Applesauce Weather

Gr 3–5—The fall of the first apple from the tree is the signal to Faith and Peter that it is applesauce weather and their aunt Lucy and uncle Arthur are on their way. But Peter and Faith aren't sure if Uncle Arthur will make it this year, as it is the first without his beloved Lucy. When Uncle Arthur finally arrives, he is not quite himself. He has lost the twinkle in his eye, and he is not energetically spinning yarns as he usually does. Faith and Peter are patient and slowly bring Uncle Arthur back to himself. They are hopeful that this will be the year he finally tells them truthfully how he lost his finger. This sweet story is told in verse through short, alternating chapters. Readers learn about Faith, Peter, and Uncle Arthur's perspectives and personalities through individual narrative poems. The book is divided into eight parts, each preceded by short poems entitled "Lucy's Song," through which readers are also introduced to Lucy and Arthur's life story from Aunt Lucy's point of view. The illustrations are charming and bring the setting to vivid life.