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WHERE IS THE APPLE PIE?

Name: WHERE IS THE APPLE PIE?
Author: Valeri Gorbachev
ISBN: 0-399-23385-7

by Valeri Gorbachev ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1999

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From Gorbachev (Nicky and the Big, Bad Wolves, 1998, etc.), an evanescent cumulative story that takes readers on a treasure hunt that ends before the treasure—an apple pie—is recovered. A billy goat is strolling along the lane when its neighbor, the pig, issues a greeting and asks where the goat has been. The goat replies that he has been to the bakery, where he bought an apple pie, but robbers stole it. “Where are the robbers?” asks the pig, launching a call-and-response session as the goat’s one-line answers trigger further one-line queries from the pig. That pie has been carried into a forest that burns, and out into a lake, across the desert, and all the way to horizon through fog and wind. For most spreads, the goat and pig chat companionably on one page while opposite it, the pie’s adventures are transpiring, complete with thefts, forest fires, wind storms, and camels drinking their fill. The pig tenders a final summary of all that went before, as meanwhile the entire cast of characters amass. “So where is the apple pie?” Not here. The pace is crisp, the punch line a breeze, and the whole package is lighter than pie crust; children will pick up the pattern of the chatter quickly and join in the pig’s questions at story hours. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-399-23385-7

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Philomel

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE WAS A TURKEY ON THE FARM
by Valeri Gorbachev ; illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev

- BOOK REVIEW
LOST AND FOUND DUCKLINGS
by Valeri Gorbachev ; illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev

- BOOK REVIEW
NO SWIMMING FOR NELLY
by Valeri Gorbachev ; illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev

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QUACK AND COUNT

by Keith Baker & illustrated by Keith Baker ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1999

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Baker (Big Fat Hen, 1994, etc.) engages in more number play, posing ducklings in every combination of groups, e.g., “Splashing as they leap and dive/7 ducklings, 2 plus 5.” Using a great array of streaked and dappled papers, Baker creates a series of leafy collage scenes for the noisy, exuberant ducklings to fill, tucking in an occasional ladybug or other small creature for sharp-eyed pre-readers to spot. Children will regretfully wave goodbye as the ducks fly off in neat formation at the end of this brief, painless introduction to several basic math concepts. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-15-292858-8

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
LMNO PEA-QUEL
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

- BOOK REVIEW
HAP-PEA ALL YEAR
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE GREEN PEAS
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

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BIG BROWN BEAR

by David McPhail & illustrated by David McPhail ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1999

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Big Brown Bear, with a natty bowler hat, is all set to paint the house in this cheerful Level 1 reader. Every page presents a full-color scene and a few words of easily predicted, often rhyming text: “Bear is big. Bear is brown. Bear goes up. He comes down.” Big Bear climbs a ladder with a pail of blue paint, while nearby, Little Bear plays with a ball and bat—“Oh no! Little Bear! Do not do that!” These are simple words, but sometimes challenging ones, e.g., there are two uses of up, as in climbing the ladder and washing up. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations provide nearly ideal context, while also amplifying the story. The format is attractive and practical, featuring large type on a white background that is placed for easy reading. Beginning readers will be amused by the gentle humor in the book, and feel accomplished to have tackled it themselves. (Picture book. 5-7)