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Review: Tomatoes on Trial

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Written by Lindsay H. Metcalf
Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham
New York: Calkins Creek, 2025. Informational.

An age old debate that has caused divisions in my household for over six years: Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Do we go with the botanical definition of what a fruit is or judge a tomato based on how it's used culinarily? This informational picture book tells the story of John Nix and his attempt to get tomatoes classified as a fruit so he wouldn't have to pay the 10% vegetable tax to import the nightshades from abroad. The lineup is then set for the great tomato debate as it took place in the Supreme Court case of Nix vs. Hedden. Arguments are laid out in a "food fight" before the court confirmed the tomato's place as a vegetable.

I loved how this book put historical context to what can be a humorous debate. Peppered with fruit and vegetable puns, Metcalf isn't shy about sharing the financial motivations of both Nix and the US government in trying to decide how a tomato should be classified. The illustrations do a good job showing which arguments belong to each side and give nice basic botany explanations for those not familiar with plant anatomy. Back matter includes four pages of definitions, external sources, and instructions on how to prepare for a debate. Overall, this book is a fun introduction to taxes, tariffs, and supreme court cases and could also be used to help kids learn how to craft an argument.
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