Tomatoes on Trial: The Fruit V. Vegetable Showdown

Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? The US Supreme Court takes on the case in this juicy history picture book for kids ages 7 to 10.

In the late 1800s, American produce king John Nix just wanted to sell tomatoes. But when import taxes on popular vegetables impacted his profits, he knew he had to remedy the situation. Nix set out to prove that tomatoes, which have seeds and grow on vines, were clearly fruits. That was the claim Nix argued all the way to the US Supreme Court. With Nix on Team Fruit, and the US government on Team Vegetable, both sides slung definition after definition in an epic, legal food fight. This little-known agriculturally-based story from American history will fascinate young readers and encourage them to take a stand and defend their opinions.

Lindsay H. Metcalf is a journalist-turned-award-winning author of nonfiction and poetry for children and young adults. She lives in Kansas with her husband and children near the corn, wheat, soybean, and milo farm she grew up on. She is the author of several farm-related titles, including Farmers Unite! and Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm.

Edwin Fotheringham is the award-winning illustrator of many picture book biographies, including Full of Beans, a NSTA/CBC Best STEM Book and winner of the AFBFA 2020 Book of the Year, Tee Time on the Moon, and Dazzlin’ Dolly. His work has received the Sibert Honor, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor, an Orbis Honor Book, and much more.