Review by Booklist Review
Old Granny Smith wants an apple pie for dinner but she doesn't have any apples. Filling a basket with plums from her tree, she sets off hoping to barter her way to the right fruit. She trades her plums for feathers, the feathers (for pillow stuffing) for flowers, the flowers for a gold coin from a prince, the coin for a puppy, and the puppy for finally apples. Then, all the traders follow her home and help her make an apple pie, and together, they ate every last crumb. The bas-relief illustrations, made from baked clay and mixed-media of found objects, create a 3-D, Claymation effect. From Granny's lace cap and embroidered apron to her woven basket and fuzzy dog, the fascinating tactile details will have young and old poring over the pages. Complete with a pie recipe and notes from both author and illustrator that cite the origin of the tale (the English folktale An Apple Dumpling ) and directions on how to make bas-reliefs, the book is a delicious treat to be shared anytime.--Cummins, Julie Copyright 2009 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4-This delightful cumulative story is based on the English folktale "The Apple Dumpling." Granny Smith has everything she needs to make apple pie except for apples, so she picks a basket full of plums from her tree and sets off to see if she can trade them for the missing ingredient. One woman takes the plums to make jam in exchange for some feathers, two children are happy to receive the feathers and give her some flowers, and so on, until she finally ends up with a basket of shiny apples. Granny invites all the people she met back to her house where they help her make the pie and then eat "every last crumb." The outstanding baked clay and mixed-media illustrations are expressive, colorful, and detailed: there is a wonderful picture of Granny standing in her kitchen reading a recipe and realizing that her apple crate is empty. An author's note, information about the illustrations, and a recipe are appended, and fun activities are available at a dedicated Web site. Told with folkloric flair, this scrumptious tale is perfect for reading aloud to a broad range of ages. Pair it with Linda White's Too Many Pumpkins (Holiday House, 1996) or include it in an apple-themed unit. Every library will want a copy.-Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Granny Smith (get it?) decides to have an apple pie for dinner, but the one ingredient she lacks isapples! But she does have plums, so off she goes with her basket of plums and trades them in succession for feathers, flowers, a gold coin, a puppy and, finally, the apples. On the way home, she invites her newfound friends to her house and together they make an apple pie for a communal dinner. The good-hearted text, adapted from an English folktale called "The Apple Dumpling," according to the author's note, scans well and will be a welcome addition to a storytime or family read-aloud. Baicker-McKee's bright, mixed-media collages include clay, fabric, pipe cleaners and other items, creating a pleasingly tactile looka puppy in the cover illustration (set on Granny Smith green) tugs at Granny's apron, rumpling it noticeably. An apple-pie recipe (with homemade crust!) is appended, with instructions for adult assistance. (illustrator's note) (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
