How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A.
written and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
About the book:
Fancy a slice of cherry pie?
Let’s get started.
What, no bowl?
No pie pan?
No pot holders?
Join our young baker (and her little dog!) as they travel the entire United States—from New Hampshire to Hawaii, from Alaska to Texas—in search of the coal, cotton, clay, and granite they need to create all their baking tools.
In a companion to her bestselling How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World, two-time Caldecott Honor artist Marjorie Priceman takes us on a round-the-U.S.A. journey by riverboat, taxi, train, and plane in a culinary adventure—and a playful celebration of America’s natural resources. Includes a map of the U.S.A.—and a recipe for cherry pie, of course!
Marjorie Priceman is the acclaimed author and illustrator of dozens of books for children, including the bestselling How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World. She also wrote and illustrated Emeline at the Circus, an ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book and a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year, and Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride, winner of a Caldecott Honor. She won a previous Caldecott Honor for her illustrations in Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin, written by Lloyd Moss. Marjorie Priceman makes her home in Lewsburg, Pennsylvania.
Pre-reading:
Do you know how to make a cherry pie? What do you know how to make? How do you think you can see the USA by making a pie? Where would you most like to visit in the United States?
Questions to consider:
- What do bakers need to get started with almost any project?
- What will you need to make steel? Where will you find it?
- How will you get the cotton for pot holders?
- Where can you be four places all at once? What will you find nearby that you need to make cherry pie?
- What will you find in Washington? Why is Washington unique?
- Hawaii has plenty of something that you need to make glass. What is it? Would you like to visit Hawaii?
- What does a baker use a piece of granite for? Where can you find it?
- Why should you go to Texas? What will you see?
- What will you see if you fly over North Dakota? What would you see if you flew over your own state?
- After you get home how much work is there still to do? Which do you think would be most difficult? Why?
- If the Cook Shop is closed what might you do?
- Which illustration is your favorite? Why do you think the author used the colors she did?
Cherry Pie Travel:
Use the map from the book below to chart the path of the baker as she collects what she needs around the country. For extra credit make a list of the states that she crosses on her way!
Fill out the following chart inspired by the book Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A.
State: | Natural Resource: | Place I’d like to visit in that state: |
Alabama | ||
Alaska | ||
Arizona | ||
Arkansas | ||
California | ||
Colorado | ||
Connecticut | ||
Delaware | ||
Florida | ||
Georgia | ||
Hawaii | ||
Idaho | ||
Illinois | ||
Indiana | ||
Iowa | ||
Kansas | ||
Kentucky | ||
Louisiana | ||
Maine | ||
Maryland | ||
Massachusetts | ||
Michigan | ||
Minnesota | ||
Mississippi | ||
Missouri | ||
Montana | ||
Nebraska | ||
Nevada | ||
New Hampshire | ||
New Jersey | ||
New Mexico | ||
New York | ||
North Carolina | ||
North Dakota | ||
Ohio | ||
Oklahoma | ||
Oregon | ||
Pennsylvania | ||
Rhode Island | ||
South Carolina | ||
South Dakota | ||
Tennessee | ||
Texas | ||
Utah | ||
Vermont | ||
Virginia | ||
Washington | ||
West Virginia | ||
Wisconsin | ||
Wyoming |
Everyone knows How-To make something! Use the chart below to organize your steps in a process. Then, share your project with the class and you’ll all learn something new!
Define the step: | Materials needed: | Describe the step (add critical details and potential pitfalls!) |
1. | ||
2. | ||
3. | ||
4. | ||
5. | ||
6. |
Modes of transportation:
In the book the narrator uses many different types of transportation. Fill out the following chart as you read it and then research the average miles per hour and price per mile.
Mode of transportation: | Miles per hour: | Price per mile: |
Music:
Sing this song to the tune “If You’re Happy and You Know It”
If you make a cherry pie you’ll need supplies
If you make a cherry pie you’ll need supplies
If you make a cherry pie you might travel far and wide
If you make a cherry pie you’ll need supplies!
