This is a newly discovered illustrator, and I very much like his artistry. This is a story about a rabbit and a group of woodland animals who are cold and hungry. A recent snow storm has buried any available food source. Then, the rabbit finds one lone beautiful red apple dangling from a leafless tree.

Just one red apple is enough to try to find a way of reaching it high up in the branches. This illustrator and writer has many books with snow as the theme. His renditions of a soft world covered by deep snow that falls with a pretty dignity are simply lovely.

Soliciting the mouse living in another tree to help him obtain the red apple, together they both are still not tall enough. Mouse asks for help from the fox. Still three are not able to reach the prize. Awaking a bear from sleep. they are now able to reach the goal.

But, the fox sneezes and they all fall. Sadly thinking the apple is lost, they discover it right in the middle of their circle. They eat the apple and are quite pleased with themselves.

While the story is not indepth, the theme is one of co-operation and sharing. Reading this book to a small child not only could solicit peals of laughter, but also teach the benefits of caring and sharing. ( )

I have a distinct weakness for beautiful winter scenes, so when I first saw the cover of Feridun Oral's The Red Apple - a contemporary Turkish picture-book whose original title is Kirmizi Elma - I did a double-take. When I discovered its country of origin, and that it had been published in English by WingedChariot Press - a small UK publisher "set up to translate and publish innovative children's books from across the globe" (although I understand that they've gone digital, so I'm not sure if they're still producing print books - more's the pity!) - I knew I had to have it. I don't think I've encountered any other contemporary Turkish picture-books, but if Oral's artwork is anything to go by, I've been missing out!

A sweet animal story about a rabbit, a mouse (who looks more like a rat to me), a fox, and a bear, all of whom work together one snowy winter day to obtain a high-hanging red apple, it has a gentle humor that is very appealing. The animals companions may end up collapsed on the ground, at the end, but their efforts pay off in a happy (if somewhat unrealistic) fashion. I don't know if its an indication of gluttony (perhaps just skepticism?) in me, but one apple just doesn't seem enough to feed four hungry creatures! Leaving that aside, this book is simply gorgeous, with beautiful artwork that more than compensates for any (slight) weakness in story. I loved the textured, furry appearance of each of the animal friends, the large white snowflakes falling throughout, and the overall composition of each page. The contrast between the bare branches of the trees and the white landscape around, for instance, or the view from the bear's den, out into the world.

A beautiful book, one that deserves to be better known, I would recommend The Red Apple to young readers who enjoy animal stories, or who love winter, as well as to all those who appreciate beautiful picture-book art, or are looking for children's books from Turkey. ( )