Applesauce Weather

In a touching poetic novel, a fall apple ritual—along with some inventive storytelling—brings a family together as they grieve the loss of a beloved family member.

When the first apple falls from the tree, Faith and Peter know that it’s applesauce weather, even though Peter is getting a little old for such things. It also means Uncle Arthur should be here to tell his stories, with a twinkle in his eye as he spins tales about how he came to have a missing finger. But this is the first year without Aunt Lucy, and when Uncle Arthur arrives, there’s no twinkle to be found and no stories waiting to be told. Faith is certain, though, that with a little love and patience, she and Peter might finally learn the truth about that missing finger. Paired with warm, expressive illustrations by Amy June Bates, this heartfelt tale by award-winning poet Helen Frost highlights the strength of family and the power of a good story.

Helen Frost is the author of Step Gently Out, Sweep Up the Sun, and Among a Thousand Fireflies, all illustrated by Rick Lieder, and Monarch and Milkweed, illustrated by Leonid Gore, as well as six novels-in-poems for children and young adults. She was awarded a Printz Honor in 2004 for Keesha’s House. Helen Frost lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Amy June Bates has illustrated more than forty books for children, including Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed by Lesléa Newman, Waiting for the Magic by Patricia MacLachlan, and The Dog Who Belonged to No One by Amy Hest. Her work has been honored by the Society of Illustrators. She lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.