AN APPLE PIE FOR DINNER
by Susan VanHecke and illustrated by Carol Baicker-McKee
Granny Smith (get it?) decides to have an apple pie for dinner, but the one ingredient she lacks is—apples! 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 look—a 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)