The Apple Cake

by Nienke van Hichtum

Book Overview

An old lady wants to bake an apple cake. She has everything she needs, except apples. So she sets off to market to buy some apples, taking a basket of plums to trade along the way, just in case...

This is a classic story of sharing, trading and caring. Children will love guessing what the old lady will acquire next, and how, and seeing how her journey brings her a full circle as her kindness is repaid."

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0863152287
• ISBN13: 9780863152283
• Release Date: July 1996
• Publisher: Floris Books
• Length: 24 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.5" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 4 to 6 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 1

Customer Reviews

Giving

A delightful and timeless children's story that tells of the circle of giving. I have read this story to my daughter since she was five years old and even though she is now nine and quite capable of reading to herself the Apple Cake still remains one of the few books that she will ask to have Mommy read to her before she goes to sleep. Beautifully illustrated with a recipe for apple cake. Highly recommended as a children's bedtime story.

A wonderful story

This is a wonderful book. My three year old, as well as my seven year old enjoy it. It is a soothing and sweet bedtime story. As a family, we look forward to making an applecake every fall from the recipe on the back. A wonderful tale of barter and generosity.

Non commercial and very pleasing.

This book is a bit old fashioned but I greatly enjoy the values presented.....bartering, friendliness and compassion. My daughter and I even made the apple cake from the recipe given. It is more like a sweet bread as opposed to a cake but it is delicious and we have made it more than once! As an aside note, I am certain this book would appeal to Waldorf parents.

Wonderful Journey

An old lady would like to make an apple cake, but she has only a basket of plums and "anyone knows you just can't make apple cake with plums no matter how hard you try." She sets off on a journey to the market with her plums in high hopes, "you never know I may just come to a place where there are apples but no plums." Along the way she meets people and makes exchanges... but will she ever get the apples she needs to make her cake? My children love this book. The details may be long for a restless two-year-old child, but after the age of three or so up to seven or eight children will like the journey and the tale. Nice follow up question to get older kids thinking, "what would have happened to everyone if the old lady did not walk to the market that day?" This is a book I'm going to keep for myself even after the children are grown and gone (like most books from Floris Publishing).

endearing story, soul pleasing art

This is one of my children's favorites! The story teaches the value of giving up what you have to help someone else, and the rewards that may come along when you least expect it. The recipe included for apple cake is fun to bake, too!