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This story for young children focuses on the letter A/a throughout the tale. Anne is four-and-a-half and is with her aunt and uncle when they decide to eat freshly picked apples, which her aunt chose instead of pears. Anne and her uncle discuss the weather that aids in the apple tree growing and how they plant the apple seeds so they can grow their own apples. They use a shovel and a watering can in order to plant the seeds, and Anne’s uncle discusses how the seeds need to be planted in order to grow. The story continues regarding having to wait years for the seeds to grow into trees and produce apples. After these six years, Anne teases her uncle about whether apples are better than pears.
The author’s simple, readable tale features nice artwork and examines the relationship between Anne and her Aunt Allison and Uncle Allen, focusing on eating healthy fruit. A lesson about growing the fruit is clearly taught, but the larger teaching is about learning the letter A/a. Set apart in bold print, it highlights the letter for various words in order for the child to begin to understand the alphabet. This is the first picture book in a planned series about the twenty-six letters. Appropriately written, it is a book that can be read to children and one that, as they grow, can then be read by them alone to help them understand the meaning of each word, especially as they learn about the letter. The book ends on a humorous note, which is sure to bring smiles to the faces of its young readers.