A lovely tale full of whimsy and fun. Based partly on historical events - Joseph Malin was the first to open a “chippy” selling fish and chips - the story clearly shows the importance of grit, determination, and cooperation.

How did I not know about the history of fish and chips?? My knowledge of food history is so lacking in some places. BUT THIS IS SO INTERESTING. Despite the fact that I'm a vegetarian and don't eat fish (but I love chips so much, nom), this book made me SO HUNGRY. And it also made me crave matzo ball soup, haha. The descriptions of the recipes are lush and by the end of the book I promise you'll be hungry too. What a great read of a historical chef! And the drawings are super cute :D

The fanciful origin of the first fish and chips shop in London. Most of it conjuncture, but Spanish Jews did make fried fish, and the first shop did have that, but as to where the chips came from, is anyone's guess.

The story is still fun, and bright and colorful, plus you get a recipe for fried fish at the end of the story.


<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

I thought this was a fun story of the origin of fish'n'chips" I think kids who are familiar with the foods, or who have been to England, will enjoy reading the story. Well, it may get them interested in learning about another culture just from reading this book! Loved the illustrations! Fun, quick read!

This is a lovely little tale of the origins of fish & chips. I really liked the illustrations and the friendships formed throughout the story. I liked how the families were really featured too.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Review of The Fabulous Tale of Fish and Chips by Helaine Becker
This is a lovely quirky children’s book telling the story of how fried fish and chips came to be. A fun little tale and one I have never seen before in a children’s book. Cute illustrations to boot. My 6yr old loved the story and gave it 5stars saying it was “awesome”. Now we all want fish and chips for tea lol.

I received an advance copy of, The Fabulous Tale of Fish and Chips, by Helaine Becker. This is a really cute story of how fish and chips came about.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An imaginative history about the origin of the famous British Fish &Chips. It was so cute and funny with a good recipe to try at home in order to make your own F&C. The illustrations were nice to look at and made the story more fun to read. It was simple and easy to discover so, more interesting for kids.

This is a great children's story about Joseph Malin and the opening of the very first fish and chips shop in London's East End in 1860. The illustrations are fabulous and fun and will hold children's attention. Loved the flavourful wording in the book.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher (Green Bean Books), the author Helaine Becker and illustrator Omer Hoffmann. Publication dates 31 Aug 2021.

Fun little story for children about how Fish and Chips came about!
Told in a fun way that is easy to understand for younger children.
Great illustrations too.
It does say at the end of the book that the part about the story of fish and chips coming together isn't strictly true but who cares - I like that idea 😂

I certainly didn’t expect this book to be as good as it is. What a fabulously written story!

Joseph Malin loves his grandmother’s fried fish and hits open the idea of selling them to make more money for his struggling immigrant Jewish family. His neighbour Annette, a greengrocer, finds that Joseph’s fried fish is affecting the business at her shop. She hits on the idea of using her own family recipe of fried potatoes and selling them. One fine day, when the twain meet, we discover how fish and chips came into being.

The story is wonderfully penned. Right from the first page to the last, it holds your attention. The language is quite simple and hence easy to understand for little readers. The illustrations add further magic to the book. They are fabulous and support the narrative flow perfectly.

I simply adored this fictional take on the origin of fish and chips and would heartily recommend it to independent readers aged 6+.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pen & Sword Publishers, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A very pleasant whimsy looking at the invention of fish and chips, as two different caterers are forced to combine and sell their fried ingredients together instead of in opposition. If it is true that it was the Jews from Spain and elsewhere, and their fashion for protecting fried fish in matzah meal coating until they were eaten on the Sabbath when no cooking was allowed, that gave us take-away fish, then I'm one of the many eternally grateful. But the implication that that family here, and only that one family, knew how to make fish like that, and that only one family had the tradition that allowed for perfect chips, is a bit too fanciful. Still, the target audience will find this a reasonable story of cooperation, with an added recipe – it's a good job I'm writing this an hour from getting wrapped around some fish and chips, and no mistake!