be through a young jewish boy selling his grandmother's recipe in new and inventive ways. The illustrations are beautiful and it's a fun history lesson for any age. Highly recommended.

Eating fish was one thing. That was easy. But selling it was hard. Joseph came up with the idea to sell the fish fresh after it’s cooked. When word spread, people were coming from far to try it. His neighbor, Annette was not please with Joseph’s success since she could not sell her potatoes no longer. She came up with the idea to sell fried potatoes just like Joseph was selling fried fish. When the two of them collided, fish and chips were mixed, and this is how this loved dish of the British cooking appeared.
The story is very cute, and the author informs us at the end of the story that indeed a Joseph Malin was the one to first open the first fish and chips shop in London’s East End in 1860. We do not know if the French woman Annette really existed, but French and Belgian women are credited with being the first to fry potatoes in hot oil.

A beautiful look at the birth of the iconic British meal. As someone who lives at one of the “fish and chip capital’s of the country? World?” I knew I would love this book as much as my children did. The illustrations are lovely and the story is told perfectly

What a wonderful story with adorable illustrations!

I would like to thank Pen & Sword for providing me with an advance readers copy via access to the galley for free through the NetGalley program.

I’d recommend this to children of wide age ranges as the illustrations are enticing and verbiage is inviting. It also has appeal for multi-cultural and historical interest as well.

It features an appropriate, digestible length of book with simple enough and easy to understand sentence structure and words for readers from about 7 years of age on up to read independently, likely the ability to begin reading starting at 6 with some assistance. Listeners of any age who would be drawn to the pictures is also complete with a story that would be interesting to anyone of any age.

This was a good family read and we enjoyed the recipe contained in the book, making it for Fish Friday, which was super delicious and fun to make. This book also brought me back to my childhood, loving the treat of fish and chips meal. The illustrations reminded me of my favorite childhood reads including the amusing illustrations of historical scenes in Where's Waldo and Journey Cake, Ho!

The Story
I was completely unaware of the origin of fish and chips so this was a great way to learn a bit about food history.

Illustrations
This picture story was really brought to life with perfectly detailed illustrations which were precious and realistic. Had enough adventurous tone to be an attractive in a sketch-like, colorful style to emphasize the time period, setting, and character expression.

The Writing
With lively narration, the kids had a fun time taking turns reading it, drawing out the expressions in the dialogue which were well placed among the main historical aspect of the storyline.

“Made me hungry for fish and chips.”
“A good book.”

I’d love to know more books like this.

An engaging tale on the origins of fish and chips with beautiful illustrations.
Love the recipe at the end too.

I love this book! This is the story of a Jewish family who sold fish and found how to sell it better through fried fish. And an inspired neighbor who the sell fried potatoes, then the alliance between these two vendors who then made Fish n Chip so famous in the UK.

A wonderful short story with endearing & gorgeous illustration, great for all ages. Definitely recommend trying the recipe as well, absolutely wonderful and a great addition to the book.

(I will post this on my blog later as part of a longer book list)

According to the author’s note at the end, Joseph Malin opened the first fish and chips shop in London in 1860. That much is known to be true, but this fun picture book speculates about the sequence of events that inspired this food combination. After all, the fried fish was a traditional Jewish Sabbath dish while chips (aka French fries) were evidently first made by the French and Belgians. In Becker’s hypothesized version of the story, Joseph Malin’s family began selling fried fish first, which was such a popular product that their neighbor Annette, who ran a vegetable stall, lost business. In order to make her produce more marketable, she began selling her fried potatoes. The famous English meal of fish and chips was invented when Joseph and Annette bumped into each other, blending their merchandise into a single, “crispy, tasty dish!” The details are of course fabricated, but the historical and cultural details make this book educational nonetheless. The two-dimensional yet detailed artwork is reminiscent of Richard Scarry, but with human characters and a historical London setting. Recommended for first and second graders, but with appeal factors for older readers, too.

Heyyyyy! This is a really cool book! Firstly because - who doesn't love fish and chips! The more we know about our favourite things the better, particularly when they are steeped in culture and tradition. I love the trend of including recipes in picture books... the perfect way to get children interested in food (especially the more selective eaters) is to engage and involve them in the cooking process. So the picture book keeps on giving even after the story has finished! Back to the story - I'm a sucker for detail. This illustrations are bulging with detail. The prose is informative without being overwhelming and the way it has been formed is genuinely engaging. While I was reading the story I was actually reminded of a story board... it's very easy to imagine this as an animated short (which by the way I would love to see!). The Fabulous Tale of Fish and Chips is that perfect blend of artistic licence and age appropriate true history. Almost like a picture book version of Horrible Histories, but not horrible... delicious.

If you love origin stories, this is for you. It is based on the true story of Joseph Malin, who invented the dish, fish and chips. He loved his grandmother’s recipe for fried fish and decided to sell it. He worked with his neighbor Annette, who made fried potatoes AKA French fries. They found a way to work together to sell their food.
The story is engaging for elementary school children. The illustrations are delightful! The message of trying new things and working with someone is woven throughout the entire story. The author also has a note at the end about the history of this story and the fish and chips recipe. I can't wait to add this to my classroom library!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Pen & Sword Publishers through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

With thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword, Green Bean Books for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I'll be honest and admit I was expecting a perfectly good book. What I got was a fun and entertaining, great book! As soon as I finished reading my nephew asked me to read it again! Definitely a fun look at the history of fish and chips.

For teachers and parents using this book:
Inventors - This book would be great to use when learning about inventors - oftentimes necessity is the mother of invention.
Culinary History - If students are learning about their own history this book would be great to launch a discussion or project on special recipes from your family's history.
How To - There is a page in the book with the steps for making fish which would be great for a lesson on how to write a how to assignment.

Awe I love a good retelling of history. In this loosely based on history tale of how fish and chips came to be! The background illustration are detailed and you could spend all day looking through all the pages!

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The fabulous tale of fish and chips is a cute illustrated book about a man called Joseph Malin who really did invent the traditional fish that us bits eat today!
Young Joseph is poor and works very hard at his family business selling fish. One day he has a great idea, to try and sell the fish cooked as to his grandma's special recipe.
The fish is a hit and he goes on to sell it and make more money for his family.
This was a really cute book and I loved how the author combined it with the chips (which is the part that we don't know if it is really what happened).

The Fabulous Tale of Fish and Chips blends fact and fiction to tell the story of the first chippy in London, Joseph Malin. The illustrations have such cute little details, like a seagull sneaking off with a chip. While some of the text is a bit long, there is also some lovely language that young readers will enjoy. "Scrumptious and galumptious" will make the kiddos giggle. I also love the fish and chip endpapers! What a gorgeous little detail.
There is also a recipe for fried fish in the Jewish fashion. This could be a great way to extend learning with kids after reading.

Absolutely delightful book!
I love that it is based on history and includes a recipe! I am so excited to share this with my family. The illustrations are adorable and stimulating. I think fish and chips are delicious and I can already see myself reading it to my kids and subsequently making fish and chips for dinner.

I adored this story – it was such a wonderful read!

The book was easy to read and follow and it was a lovely story and one I will read with my daughter when she is a little older as it is a book for all ages, I loved it as a mum and she enjoyed the story as it is about fish and chips which she loves!

It was well written and I liked the ending too, one that left me with a little smile on my face and it was a pleasure to read.

It is 5 stars from me for his one – very highly recommended!