School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-Alfred's mother is outside rocking him in his cradle when she bites into a delicious apple and decides to plant its seeds. Over the years, the tree and the boy grow, and he reads, paints, sits under its branches, and often climbs up into its limbs. He also cares for the tree, carefully pruning it and gathering its fruit. When Alfred grows up, he marries his sweetheart beneath its blossoms. By the end of the story, he and the tree are both old and withered, and together they enjoy the company of his grandchildren. On a stormy night, Alfred dies, and the tree also perishes, split in half by the wind. However, the circle of life continues as a seed sprouts beneath the shattered trunk. This warm, simple story explores the idea of generations, not only for people, but also for other living things. Brightly colored, full-page watercolor paintings show the characters enjoying the juicy fruit and the beauty of nature. The apples could not be redder, and Alfred is the picture of contentment as he wiles his childhood away beneath the tree's branches. A good addition for picture-book collections, particularly for units on fall and apples.-Leslie Barban, Richland County Public Library, Columbia, SC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.