In this thought-provoking tale reminiscent of Seuss, Farmer McPhee finds a red lemon in his orchard and cries, "It's red as a stop sign! It's red as a rose! I can't have red lemons where yellow fruit grows! Imagine a world where lemonade's red? Where once-yellow cupcakes are crimson instead?" As he tosses the red lemon across the water, he can't imagine that it will land on a small island, sprout a seed, and someday bring forth an orchard of lemon trees...where people will travel to from all over, to try the red lemons that are "six times as sweet!"
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1–Farmer McPhee delights in his grove of lemon trees. Each perfect lemon is tasty, tart, and, most importantly, yellow. His pride fairly bursts off the page, as does his outrage when he discovers a red lemon on one of his trees. He cannot imagine a world in which lemonade is red and cupcakes are crimson. In a fit of anger, he hurls the offending fruit across the sea to a distant island. Two hundred years pass and McPhees prized lemon tree groves are replaced by weeds. But on the island, a vibrant city has grown up around a grove of red lemon trees. As it turns out, these lemons are six times sweeter than yellow ones, and now people travel across oceans and seas to get them. Bold, enticing illustrations dominate the pages. Staake creates a fun, dynamic world reminiscent of Dr. Seusss in its sweeping arcs, bright colors, multicolored cartoon people, and effortlessly rhyming text. The circles used to create Farmer McPhee and his trees give the book a polished, graphic-arts feel. Pair this tangy tale with Laura Vaccaro Seegers Lemons Are Not Red (Roaring Brook, 2004) for a refreshing storytime combination.–Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Bob Staake, who grew up with Golden Books, is a former political cartoonist, a highly successful commercial artist, and the author and/or illustrator of many critically acclaimed books for children (Pigs Rock!; Hello, Robots; Little Golden Picture Dictionary) and adults (The Complete Book of Humorous Art).
A self-confessed workaholic who uses various styles, Staake's award-winning commercial art has graced the pages of MAD Magazine, Time, and The Washington Post.
Staake has published with Viking and HarperCollins; his illustrations for the upcoming LGB, I'M A TRUCK, debut in Spring '06.The illustrator lives in Cape Cod, MA
A self-confessed workaholic who uses various styles, Staake's award-winning commercial art has graced the pages of MAD Magazine, Time, and The Washington Post.
Staake has published with Viking and HarperCollins; his illustrations for the upcoming LGB, I'M A TRUCK, debut in Spring '06.The illustrator lives in Cape Cod, MA
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The style of illustration, in which people and objects are rendered as basic shapes, adds an unforgettable individual touch
February 3, 2007
Format:Hardcover
Critically acclaimed illustrator Bob Staake presents The Red Lemon, a picturebook about a lemon farmer named McPhee, who grows bright yellow lemons. But among his fruits, one day there appears a red lemon! "Who'd squeeze this red thing in their afternoon tea? / Who'd buy a red lemon from Farmer McPhee?" Farmer McPhee throws the red lemon away to another island. But the red lemon's story does not end there - two hundred years later, the yellow lemon orchid is reduced to weeds, while the seeds from the red lemon have created a grove of red lemon trees beloved for miles around, because red lemons are six times as sweet! The style of illustration, in which people and objects are rendered as basic shapes, adds an unforgettable individual touch to this delightful read-aloud story.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow! We just LOVE this book! Super fun and creative...a must for your little one!
September 30, 2006
By N. DiMarco
Format:Hardcover
I know this author from his baby/toddler board books that are different and interesting, so I was so excited to see this on the shelf at Borders yesterday. The whole family loves it and we have already given it as a birthday present. A MUST for your little one's library!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Often, parents and their toddlers don't agree on books. My daughter loves some books that drive me (and my wife) crazy. But this book is different. We all love it.
"The Red Lemon" reads like a modern Dr. Seuss book. The rhymes are clever, the book is funny, and the story is interesting. Bob Staake is also a great illustrator; his artwork is hip, clean, and modern. It's nice to see modern graphic design in childrens' books.
"The Red Lemon" reads like a modern Dr. Seuss book. The rhymes are clever, the book is funny, and the story is interesting. Bob Staake is also a great illustrator; his artwork is hip, clean, and modern. It's nice to see modern graphic design in childrens' books.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Rx Doc
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The red lemon is the tale of a farmer who finds a red lemon and discards it because it doesn't fit the norm. What happens with the lemon is the lesson we all learn in life... different isn't bad and in fact it may be even better. My 3 children love the rhythmic prose of this book and the colorful art. They love the lesson but they were a bit disappointed that I could not get red lemons at the grocery store. All in all, we love this book and others by this author.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By VCP
Format:Hardcover
We discovered this book at our local library, and after renewing twice, had to purchase it for our own collection. This book is not only beautifully illustrated, and very nicely written, but it inspires readers (young and old) to imagine what gifts lie in unexpected surprises. A good lesson for us all. Just lovely. You won't be disappointed.
By Psyche
Format:Paperback
Instead of trying to explain why I like this book, I decided to write down what my three-and-a-half year old son said when we first read this book: "Wow", "Beautiful", "Delicious", "Awesome", "This is wonderful."
If you still want more information on why I bought this book, I could tell you how we've read this story almost every day, and usually more than once a day; how I had to hide it to write this review; how Bob Staake is my new favorite author/illustrator for the preschool set; how delectably brilliant the illustrations are; and how the quirky writing borders on ridiculous without crossing over. Or I could just let my son sum it up: "I love it!"
If you still want more information on why I bought this book, I could tell you how we've read this story almost every day, and usually more than once a day; how I had to hide it to write this review; how Bob Staake is my new favorite author/illustrator for the preschool set; how delectably brilliant the illustrations are; and how the quirky writing borders on ridiculous without crossing over. Or I could just let my son sum it up: "I love it!"
By Lillsoph
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
We love this author/illustrator and buy everything he writes. Our daughters two and one love the lemon story. It is in our regular rotation right now.
By In VA
Format:Hardcover
We just love it.
Found it at library one day. We take it out all the time.
Just fun. That armed McPhee and his lemon.......
Found it at library one day. We take it out all the time.
Just fun. That armed McPhee and his lemon.......
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my favorites!
The story and illustrations are incredibly charming. I love this author/illustrator and his work will brighten your child's day! (It makes a great gift, too.)
Published 20 months ago by luckyshark
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this lemon book
Fantasticly whimsical pictures, and fun to read rhymes. My daughter and I have never tired of it.
Published on October 28, 2010 by Beth M.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bob Staake is an amazing author/illustrator
Bob Staake is a great author and his illustrations are amazing and vibrant. Both my 3 and 22 month old love this book, for different reasons. Read more
Published on March 25, 2010 by A. Eckert
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