The Pie That Molly Grew

THE PIE THAT MOLLY GREW is a buildable story about the journey from pumpkin seed to pie that is great for fall. The story begins with Molly planting a seed and follows the plant as it grows into a pumpkin, which she then harvests and makes into a pie to share. The majority of the story builds with rhymes along the style of This is the House that Jack Built, showing the construction over time.

What I loved: This was a fun read that works well for fall as children begin seeing and eating pies to understand where their food comes from and how plants grow into fruit. The buildable story shows the connection from seed to pumpkin. When it begins to get very long, it switches into describing the other steps up to the enjoyment of the pie shared. The backmatter includes information about the pie and a recipe for children to make for some extra fun.

The font was clear and easy to read throughout, though some of the sentences did end up becoming quite long with the buildable story. However, the rhyming and repeated phrasing were relatively easy to keep up with. The switch came at just the right time. Illustrations throughout are lovely showing each step of the process alongside the adorable Molly with plenty of fall colors and themes.

Final verdict: THE PIE THAT MOLLY GREW is a charming picture book that helps to show children where their food comes from and all the work that goes into the process to the pies they enjoy. Recommend as a fall read for toddlers and up!

When Molly plants a pumpkin seed, she waters it and takes care of it so it'll grow into a beautiful pumpkin. She keeps a watchful eye on it and tends to the soil as needed. Once it grows, she cuts the pumpkin up and uses it to make a delicious pumpkin pie. Then, she gets to share her creation with others so they can enjoy it too.

THE PIE THAT MOLLY GREW uses the same format as "The House That Jack Built" and it gives an intriguing fall take on a classic. The illustrations are bold and adorable with an autumn color scheme. In the back of the book, there's a recipe for children who want to take a shot at making their own pumpkin pie. The author also talks a bit about bees and how without them, we wouldn't have any pies because they're the ones who pollinate the flowers. I like this addition to add a twist of knowledge for children to learn.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this as a fall read for children who like pumpkins and for those who are interested in baking. It's also great for the families who aren't sure what to do with a pumpkin once they've gutted it. My daughter and I like to cook pumpkin seeds but always wonder what to do with the actual pumpkin. Now she wants to try and make her own pie.