In 1828, a young French cook learned how to make the chef's specialty, round sliced potatoes fried in grease until crispy. Jean Frederic thought they were so good, he decided to sell them on the street. They were a hit! After making a lot of money, he left for his home in Germany. He went through Belgium on the way, where he set up his wagon to sell his potatoes. They were a hit. He decided to call them 'fritz', like his nickname and like the French word for fries, frites! So busy was he that he needed to find a way to work more quickly. He installed a metal grate in a table and used it to cut many potatoes at one time. Everyone loved the new shape that you could eat with your fingers.

Little Inventions by Raphael Fejto is a series of kid-sized books about objects that children encounter every day with little thought of how, where and when they were invented. In fact, the beginnings of these common objects are fascinating and their true stories are told here in amusing anecdotes and charming illustrations. Each book closes with a memory game, making them useful for early reader groups. AGES: 8-10 AUTHOR: Raphael Fejto wrote his first book at school at 11 years old, and by 12 he had become a child actor. He went on to make films, including as co-star in Louis Malle's "Au revoir, les enfants" in 1987. He lives in Paris, where he has written and illustrated over 30 children's books.