Beth Charles

The story begins with an enticing premise:

“The year Sophie was born,
her parents planted six new apple
trees in the orchard, just for her.

‘When you’re six, you can use the
apples from these trees to make
your own pie,’ they said.”

Sophie couldn’t wait, and helped with all the chores necessary to help apples grow, first with pruning, and then helping the beekeeper set up hives for bees to pollinate the trees.

Finally the apples were ready, and Sophie helped her dad pick the apples. Both parents helped her bake a pie. At the end she declared, “Apple pie is best when you grow it yourself!”

An afterword by the author describes her own apple orchard. She then briefly reviews what tools and activities are needed to grow and harvest apples. Finally, of course, she includes a recipe for “Sophie’s Apple Pie.” Since the author declares that at her own family farm, they make about eight thousand apple pies a year, one feels confident her recipe - which is very simple - will be a good one.

Colorful illustrations by Katie Rewse are perfect for the intended age group of 3-7.

Evaluation:. There are some good lessons for kids in this book, such as the value of long-term planning, the satisfaction that comes with working toward a goal, and the sweet rewards of deferred satisfaction.… (mais)