How to Grow an Apple Pie

July 1, 2020
A young girl grows up in an apple orchard. When Sophie is born, her parents plant six new apple trees. They tell the infant that when she turns 6, she will be able to pick apples from her trees and make a delicious pie. Year after year, Sophie waits eagerly. Finally, it is her sixth birthday! But alas, both Sophie and her trees have a bit more waiting to do. First, Sophie learns how to prune the branches. Then she watches the tiny blossoms form. She helps the beekeeper (and also the bees--she flutters around the orchard in butterfly wings as the bees buzz and pollinate). When the fruit begins to ripen, she learns the proper way to pick an apple. Then, finally, it is time to make a pie! In a concluding note, debut author Charles explains how she moved to Vermont and purchased an apple orchard, raising her family there. A detailed section on orchard tools and an apple-pie recipe are appended. Charles also includes some mind-bending apple stats: Their orchard once produced more than 10,000 bushels--which is about the weight of 50 elephants. So they decided to make pies to sell. Sophie and her mom are portrayed as white while her dad has slightly darker skin. An inviting behind-the-scenes introduction to an orchard. (Picture book. 3-7)

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