- Ned’s New Home by Kevin Tseng
- Reading level: Preschool / Children’s picture book
- Hardcover: 32 pages
- Publisher: Tricycle Press (August 11, 2009)
- ISBN-13: 978-1582462974
Back-of-the-book blurb: When Ned’s apple begins to rot, he must search for a new house. A pear isn’t quite right. A watermelon isn’t perfect either. A pile of blueberries? All wrong! Will any other fruit make Ned feel at home again?
She is Too Fond of Books’ review: Just in time for apple season (here in the northeast, anyway), Kevin Tseng offers young children a new squirmy friend who lives in an apple – Ned the worm. The apple has begun to rot, so he sets off to find Ned’s New Home.
He tries several options – a wobbly pear, a cavernous watermelon, blueberries that won’t stay stacked, etc. None of these fruits feel like home – the lemon is too sour and Ned blends in to the kiwi!
Just as Ned is about to construct a cherry-condo, a bird swoops in and carries him off! Ned quickly parachutes to safety, as he lands in a tree full of apples and finds his new home.
This is a simple but fun story, accompanied by vibrant watercolor illustrations. We were especially impressed by the mottled rind on the watermelon and the texture of the kiwi.
My two younger children enjoyed reading about Ned’s adventures. LM5 noticed the fruit flies buzzing around the rotten apple “like our banana bowl, Mom!” (how embarrassing!), and got a kick out of Ned holding an umbrella because “The walls turned to mush, and apple juice rained every day.”
LW7 read the text on her own, and commented on Ned’s expressions (who knew worms could show such pleasure and surprise!?). She loved the asides from Ned’s friends, and read these in a voice different from her narrating voice (so dramatic!)
With shades of Goldilocks looking for something “just right” at the Three Bears’ House, and Dorothy realizing “there’s no place like home,” Ned’s New Home is a cute picture story book with a happy ending.
Our readings inspired apple picking, so I’ll leave you with a recipe my grandmother called Swedish Apple Cake. The topping is much more of a crumble than a crust, and it has to be scooped (not sliced), so we call it:
Nana’s Apple Slop
- Ingredients:
- 7 apples, peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2/3 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 egg
- 1 pinch salt
- Directions:
- Fill a deep dish pie plate 2/3 full of apples and raisins
- Mix cinnamon and sugar, and sprinkle on top.
- Mix remaining ingredients in small bowl and pour over apples.
- Bake at 350′ until golden brown about 45 minutes.
That book is absolutely adorable! Never mind that if I brought it home, my two would look at me like I had three heads. Hey! I still like to read Goodnight Moon. I think this is either a sign that the tween age is getting to me or I need another baby. (Not!) Thanks for the recipe too…it is making my mouth water and it is not even 7am!
This sounds great! (except for the raisins, which I would have to omit). Oh and of course you left out the line: serve warm with vanilla ice cream! Thanks for the review and recipe.
Cute book. I have a similar (yet different) apple cake recipe from my grandmother. It’s apple season here too and I get a different variety every week at the farmers market. Yummmmmm.
You gave us two goodies today in one post. Another great new (to me) kids book and a great looking recipe. We went to the apple orchard today so I am just ripe (sorry) for your grandmother’s slop.
What a charming book and even better receipe. It makes we wish I was a better baker.
I forgot to tell you that my son loves the Twinkie cookbook. We have had a few fun times in the kitchen and it’s all thanks to you
Well..you know I am a Nana now and I know that Nana’s recipes are the best.
The book sounds great. I am going to put this one on the list for my Grandson for Christmas. Thank you for the tip… I mean seriously we love worms these days.
Though my kids are too old for these types of books, I have a friend who has two sons that would probably enjoy this book. They are struggling with reading right now, so I think this book with it’s vibrant colors and cute story would be just perfect for them. Thanks for this review, I am going to grab a copy when I can.
Sandy – no new babies around here either! But I do still love to read book aloud to the younger kids (5 & 7 now), and the 11 yr old will eavesdrop!
rhapsody – ice cream! Of course, how could I forget that secret ingredient!
Beth – I wonder what variety of apples Ned uses?!
Margot – this is a cute story. A lot can be done with it (colors, recognizing types of fruit, the theme of what makes a home, etc.)
Ryan – the book and the recipe are foolproof! Glad you and your son are enjoying the cookbook!
Toni – how funny that someone is going thru a worm stage! My sister (decades ago) asked my grandmother to sew some clothes for an earthworm she wanted to keep as a pet!
zibilee – it is cute, and as I said to Margot, lots of room for extended language themes.
This sounds like a cute book that I can read with my pre-k students. Thanks for the review!