The Apple Doll

by Elisa Kleven

Lizzy loves the big apple tree in her yard more than anything. So when the first day of school comes, she picks a beautiful apple, turns it into a makeshift doll she names Susanna, and takes it along to keep her company. But her teacher tells her that dolls aren't allowed at school. Even worse, her sister says that Susanna won't last forever. Then Lizzy's mom shows her a way to turn Susanna into a real apple doll. And with the help of Susanna the Apple Doll, Lizzy overcomes her shyness at school and makes plenty of new friends to bring home to play in her beloved apple tree. Detailed, delightful collage illustrations accompany this sweet story about one girl's success in bringing together her home world and her school world. Instructions for making an apple doll just like Susanna are included!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, School, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published July 24, 2007

About the author

Elisa Kleven is the author and/or illustrator of over 30 childrens picture books. Favorites with children and adults alike, Elisa's books have received awards and honors from the American Library Association, The New York Times , The Junior Library Guild, School Library Journal, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts. Her pictures from Abuela are part of a traveling show organized by the Minnesota Children's Museum, and her story The Paper Princess has been adapted for two theater productions, one in Ireland and the other in California. Elisa lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and pets. To learn more about Elisa and her books, please visit her web site: www.elisakleven.com

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS. I loved Kleven's "Carousel Tale" but somehow the illustration style that was charming and quirky for a tale with dinosaur brothers just didn't translate as well to humans, for me. Also, this story, while sweet, seemed almost too obvious in its message. I found the first few pages delightful--when Lizzie plays in the apple tree and finds a perfect apple that becomes her friend, the head of her apple doll. But the part with Lizzie being afraid to go to school, taking her doll to reassure her, having kids make fun of the doll, and the (seemingly) inevitable demise of the apple doll (rotten apple etc.) just seemed too predictable, as did the ultimate happy ending. It sounds from the review like I found no redeeming value in the book but I really do thing it's got its place, I just wanted more.

[J. Muro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is so cute and adorable and has so many similarities to the beloved MISS HICKORY, written by Carolyn S. Bailey, back in 1946. The story made me want to decorate fruits and be happy, embracing my inner child.

[Susan Siow · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely tale of friendship and resilience, accompanied by the loveliest illustrations.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book about a young girl reluctant to go to a new school. She's worried she won't have any friends, so she turns an apple from her favorite tree into a doll. No one understands her, but then her mom suggests drying her apple and turning it into a granny apple doll. Very sweet. The emotions rang true with kindergartners. Lovely illustrations.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pleasant story about starting kindergarten, loneliness, and dolls, that ends with directions on how to make a dried apple doll. It sounds like fun!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lizzy loved a certain big apple tree and found ways to enjoy it all year round. Going to school for the first time, she decided to take something from the tree to be a friend. She chose an apple. This story is what happens with that apple, and in the back of the book are two pages of instructions: "How to make an Apple Doll." Great illustrations.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The storyline was pretty good for this book. I found the pictures to be just okay. What I like most about this book is how it teaches about the idea of an apple doll and it shows in the story and on informational pages at the end of the book how to make your own apple doll. I wasn’t very knowledgeable about apple dolls before this, and I think it’s a unique topic.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never knew you could make a doll out of an apple. Fascinating. And I liked how Lizzie stuck to her guns even though she was lonely part of the time. A good quality to have, stand for what you need to.

[Sue Mosher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book about a young girl starting school. She bring "a piece of the tree" she loves with her in the form of an apple doll. "Susanna" begins life as just an apple on a stick, then is transformed into a beautifully crafted doll. Directions for making your own apple doll are included.

[eb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book needed an editor-- way too long, has about three different endings that diminish the overall impact of the book. The best part is the recipe for making an apple doll at the end, which is fun.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the fall feel and colorful pictures, but the story is slightly creepy and at the end of reading the book to my 6year old there was a picture of a real apple doll and she said “ What is that hideous thing!?” 😬🤣

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t fully convinced by the story or that having a dried apple doll would actually be nice despite the directions at the end how to make one. I think the strongest part was the beginning, with the innocence of childhood play and imagination celebrated.

[Morgan Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely delightful read!

[Grace H · Rating 5 out of 5]

The instructions for making your own apple doll were such a delightful surprise! My daughter enjoyed the process of making her very own apple doll.

[Antonia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ridiculous premise

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative, but kinda creepy when dried. :)

[Jen • The ABCs of Motherhood · Rating 1 out of 5]

What did I just read? Am I the only one that thought this was super weird and sort of gross and creepy?

[MotherofReaders · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars -
This is a worthwhile fall, Apple-related read. My preschooler requested it multiple times.

I couldn’t put my finger on it at the time or now, but there was something strange (and slightly off-putting for me) about the story-telling in this book. However, the book’s most memorable feature is also its greatest strength, which is that it focuses on the fascinating folk art of Apple dolls (the history of Apple dolls is not discussed in the book, which I think is a strength in this particular case, letting children discover the magic of the concept in a story set in the relatable present). The book has a tutorial on how to make your own Apple dolls, which I hope to try with my daughter soon.

[Julia Jasztal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mommy's review from 9/30/11 -


I've said this before and I'll say it again - I'm a much bigger fan of full page illustrations. At least almost full page illustrations. It's not often I can get into block or oval illustrations or comic-book style pictures. This was half and half and while I didn't like how some of the illustrations were styled, the full pages were great IMO. The actual pictures themselves were very nice. I'd have liked to see this with only full or almost full paged illustrations. I liked the softish edges of the pictures though, very much in fact.
I also really liked the story and Julia felt the same. That sort of surprised me because she's heard her share of 'be lucky for what you have because we played with boxes/pipe cleaner dolls/paper dolls/etc.' and she usually tires of this easily. That wasn't the lesson here of course but it hinted.
The story begins with a little girl, Lizzy, worried about making friends when she starts school. Lizzy picks an apple from the tree and uses some sticks to make a doll which makes her feel a little less afraid. The other kids aren't exactly open to this apple doll their classmate is carrying around but they're not too hateful. They're portrayed rather realistically I think.
But after some time passes Lizzy's apple starts to get a little... soft. Mushy may be a better word for it. Lizzy and her Mother dry the apple and Lizzy's doll comes out looking like a really awesome wrinkled old lady. Of course when Lizzy takes her apple doll to school for Show-N-Tell all of the kids wants their own and a new project is born.
I liked the instructions at the end of the book on how to make your own apple doll. It doesn't seem too hard to do and I think Julia and I may try it ourselves. I have to admit it looks like it'd work well.
The story gives a good lesson on a few different things and will bring up a few talking points if that's what an adult reader wants to do with it. If not it's still a pretty cute story.

[Becky]

Lizzy is a young girl with a common fear: the fear of starting school, the fear of not being able to make friends. But with the help of the girl's favorite apple tree and some creativity, both fears are overcome rather well.

Lizzy loved her apple tree. She loved to pretend it was a skeleton rattling in the autumn wind...a gingerbread cake with snowy frosting...a blossomy springtime cloud...a leafy summer circus. She loved to eat its apples. Apples for crunching, apples for munching, apples for applesauce, cider, and pies. The day Lizzy started school, she picked her favorite apple of all. It was round as a ball, warm as the sunlight--too happy to pack in her lunch box.

This apple is too special for munching. No, it is about to have a special honor--becoming the girl's friend and starting life as an apple doll named Susanna. Susanna also accompanies Lizzy to school--at least on the first day. Soon, the girl realizes that there are plenty of friendly children she can play with instead of an apple doll. But Susanna is no less important. As the weeks pass, Susanna's looks begin to fade away. And I began to fear the worst. (After all, how long can a piece of fruit with a twig body last?) Luckily, her mother remembers how her grandmother made her a dried-apple girl when she was growing up. And fortunately, she still remembers how it was done. Now this special doll can last a lifetime.

The book concludes, as you can imagine, with instructions on how you can make your own apple doll. I really enjoyed this one, and I think that others--kids and adults--will like it as well. It is the perfect read aloud for this time of year.

[Aleece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lizzy is worried about going to school so she builds a friend (Susanna) out of an apple and takes her to school so she won't be lonely but the other kids don't seem to understand. So the next day she leaves her apple doll at home but Lizzy is lonely at school. However, Susanna begins to rot so her mother comes up with an idea that saves Susanna, they dry her out. Then Lizzy takes her apple doll to sharing day and everyone loves her doll and the next day she teaches everyone how to make one and Lizzy finally makes friends.

While I understand being afraid of going to school and needing something to comfort you but I didn't like that Lizzy didn't seem to try to make friends after the incident where the kids were making fun of her apple doll. I wish that she had made friends and then taught those friends how to make a doll. I didn't like that her doll had to change in order to make friends.

[eRin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lizzy loves to play in her apple tree. She eats its apples and climbs its limbs and is happiest when she's around it. When she has to start going to school, she is nervous, so she takes an apple from the tree with her. She makes a body for it out of twigs, names it Susanna and carries it along. But when she gets to school, the teacher tells her she can't have it! Then her sister tells her that her doll is going to rot and get mushy! Will that really happen to Susanna?

Cute, imaginative children's book about lonliness and nervousness. Includes instructions at the end of the book for making your own apple doll. Nice illustrations.

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Lizzy's parents help her turn an apple from her favorite tree into a doll by drying it out, Lizzy teaches her classmates to create apple dolls. Soon their classroom and Lizzy's tree are both filled with plenty of new friends.

The textured patterns and warm, deep, yellows of the mixed-media collage illustrations suit the old-fashioned tone of the story. Instructions for making an apple doll are given at the story's end, providing the perfect follow-up activity for either home or classroom.

[Sarah Jost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a great children's book. It talks about a little girl with a great imagination and is also relatable to kids that are nervous about school. I think this would be a good book to share with kids to teach them to not be ashamed of who they are. The little girl starts out self conscious about her doll but later learns to be proud of what she has made.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a bit schooly, we like this story as a girl holds on to what is important to her, her prized apple doll, even through others taunting, but she turns it around by showing them how to make one too. It also shows how to make an apple doll yourself in the back which we must do...

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of text and it could be ok when read to 1st or 2nd graders.
Lizzy is scared to start school, so she makes a doll out of an apple from her favorite tree to take with her on the first day and keep her company. Includes instructions for making an apple doll.

[Gwen the Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Elisa Kleven's collage illustrations, but I find apple dolls in general to be pretty creepy and this one is no exception. I had to quit reading. Sorry.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO cute! This book shows that even children tease and feel self-conscience about themselves. But that can always be overcome!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily loved this book, and it even has instructions on how to make your own apple doll.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good going-to-school book in terms of exploring anxieties but through a non-direct way. The end has instructions for making your own dried apple doll. Pretty fun.