How to Bake an Apple Pie

PreS-Gr 1–The latest book in Reagan and Wildish’s “How To” series is geared for beginning readers and is easy to follow in a legible font. Grandpa and his grandson plan a surprise for Grandma. While she’s out of the house, they follow the steps to baking an apple pie, from picking the apples and slicing them to making the pie dough and arranging all of it into a pie. It’s put into the oven, and the baking timer is set when they hear Grandma coming home. “The pie is not ready!” says Grandpa, “We must slow her down.” The grandson replies, “Don’t worry, Grandpa! I have a great idea.” This story unites generations of characters into a loving, supportive family. The cartoonish figures, drawn with large heads and bodies with spaghetti-thin arms and legs, are illustrated with deep, primary colors that create warmth and appeal. Readers will be charmed by the narrative and its humorous twist when Grandma comes home too early.