Also written and/or illustrated by Feridun Oral: The Message of the Birds The Red Apple by Feridun Oral Ages 3-5 36 pages minedition September 2015 Hardcover     Each of the forest animals in Oral’s latest picture book tries their hardest to help a hungry rabbit get an apple out of a tree. It’s the only piece of food around that’s not covered by the deep snow. But no matter how much they stretch they cannot reach it with their front or back paws. (Fox stretches upward with his hind legs so he could try knocking the apple loose with his tail.) But when the bear, fox, rabbit, and mouse balance on top of each other, they are able to free the apple--just not in the way you’d expect. There is a little foreshadowing when fox is introduced into the story: “Fox felt a bit under the weather.” The illustrations in the story are gorgeous. They are realistic in style, but with postures and behaviors not seen in animals. Simple gestures like pointing and reaching emphasize the feelings of the animals. When rabbit ventures out in the snow hunched over with his arms crossed, his emotions become obvious: he needs more than the apple. Each of the animals help, expecting nothing in return, but the illustration of the animals sharing the apple and then a new home, exemplifies why it’s important to help when you can, and in any way you can.     web reviews   Tanya Boudreau/2016 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)