We've got a delicious new picture book to share with you today, Potatoes for Pirate Pearl, written by Jennifer Concepcion and illustrated by Chloe Burgett. The book will be released September 19, 2023.

This cleverly illustrated pirate-packed and hilarious read-aloud is an entertaining way to introduce young readers to where their food comes from.

Emetophobia warning: mentioned twice. 

If you're trying to teach your kids about food, sustainability, and self-sufficiency, this is the book for you! (If you're not yet, this is a great entry point for this lifelong educational endeavor!)

Pearl is SO bored of her hardtack food at sea. Lo and behold, she heads ashore and follows a treasure map to...you guessed it, a farm! Farmer Fay feeds Pearl, and then shows her how to grow potatoes! A tour around the farm teaches Pearl much - including how to grow potatoes on her ship! Landlubber meets pirate and hilarity (and good food) ensues. The book also includes recipes, and how to grow your own potatoes. 

Highly recommended!

We were lucky enough to catch up with Jennifer Concepcion and ask her about the book, inspiration, and more. Here's what she had to say...

Please tell us about your new book, Potatoes for Pirate Pearl...
Pirate Pearl and her parrot Petunia learn how potatoes are planted, grown, and harvested in my entertaining picture book about food and friendship.

Pirate Pearl and her parrot Petunia are HUNGRY, and after they make the hardtack biscuits walk the plank, they go in search of a perfect provision for their next sea voyage. Where do they end up? On Farmer Fay's potato farm! Farmer Fay shows Pirate Pearl how potatoes grow on the farm and how potatoes can be cooked into many different delicious potato recipes.

Pirate Pearl and Petunia not only gain an understanding of farming but also a new friendship with Farmer Fay!

What inspired you to write this book?
I have always been interested in the process of growing food and the idea of farm to table nutrition. As a younger-type person I had the opportunity to travel to several different countries while participating in sustainable farming practices. This experience had a profound impact on the way that I perceive nutrition and continues to impact my lifestyle. After becoming a parent and a teacher, it has been such a joy to pass on this kind of hands-on food learning to the next generation; being able to grow, eat and harvest their own food deepens kids' understanding of their bodies and their connection to the Earth!

Kids can certainly relate to ALL the goodness and humor in this book. How did you create the character of Pearl, and her adventures?
I am a kindergarten teacher and I have a science unit on plant life cycles each year. I was trying to come up with a new way to capture the attention of my students and to really get them engaged in the content - a funny little story about a pirate who gets sick from not eating fresh food popped into my head! I started telling the story to introduce the plant unit and my kindies LOVED it. We carried the story through the whole experience of sprouting and growing potatoes in our classroom and I thought to myself - Hey! Why not write this down? Once you start talking like a pirate, it's hard to stop! Pearl's voice just kind of poured out onto the page and I fell in love with the idea of a lady pirate out adventuring on the seven seas. Farmer Fay came into the tale with her potatoes and patience and just felt like an old friend right away. I can't wait to explore what else they will get up to - these two  have many more adventures up their sleeves (or in their pockets).

How can kids learn more about growing (and eating!) potatoes?
The best tip I can give is - grow them yourself! I really encourage readers of the book to follow the instructions at the end of the story and give potato growing a try. You might be surprised by how simple it is. There are some fun recipes at the end of the book as well, and many more great potatoey recipes out there! Pearl gave something new a try - why not you? When you are investigating new recipes, please be sure to get an adult's help with cutting and cooking. 

How can readers find your work? 
My website is www.jenwritescr.com

My twitter is @JenConcepcionCR

My instagram is jenwritescr

My GoodReads is Jennifer Concepcion

If you could leave a review here that would be great! 

The amazon link to purchase a copy of Potatoes for Pirate Pearl is : 
Potatoes for Pirate Pearl

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I want to express my deep gratitude to my agent Dan Cramer (PageTurner Literary), to Julia Recko from Feeding Minds Press and to Emma Dryden, the editor on this project. Dan has been my dream agent from the start. Julia and Emma both made the editing and production process so smooth and enjoyable for this first time author, you will forever have my thanks!

Author Jennifer Concepcion was born in Haiti, raised in northern British Columbia and now lives in Costa Rica with her three children. She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Studies, and a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. Jennifer teaches bilingual Kindergarten and writes for kids of all ages. In her spare time she can be found building pirate forts at the beach or hammock-swinging under the mango tree, lost in a good book. Learn more about Jennifer at jenwritescr.com. 

Illustrator Chloe Burgett draws pirates, tea parties, and mysterious animals from her home in Nebraska alongside her pet cat, Pencil. She is the illustrator of several picture books, including Big Bold Beautiful Me by Jane Yolen and Maddison Stemple-Piatte and Cooler than Lemonade by Harshita Jerath. When not illustrating, Chloe is sailing the seven seas looking for potatoes! Learn more about Chloe at chloebartistry.com. 

Feeding Minds Press is a project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The mission of the Foundation is to build awareness and understanding of agriculture through education. The goal of Feeding Minds Press is to publish accurate and engaging books about agriculture that connect readers to where their food comes from and who grows it. Learn more at feedingmindspress.com.