Book Giveaway: THE PIE THAT MOLLY GREW by Sue Heavenrich

 Sue Heavenrich has a new picture book, THE PIE THAT MOLLY GREW, illustrated by Chamisa Kellogg and was published by Sleeping Bear Press on August 15th. They have agreed to send a copy to the one lucky winner in the US.

Just leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Let me know other things you did to share the good news, so I can put the right amount of tickets in my basket for you. Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, or reblogging really helps spread the word about a new book. So, thanks for helping Sue and Chamisa.

If you have signed up to follow my blog and it is delivered to you every day, please let me know when you leave a comment and I will give you an extra ticket. If you want to make sure you don’t miss seeing that you won, please click the “Notify Me of Follow-Up Comments by Email” box. I will leave a comment in reply if you win the book. Thanks!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Using “The House That Jack Built” rhyme scheme and beginning with the planting of a single seed, the journey of bringing a pumpkin to harvest comes to life for young readers. Under Molly’s watchful eye and care, each stage of growth–from the seed to the sprout to the leaves to the final fruit on the vine–is showcased. And at the end, Molly’s lovely pumpkin is turned into a delicious pie for one and all to share in a celebration of gratitude. All from the seed that Molly sowed. Back matter includes fun facts about pumpkins, the important pollinators who help them grow, as well as a pumpkin pie recipe.

BOOK JOURNEY: 

Like my other books, and most of my articles for kids, Molly’s Pie snuck up on me sideways. Imagine me in the garden watching the antics of bumble bees inside bright yellow pumpkin flowers, and this thought comes to me: no bees, no pie. You see, pumpkins produce two kinds of flowers. Male flowers sit atop tall stems produce pollen and begin blooming first. The female flowers bloom closer to the vine – you can see the immature fruits (tiny green balls) just below the blossom. The problem is that with this setup, there is no way for the flowers to self-pollinate. So I was sure I’d write a story about the bumble bees and other bees that carry the pollen from blossom to blossom.

And I might have if it weren’t for a blog post by Susanna Leonard Hill challenging readers to write a story about pie. I started thinking about the pies I like (apple, lemon meringue, key lime), the pies I don’t (rhubarb), and the pie I love pumpkin!  A line came to mind and got stuck like an earworm until I finally wrote it down: This is the pie that Molly made. I jotted down a few lines to outline the process: the pie that Molly made; the pumpkin she baked; the seed planted by a farmer…

Not very exciting, right? Fortunately, over the following year, I played around with the text, trying different characters (Mike! Sid!). I made sure the science was correct. I remember writing lots of lists: what is the job of roots? What does the vine do? And I thought about some of the connections I wanted to include: the physical environment, pollinators, family, and community. I tried to write the story in prose but kept coming back to my initial line, this is the pie that Molly made. The rhythm felt right, so I took some time to analyze the original “House that Jack Built” along with a few books using that structure. And I discovered something interesting…

…while I love the idea of repetition – it’s great for storytelling and allows children to predict what’s next – I did not want to repeat the same lines word for word, page after page. So after establishing the pattern and setting up the expectation for repetition, I shortened phrases, changed the language, and even eliminated entire sentences to keep things moving along.

I liked my little story and shared it with editors at a couple retreats. Despite the positive feedback, my story was not for them. Molly and her pie got put in a drawer for a few years. Okay, seven years. In January of 2021, one of my critique partners pointed out that I start with the pie.

“Why not start with planting the seed?” they asked. So I unscrewed the whole thing and put the parts back together to see if I could get it running again. Things happened fast after that. In February my agent sent it out on submission and in late March, Barb McNally (my wonderful editor at Sleeping Bear Press) took it to acquisitions. By the end of summer I’d signed the contract and the following spring (2022) I learned that Chamisa Kellogg was illustrating The Pie that Molly Grew. I fell in love with her sketches – she’s a gardener, too, and a big fan of pumpkin pie. Over the past year, we’ve connected online to talk gardening and share photos of our pumpkin seedlings. I just love the way her illustrations bring Molly to life.

This spring, I planted seeds for New England Pie pumpkins. I watched the sprouts grow, the first true leaves, the vine, and flowers. I counted the bees, shook cucumber beetles off, and made whistles from leaf stems. By the time you read this, I’ll be slicing and dicing and mashing and spicing and baking those pumpkins into pies. You can follow my recipe if you want – it’s at the back of the book!

SUE’S BIO:

Sue Heavenrich is a curious naturalist and is particularly amazed by the diversity of insects that visit her garden. She has followed ants in the desert, tagged bumble bees in the Rockies, taught science to high schoolers, and filed hundreds of articles as an environmental and community journalist. A few years ago Sue traded in her reporter’s notebooks for composition books and began writing for children. When not writing, she counts pollinators as a community science volunteer. The world outside her back door inspires her to ask questions and look closer.

From native bees to seed-stealing squirrels, the world outside Sue’s door inspires her to put words on the page. Her articles have been published in a variety of magazines including Ranger Rick, Highlights, Cobblestone, and Organic Gardening, plus she wrote the “Archimedes Notebook” science column for Ithaca Child for many years. She is currently working on books for kids, and enthusiastically reviews STEAM books on her blogs. When she is not writing, she is probably outside in the garden counting pollinators for citizen science – or following tracks in the snow. She is represented by Heather Cashman at Storm Literary Agency and is an active member of SCBWI.

Below are Sue’s Social Media Links:

Website:  http://www.sueheavenrich.com/

Archimedes Notebook blog:   https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SueHeavenrichWriter

CHAMISA ‘S BIO:

Chamisa Kellogg is an illustrator, art director, and animator based in Portland, Oregon. As founder/creative director/one-woman show at Studio Chamisa, she makes work for children’s books, brands, games, and educational content. Her go-to illustration style is lush and textural with notes of nostalgia, dreaminess, and play. Chamisa collaborates with clients to bring their stories to life and enjoys making work that celebrates compassion, hope, and connection. When she’s not making art you might find her gardening, buying too many books, or snuggling with her pup, Orca.

She attended the Rhode Island School of Design. As an illustrator, visual designer, and art director, she is interested in contributing to projects that promote connection and learning, with teams that will encourage her development and growth as a designer, leader, and collaborator.

Sue, thank you for sharing your book and journey with us. Children will love to take the journey with Molly as she plants a seed and watches it grow, cooks it, and shares her pumpkin pies with her family and friends. Kids will be eager to turn each page to see how her pumpkin plant gets bigger and bigger.

I think nature is amazing even for adults and I love the glee in a child’s eyes when they see a sprout pop through the earth and grow. The way a pumpkin’s vines spread across the ground is sure to excite young children. I know I feel like clapping with every new leaf. I am sure this book will inspire parents and kids to try their hand at planting a seed and watching it grow. I love Chamisa’s illustrations and the rhyme that you used to tell the story.

The directions on how to roast the pumpkin and prepare it for the pie recipe were a nice addition to the book. And of course, I love you talking about how important bees are to making things happen in the garden. This is such a yummy book all around. Good luck with the book!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy