2nd June Fish and Chips Day

There is an adult book by Panikos Panayi called Fish and Chips: A Takeaway History. In this book Panayi asserts that in British culture when it comes to  cuisine, nothing comes to mind faster than fish and chips. Sprinkled with salt and vinegar and often accompanied by mushy peas, fish and chips were the original British fast food. He discovers the origins of eating fish and potatoes in Britain.  The birth of the meal itself, telling how fried fish was first introduced and sold by immigrant Jews before it spread to the British working classes in the early nineteenth century.

This information is the subject of a children's picture book The Fabulous Tale of Fish and Chips by Elaine Becker and Omer Hoffmann. This is the playful, fictional account of how the real-life Joseph Malin, a poor Jewish immigrant, invented fish and chips. Joseph Malin loves his grandmother's fried fish and thinks he may be able to sell it to make some pocket money. Annette, the greengrocer across the street, sees an opportunity to hawk her own family favourite: Belgian-style fried potatoes. The rivalry sparks a new culinary feast.

The English Reading Scheme, Book Bug also has a book that tells the history of fish and chips...The Truth About Fish and Chips by Paul Mason.

Australians also love their fish and chips and I'm sure most of us do not know about the origins of this meal. It is popular on visits to the seaside where inevitably it will be shared with greedy seagulls. So any Australian books that feature fish and chips usually also feature seagulls.

• Chip  by Kylie Howarth is such fun. Chip is a seagull with a penchant for chips. The chip seller decides to thwart him and his friends. A battle ensues.

• Max by Marc Martin is a picture book about good friends Bob and Max. After work they go fishing together until ...

• Let's Go to the Beach  by Gwyn Perkins tells the story of Iggy and his grandfather's day at the beach that includes fish and chips.

• Chippy Chasers: Chippy Jackpot  by Sam Cotton is a graphic novel featuring Seagull mates Steve-O, Stanley and Stacey and they love chips.

• Super Geeks: Fish and Chips  by James Hart 

These books also feature chips.

• Don't Dip Your Chips in Your Drink, Kate!  by Caryl Hart and Leigh Hodgkinson

• The Best Chip by Kate Leake

• All Mine! by Zehra Hicks

• The Last Chip  by Duncan Beedie