The Hole by the Apple Tree: An A-Z Discovery Tale

Harold's imagination takes him on an adventurous romp through the alphabet with a number of familiar storybook characters

PreSchool-Grade 1 --A successful cumulative concept book. Harold begins by digging a hole by the apple tree. As the neighborhood children stop by to watch, he explains his Jack-and-the-beanstalk fantasy. Each addition to his tale unfolds familiar elements of the traditional story, logically building on the alphabet: beanstalk, castle, dragons, elves, fairies, giant, hen, harp, and so on. Fresh watercolors and black crayon cartoons are set off against clean white backgrounds, much like Sue Truesdell's : rambunctious, cheerful children. This simple, useful, and clever picture book provides reinforcement for children learning letters and clarity for beginning readers. A tidy package. --Jacqueline Elsner, Athens Regional Library, GA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In this diverting variation on an alphabet book, Polette ( The Little Old Woman and the Hungry Cat ) introduces Harold, who digs a hole by the "Apple" tree. When two friends stop to watch, the boy explains that he is planting magic beans to make a "Beanstalk" grow up to a "Castle." Two more pals arrive to join Harold's inventive romp through a handful of fairy tales--and through the rest of the alphabet. The children visit a "King" in "Lilliput Land"; fly away with "Peter Pan"; and drop in on a "Queen" who wants to harm "Snow White." Finally, this cast of familiar characters gathers at the sleeping Harold's bedside. Making his debut as a children's book illustrator, Akgulian presents brightly hued cartoon drawings nicely attuned to Polette's playful narrative, which concludes with an alphabetical listing of objects for kids to locate in the text. Ages 3-up.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.