From Apple Trees to Cider, Please!

A mother and daughter go apple picking in a sprawling orchard, “past dappled leaves and through the loud/ and happy apple-picking crowd.” Chernesky (Sun Above and Blooms Below) describes the process of turning apples into cider: cleaning them, dropping them in the shredder, and cranking the press (“Twist and press to squish and mash./ See the cider splish and splash!”). The bustling orchard hosts seasonal fixtures like pumpkin-headed scarecrows, tractor rides, and treats like cider doughnuts and fritters, which are sampled by the orchard’s other high-spirited guests. Chernesky’s playfully chirrupy rhymes and Patton’s (PB&J Hooray) exuberant cartooning deliver a juicy taste of a quintessential autumnal experience. Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: Susan Hawk, Bent Agency. Illustrator’s agency: Bright Agency. (Sept.)