Apple Cake

October 18, 2019

PreS-Gr 1-This charming book celebrates family, food, and feelings of gratitude. A young girl thanks a tree, a flower, animals, and other living creatures. She shows her appreciation of nature as she and her dog romp through the rural landscape, gather fresh milk and eggs, and picks apple in the company of friends. The folk-art illustrations are whimsical, with dark colors that pop against white backgrounds. The bright-eyed characters sport jolly expressions and smiles throughout. All of the elements come together with creation of an apple cake also adds to the theme of unity. The theme of love is often communicated visually through character expressions and embraces. The artwork complements the book's narrative beautifully and allows the book to naturally progress toward a satisfying and pleasant ending. The text is written with a smooth rhyming style. A recipe for apple cake is appended. VERDICT A year-round selection that is perfect for Thanksgiving sharing. It encourages children to celebrate and embrace life's wonderful gifts on a daily basis.-Deanna Smith, Pender County Public Library, NC

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2019
Preschool-G *Starred Review* A little girl and her dog romp through a field, pause beneath a tree, and stop by a barn to greet cows and chickens. With milk and eggs now in her basket, she walks to the kitchen, joined by two girls who were gathering apples. And over and over, she expresses her gratitude in short, rhyming verse: Thank you, cows, / thank you, hens, / thank you, family, / thank you, friends. Near the end, elements from the previous verses come together in a brief but smooth reprise before the final couplet, Thank you for the / food we make, / thank you all for / apple cake. On the last double-page illustration, the family gathers around a picnic table to share home-made apple cake. The clear, fluid verses form a graceful expression of thanks from a child with a deep well of satisfaction. Written in words short and simple enough for beginning readers, the story will have broad appeal. Softly shaded, colored-pencil drawings create a series of well-knit, cozy scenes that glow with light, warmth, and vibrancy. An apple cake recipe is appended. Put this beguiling picture book on display during apple-picking season, and remember that it's perfect for Thanksgiving, as well.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)