Customer Reviews

How to Bake an American Pie

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My kids love this book and are begging me to buy our own copy. (which is what I am doing) The reverend at the UU Church we attend read the story, and had the kids help act it out, as part of the service commemorating the 4th of July. It is a great book for remembering that we are all part of this land called America, and one that I will use in the classroom as well as here at home.

I like Karma Wilson's work and this patriotic book is no exception. The premise of the rhyming story here is what goes into American. The author and illustrator use the "ingredients" to bake an American Pie.

"Here's how to bake
an American pie
(first ever made on the
Forth of July:)

Preheat
the world until
fiery hot
with a
Hunger
and thirst
to be free.

Now find
a giant melting pot
on the shores
of a great
shining sea."

The illustrator has used a dog and a cat to act as the bakers. The author's text is rhyming and covers all the aspects of what is good about America and how this goodness was all mixed together to make this wonderful American Pie.

"Add
purple mountain majesties.
Measure
out meekness
and might.
Pour cupfuls
of courage,
as much as you please:
then leaven
with dawn's early light."

This is a smooth read with wonderful illustrations. It is an ideal group read. In these trying days our children are exposed, via T.V. and the world around them, adults yelling and screaming at each other, many times talking about things that children (and I might add, the adults themselves who are doing the screaming), have no clue as to what is going on. This little book is a nice reminder of how we got here and how it is suppose to be.

This is good stuff folks.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

What I like best about Karma Wilson is her ability to cobble together great silliness and wonderful rhymes. This is not a silly book. It's a great book, but in my opinion, the text goes over the heads of the little ones who would sit on your lap enjoying the pictures (which are great!) but the pictures may keep the older, more appropriate audience at bay because they find the book too "baby-ish." If you're looking for a read aloud book with patriotic themes, this is a great book. If you're looking for some Karma Wilson silliness, I'd suggest trying her book Whopper Cake instead.

This is a clever rhyming book showing how all the wonderful things in America can be put together to make a pie. The illustratons are fabulous - a great work of art. When I finish reading this book, I have to stop and think about our country and how fortunate I am to live here. It would be good for all children to read to remind them in a fun way about their country.