Applesauce

by Klaas Verplancke

Nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Prize and listed as one of the Best Children's Books of 2012 by Kirkus Johnny's daddy has smooth cheeks, an apple in his throat and sounds like a mom when he sings in the bath. At other times a cactus grows out of his chin and his breath smells like cauliflower. At times he has warm hands and his fingers taste like applesauce. Other times his hands are cold and flash like lightning, and he becomes a thunder daddy. When this happens Johnny wants to find a new daddy, but he eventually realizes that thunder daddies don't last forever. And that there's nothing like the comfort that comes from those we love. Klaas Verplancke's story, with its humorous, energetic and imaginative illustrations, will strike a chord with many young children and parents as they discover that love sometimes means setting limits, and that people do get angry, but that where there is love, it doesn't last.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Klaas Verplancke is an author, illustrator, animator, and professor of illustration who has won acclaim for his work in the New Yorker and the New York Times, as well as for the Museum of Modern Art and other international venues. A finalist for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration and a frequent nominee for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, he lives in Belgium. His books have won the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Award and been selected for the White Raven and IBBY Honor lists.

Reviews

[Essareh · Rating 5 out of 5]

بابای شکم‌بالشی
ترجمهٔ محمدرضا فرزاد
نشر پرتقال

اگه پدر بودم و یه پسر داشتم، اینو بهش هدیه می‌دادم.
اول ویژگی‌های ظاهری مردانهٔ پدر رو یا زبانی کودکانه توصیف می‌کنه. «روی چانه‌اش کاکتوس سبز می‌شود» و «یک سیب توی گلویش گیر کرده است».
بعد به حالات روزمرهٔ پدر می‌پردازه؛ اینکه براش پورهٔ سیب درست می‌کنه و گاهی خسته‌ست.
بعد به عصبانیت باباش می‌پردازه. اینو از دو طرف می‌شه دید: ۱. از نگاه یه والد. وقتی بچه‌ای رو دعوا می‌کنه، اون چه حسی داره. ۲. از نگاه کودک. عصبانیت پدر (و مادر) ماندگار نیست.
تصویرگریش هم باحاله. جانی آرزو داره باباش هزارتا دست داشته باشه و خونه روی درختی بنا شده که شاخه‌هاش شکل یه‌عالمه دسته.
به‌نظرم کلاً برای هر بچه‌ای که با پدرشه، خوبه؛ اما برای کودکی که «فقط» با پدرش زندگی می‌کنه، فوق‌العاده‌ست.

ممنون که خوندید.💙
۲۲ دی ۱۴۰۳، مترو.

پ‌ن بی‌ربط: کل‌ ریویوهام یا توی متروئه، یا توی تخت. بقیهٔ زندگیم کو پس؟:))

[Roya · Rating 4 out of 5]

بابای من واقعا کابوس‌ها رو از سرم بیرون میکنه :")

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

translated by Helen Mixter.
Originally published in Belgium, 2010.

Wonderful depiction of a loving relationship between a father and son -- with all it's ups and downs. There are times dad's "breath smells like cauliflower" and there are times when dad "blows away the hurt on my knee and catches my dreams when I'm sleeping." There's much humor in the illustrations, which remind me a bit of Tedd Arnold (it's the eyes, I think). The illustrations are exaggerated to convey emotion . . . especially when dad is a Thunder Daddy and the boy decides he needs a new one. Fortunately, thunder daddies don't last, and all is well in the end.

Illustrations in color pencil and acrylic.

[picturethisbook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most picture books for kids tend to give a rosy-lensed and idealised vision of parents. And while these are feel-good and sweet, and reassure the child of his/her parents’ love, we all know that as much as most parents strive to be ever chirpy, patient, encouraging, nurturing, loving, etc, there are just times when kids push all the wrong buttons and send us right over the edge, causing otherwise benevolent parents to do or say things that they don’t mean to and later regret.

Perfect parents and kids hardly ever exist in real life: there are good days and bad days. Thus it’s rare to find a book such as this that doesn’t try to patronise kids and their parents by whitewashing the reality that parents are only human — imperfect and flawed.

Applesauce is a heartwarming story about the relationship between a father and his son, as seen from the son Johnny’s perspective. While the story begins quite amusingly with Johnny’s quirky impressions of his dad and the typical good-dad things that he does, including making applesauce for him, it doesn’t shy away from the politically incorrect depiction of the angry “thunder daddy”, nor the ugly thoughts and words — yes “stupid” and “deaf” appear in the book — that unwittingly escape in our darkest moments. The story ends sweetly, with applesauce — a metaphor that needs no explanation — but it is earned, as opposed to a cliched “happy ending”.

What makes the book truly outstanding, however, is the heart that went into writing it, and how honest and true it reads. Kids are often capable of understanding more than we give them credit for, and they need to know that even when “thunder daddy” (or mommy, for that matter) makes an occasional appearance, it doesn’t mean that “applesauce daddy” has gone for good — i.e, even when harsh words are used, their parents don’t ever stop loving them. Most importantly, the book reminds us that it is possible to forgive and heal when you remember that the love that underlies it all never goes away.

Its slightly controversial content means it’s not a book for everyone, probably, but we think it’s one of the best children’s books we’ve ever read.

Visit our websitefor more reviews on great children's books.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, warts-and-all look at a father and son relationship. Things may not always be peachy, but the love is always there. I liked the author's artwork more than the story here.

[Dorien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boek over vaders en het ervaren van een boze en lieve vader.

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 3 out of 5]

Purê de maçã (Sicipione, 2011).

[Shatiel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Inquietante. Se lo avessi letto da piccola mi avrebbe fatto venire gli incubi.

[Katrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://boekenboekenboeken.blogspot.c...

[Arianna Massardi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I DISEGNI FANNO PAURISSIMA

[Mahtab Aramesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

تصویر پدره اصلا خوب کار نشده بود

[Pi · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Mus jabłkowy" przede wszystkim zachwycił mnie ilustracjami. Są naprawdę wyjątkowe i każda tworzy niepowtarzalny klimat. To krótka opowieść, a posiada głębię, o której czasem mogą tylko pomarzyć grube powieści. Autor wiedział, co chce opowiedzieć i zrobił to w świetny, niebanalny sposób, który podoba się zarówno dziecku, jak i rodzicom.
Klaas Verplancke pokazała nam relację ojca z synem, z perspektywy syna. Chłopiec kocha tatę i widzi w nim bohatera. Patrzy na ojca oczami dziecka, czyli dosłownie, co czasem może tworzyć problemy, np. gdy ojciec się zdenerwuje, każe mu iść do pokoju, karci go. Syn czuje się odrzucony, a tatę zaraz widzi jako potwora, który wysyła go w gęsty, smutny i ciemny las samotności.
Nawet najlepszy rodzic czasem wpada w złość - czytamy na okładce - i jest to prawda. Tata, to też człowiek, a małe dziecko potrafi czasem zajść za skórę. Ta książeczka uczy radzenia sobie z emocjami i obrazuje te emocje. Dzięki niej dzieci i rodzice mogą przyglądnąć się swojemu zachowaniu z boku i poprawić je.
Już wspomniałam, jak bardzo podobają mi się ilustracje? Tak, wspomniałam, ale powtórzę - one są wyjątkowo sugestywne. Część z nich jest jasna, miła, ciepła, pozytywna, pachnąca musem jabłkowym, a część straszna, groźna, tajemnicza. Te, które przedstawiają tatę w złości i dziecko w fazie "jesteś głupi!" mają w sobie wieki niepokój - podoba mi się to. Trochę klimatem zbliżają się do baśni Braci Grimm, a to dla mnie wielka zaleta.
Polecam "Mus jabłkowy". To książka idealna do czytania synkowi przez tatę, ale nie tylko. Ta historia może być początkiem ciekawych rozmów z dzieckiem. Inspirująca i pomysłowa... oraz bardzo oryginalna.

* Zachęcam Was do przyłączenia się do akcji #backlistaprzebojów w ramach której dzielimy się informacjami o starszych tytułach - tym samym wspieramy wydawnictwa w tym trudnym dla nich czasie.

ojciec i syn oraz mus jabłkowy, który wszystko naprawia
7/10
seria POLECONE Z ZAGRANICY
Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although Johnny's father lovingly spends time with him and even painstakingly prepares applesauce for his son, there are other times when he's too tired to play or annoyed with him. After all, parents have to set limits for their offspring. But when he does, Johnny becomes angry and wishes for a different father. After sulking and wandering into the woods, he returns home to feast on applesauce once again. The colored pencil and acrylic illustrations show Johnny's reactions vividly while in his imagination, his angry father resembles a savage beast, eyes flashing, lips thinned in annoyance, fingers pointing, and face covered with hair, but once Johnny calms down, he sees that his father still loves him. The author's intention seems to be to reassure young readers that love transcends anger, which is a positive message, but Johnny's initial reactions seem a bit over the top. This picture book made me think, though, about the messages we deliver to the children in our lives, and how those messages may be received.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

A child describes his father with poetic language. Everything starts out rosy, but then the father has a major shift of attitude. The boys withdraws into himself and hopes for a new daddy. In the end, the father lures his sons affection back with a bowl of applesauce.

This story was a little strange for me. I wondered if the father suffered from bipolar disorder. I didn't like the angry comments the dad made or the angry comments the child made.

The illustrations are done in pencil and acrylic and depicted people in odd ways. The illustrator is world-renowned, but it's just not my style.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book because I have an interest in picture books that depict families with only dads where that's not the issue at hand, but just a fact of life. When I looked at this at first, I didn't like it at all, but it has grown on me. The illustrations in this book are not to my taste, but they are well done and I can see how they would appeal to some. While this isn't my kind of book, I do think it expresses an emotional truth for children. When your parents are mad at you it makes you angry and scared and sad, but it doesn't last forever and it doesn't mean they don't love you.

[Shélah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

A wonderful idea, but I'm not convinced of the execution - it could possibly be due to translation issues, or differing views on parental anger. Frankly, the father comes across as mentally ill rather than simply suffering from the frustration that parents sometimes feel, probably because he is "angry" for half of the book. All around, more explication of the content is needed.

The illustrations are wonderful.

[Lu Benke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like! Not too many books feature the dad in many different roles of parenting while maintaining that dads are only human. The beauty of this book is in the realism of a dad that at times more closely resembles a big hairy primate with a booming, scary voice. It's the determination, understanding and patience of the little boy that allows the dad (after a brief appropriate snub by his son) to eventually return to the very approachable guy with warm hands that taste like applesauce.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a really kind of creepy vibe and undertone where the father becomes scary daddy. It also uses the word 'stupid'. I understand that the author is probably trying to explore the way a child feels when their dad gets in a dark mood and scares their kid but it just didn't seem appropriate. If your child has a dad that gets in dark moods and scares their child in anger, well, I guess this book will help your kid. :/

[Jaclyn Kruljac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Applesauce is a book about a father-son relationship. It portrays the themes of love and family. The young boy Johnny gets mad at his father for different things until he realizes that love between a father and son is irreplaceable and he realizes the importance of his father and that everything he does is to help him. I think this book sends a great message to young children about relationships with parents and is appropriate for elementary grades. I read this book in digital format.

[Dorien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over hoe fijn een papa te hebben is, maar ook dat het niet zo leuk is als hij boos is.
Met concrete voorbeelden en beeldspraak. De metaforen maken het makkelijker de vertaalslag te maken naar je eigen ouder-kind-relatie.
Persoonlijk minder fan van de langwerpige gezichten die Klaas Verplancke (bij de papa) gebruikt.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't thrilled with this book. I loved the pictures, those drew me to it. The dad is kinda crazy, and maybe this would be a good book for children who have to deal with bi-polar parents or unstable households. I thought it was very inventive the way the author described the dad.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very strange-looking, distorted illustrations--but someone at Kirkus Reviews must like them, because this book made their Best Books of 2012 list. The little boy's love/fear relationship with his father, however, is right on target.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really liked the illustrations in this one (looks like several others have not), and the first part of the story I really liked as well. But yeah, when Dad gets mad...it made me feel a little uneasy. I get what the author is going for here, but I'm not sure it was carried off well.

[Jim Erekson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is full of psychoanalytic readings. The most clear symbol is the boy's wish that his dad had a thousand hands, and the 'thousand' hands are what get the boy out of the wilderness. The potential for rage and unpredictable outbursts is spelled right out, and then dispelled.

[Iamaby En · Rating 3 out of 5]

-could be used to explain that even when parents are angry with you, they still love you
-could be used for a father's day themed storytime
-illustrations could be a little strange or scary for some kids

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truth telling. Sometimes daddies get angry and when they donut can be a little scary. But they always calm down and they never stop loving you. This is a great book for any young child. All children get their parents a little upset every now and then.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about a father and son and how sometimes fathers can be lovely and then sometimes they can be "thunder daddies." In this book, thunder daddies don't last too long, thank goodness. A great tool for seeing parents/adults for who they are.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable English translation that understand the father/son relationship.

[Zinnia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved it as it started until the word stupid appeared in the book. Kids don't need to know the severity of such content and I felt for the average preschooler it wasn't has helpful.

[Bookjeannnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book...so unique, so unusual...but universal for dad/sons & parenting.