The Apple Pie That Papa Baked

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: April 8, 2008

The Apple Pie That Papa Baked

by Lauren Thompson (author) and Jonathan Bean (illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 2-8

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (July 24, 2007)

… These are the apples, juicy and red, that went in the pie, warm and sweet, that papa baked … for guess who! …

This is a wonderful lyrical book that shows us how truly amazing the Earth is. It teaches us that the apple pie that papa baked for his daughter is much more than just dessert. The apples are picked from the tree – the tree needs water, sun, rain and clouds. The roots are planted into the spinning, ‘blooming’ earth that is surrounded by the sky that holds the sun and the clouds that bring the rain. This book is such a simple way to show appreciation for nature and the Earth—the bonus is that the main character shares her pie at the end of the story with YOU! The very natural delightful illustrations complete the whole effect, leaving you feeling peaceful and at one with nature. The buzz is that this book could be a contender for the Caldecott medal.