[ 책 소개 ]

* ALA Notable Children's Books
* Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year
* School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
* NewYork Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
* CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children's Book Council)
* Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
* Diamond Primary Book Award
* Golden Kite Award
* Black Eyed Susan Book Award
* Blue Hen Book Award
* Booklinks Lasting Connections
* Great Lakes Great Books Master List
* Kansas State Reading Circle Primary Titles
* Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Master List
* North Carolina Children's Book Award Master List
* Oregon Book Award
* Patricia Gallagher Picture Book Award
* Show Me Readers Award
* Spur Award (Western Writers of America)
* Volunteer State Book Award Master List


미국 서부를 개척하기 시작했을 때, 많은 사람들이 미국 동부에서 서부로 마차를 타고 이주했습니다. 농부들은 농사를 짓기 위해 씨앗을 가져갔고, 광부들은 서부에서 금을 찾을 수 있다는 희망을 안고 떠났지요.

그런데 이 책의 주인공인 소녀의 아빠는 자신이 애지중지 기르던 사과나무를 버리고 떠날 수가 없었습니다. 그래서 커다랗고 튼튼한 나무박스를 만들어서 그곳에 흙을 담고 어린 사과나무 묘목 수십그루를 심은 후, 소와 말들이 끄는 마차에 싣고 대륙을 횡단하기로 했습니다. 그리고 사과나무들 사이사이에 복숭아, 포도, 배, 자두, 체리 등 다른 과실수 묘목들도 함께 실었습니다. 아이 8명을 싣는 것도 잊어서는 안되지요. 이제 과일나무의 역사상 전례없는 모험이 시작됩니다.

서부로 가던 다른 사람들은 사과나무를 싣고 가는 모습을 보고는, 절반도 가기 전에 나무들은 모두 말라 죽을 거라며 비웃었습니다. 하지만 아빠는 의지를 굽히지 않았지요. 여행을 떠난 후, 넓디 넓은 강도 만나고, 거센 폭풍과 우박도 만나고, 끝없는 사막도 건너야 했습니다. 특히 사막을 걸널 때는 물을 발견하지 못해서 마차에 실었던 묘목들이 모두 말라 죽을 위기에 처하기도 했습니다. 그리고 거대한 로키산맥의 수많은 바위 산을 넘어 마침내 미국 서부를 향해 흘러가는 콜럼비아 강 유역에 도착했습니다. 이제 160킬로미터만 가면 목적지에 도착하는데, 문제는 그동안 시간이 흘러서 이제 서리가 내리는 가을이 되었다는 점이었습니다. 그동안 잘 버텨온 나무 묘목들을 서리로부터 지켜내기 위해 모닥불을 크게 피우고 묘목 위에는 커다란 천을 덮어줬습니다.

수많은 묘목들을 싣고 무사히 목적지인 오레곤주의 포트랜드 부근에 도착한 이 가족은 결국 커다란 과수원을 성공적으로 가꾸게 되고, 큰 부자가 되어 행복하게 살게 됩니다.

수천킬로미터에 달하는 미국 대륙을 횡단해서 나무 묘목들을 무사히 실어 나르기 위해 온 가족이 힘을 합쳐 온갖 어려움을 극복하는 과정들을 흥미진진하게 보여주는 책입니다.






[ 관련 동영상 보기 ]

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[ 서지 정보 ]

Paperback: 40 pages
ISBN-10: 141696746X
ISBN-13: 978-1416967460
책 크기: 27.9 cm x 21.9 cm



[ 영문 서평 ]

Book Description
Apples, ho!
When Papa decides to pull up roots and move from Iowa to Oregon, he can't bear to leave his precious apple trees behind. Or his peaches, plums, grapes, cherries, and pears. Oh, and he takes his family along too. But the trail is cruel -- first there's a river to cross that's wider than Texas...and then there are hailstones as big as plums...and there's even a drought, sure to crisp the cherries. Those poor pippins! Luckily Delicious (the nonedible apple of Daddy's eye) is strong -- as young 'uns raised on apples are -- and won't let anything stop her father's darling saps from tasting the sweet Oregon soil.
Here's a hilarious tall tale -- from the team that brought you Fannie in the Kitchen -- that's loosely based on the life of a real fruiting pioneer.


School Library Journal
In this original tall tale, Delicious describes her family's journey from Iowa to Oregon in the 1800s. Daddy loves the idea of going west but he can't bear to leave his apple trees behind. He constructs two special wagons, fills them with "good, wormy dirt," and packs in hundreds of plants and trees. "Apples, ho!" he cries, and off they go. When they reach the Platte River-wider than Texas, thicker than Momma's muskrat stew"-Delicious helps her father build a raft to ferry the seedlings-and the family-across. Everyone makes it to the other side, just barely. Before long, a hailstorm hits, scattering bonnets, petticoats, and even Daddy's drawers. Other larger-than-life challenges await the family, but inventive Delicious always manages to save the day. Soon, they're all floating down "the mighty Columbia." They plant those trees in Oregon soil, and everyone lives happily ever after. An author's note explains that this story is based loosely on Henderson Luelling, a pioneer who really did transport plants and fruit trees to Oregon in 1847. Hopkinson's version, of course, is just pure fun and make-believe. Carpenter's oil paintings are filled with vivid shades that reflect the changing scenery. Amusing details abound, and the slightly exaggerated humor of the pictures is in perfect balance with the tone of the text. The plucky heroine-wearing a bright red dress, white pinafore, and confident smile-often takes center stage. An entertaining choice for storytimes or an amusing supplement to units on westward expansion.


Booklist
The pair that created Fannie in the Kitchen (2001) offers another food-related picture book for youngsters. When Papa decides to move from Iowa to Oregon his biggest concern is not his family but his apples--and his peaches, plums, grapes, cherries, and pears! He constructs a dirt-filled wagon to transport his fruit saplings, while his family travels in a smaller cart. Along the way, they encounter the requisite Oregon Trail hardships, but luckily daughter Delicious is clever enough to help her family (and Papa's precious darlings) arrive safely at their new home. Based loosely on the life of Henderson Luelling, who founded Oregon's first nursery in 1847, Hopkinson's alliterative tall tale is rich in language that begs to be read out loud ("'Guard the grapes! Protect the peaches!' Daddy howled"), and Carpenter's colorful oil paintings add to the exaggerated fun. Some apple facts and a historical note are appended.