All for Pie, Pie for All (review)

Grandma Cat bakes an apple pie for the cat family, who each eat a piece, leaving one piece remaining, then nod off into naps. When the still-steaming remaining piece of pie coaxes Grandma Mouse and her family from their hole, they divvy it up and chow down, leaving only six crumbs. After the mice also succumb to post-pastry slumber, Grandma Ant smells pie, and the ant family chows down on the remaining crumbs. When Grandma Cat wakes up hungry again, all three families are game for a pie rerun, and everybody pitches in on the making and the eating. Gorbachev's crosshatchings add cupboard-y accents to the warm watercolor browns and oranges of the kitties' kitchen; the double-page spread is used to diverting effect when conveying the perspectives of the mice and ants, viewing the table of larger families from below. While there's a Richard Scarry-esque uniformity to the facial expressions of the characters, their cartoony quality ably supports the playfully inviting text. Cuddly characters and rhythmic food-centered text ensures youngster appeal; the repurposing-of-leftovers theme is reminiscent of Gilman's folklore adaptation Something from Nothing (BCCB 2/94), with which this might effectively pair. On its own, it's a tasty entry for toddler storytime or a cozy readaloud on Grandma's lap, especially if you have pie at the ready.