Book Review: Silly Willy Apple Cake

Author: Amelia Griggs

Illustrator: Winda Mulyasari

Publisher: Amelia Griggs

Released: April 11, 2019

Format: Kindle, Paperback

ISBN: 978-1092879712

Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn

Rating: 4 Lemon Drops

Silly Willy Apple Cake is a story with a great recipe for love and fond childhood memories!

Review

Silly Willy Apple Cake is a sweet slice-of-life tale that takes us inside the happy kitchen of Bella and her mother Mia. 

Told through charming rhymes, the book begins with the duo picking apples at a farm. Once their baskets are full, they quickly decide to make an apple cake when they get home.

After inspecting the apples, they mix them up in a bowl with flour, sugar and spices then pop it in the oven. While they wait for the cake to bake, they spend the evening playing a silly willy word game. 

Before long, the cake finishes and mother and daughter end their special day eating scrumptious pieces of apple cake. Yummy!

I enjoyed the wholesome message of 'family time' shared in this book. In today's fast-paced society, parents and children need to unplug from electronic devices and engage in pleasurable interactive activities. 

Making a meal or a special dessert is a perfect opportunity to create positive memories that will last a lifetime.

While writing the story, Griggs', drew inspiration from the enjoyable moments she spent baking with her own mother when she was a young girl. 

Because she cherishes these childhood memories and wants her readers to create their own special moments, she included a recipe for Apple Cake at the end of the book. 

I can think of no greater gift for an author to share with others.    

Winda Mulyasari's illustrations are cute, colorful and sprinkled with a generous serving of sweetness that's endearing. They capture the playfulness of the characters and compliment the story in a lovely way.

I give it 4 Super Sweet Lemon Drops! 

Classroom Connection:

Another wonderful feature about cooking or baking with children is the educational value involved with the process. 

Kids can learn a great deal across the curriculum from this seemingly simple act:

vocabulary, measurement, following a sequence of directions, collaboration, using the five senses, health, nutrition, family traditions. 

In addition to the rhyming words, another wonderful educational element is the list of action words used in the story: washing, cutting, mincing, slicing, chopping, peeling, mashing and dicing. 

A Kindergarten teacher could also utilize this to introduce and reinforce 'ing' words. The King of Ing rules! 

I've created a Pinterest Board with lessons and resources for the King Of Ing. Click here to access.