My Apron

By Eric Carle

Book Overview

When an eight-year-old boy helps his uncle at his job as a plasterer, he takes a fancy to his workman's apron with a pocket. As a result of his fascination, his aunt makes him an apron of his own and he spends a few days as his Uncle Adam's assistant. The text is brief and simple but clearly conveys the warmth between the man and his nephew and the child's satisfaction in a job well done. The line/tissue paper illustrations are colorful and somewhat geometric, reminiscent of French Cubist Leger's work featuring laborers. An added bonus is the child-size apron that comes with the book, but the story will be enjoyed with or without the tangible item. - SLJ

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399226850
• ISBN13: 9780399226854
• Release Date: July 1995
• Publisher: World of Eric Carle
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.7" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 3 to 5 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Kindergarten

Customer Reviews

Beautiful Art, and Toddler Loves the Story!

MY APRON is yet another excellent book from Eric Carle. Everyone at our house (toddler, mom and dad) loves this book. The art in MY APRON has a somewhat different look for Carle. The pictures combine tissue paper collage in brilliant colors with dark black lines that combine to communicate the simplicity and excitement of the story. The illustrations also have a real love and respect for the manual labor of building that the uncle (a plasterer) is part of. The story is great. It is a short vignette (autobiographical according to the afterword) about a boy's visit to his aunt and uncle. His aunt, seeing his excitement about it, makes him an apron just like his uncle's. He then gets to go spend a day at work with his uncle, where he gets to help him. They spend a long day at work. One comment that his uncle makes that we hear is that the boy is "a good helper," and we see the boy repeat that comment to himself as he continues to work with his uncle. Our toddler picked up on that comment immediately. It is something that children love to hear, and I think he identifies with the boy in the story and the magic of getting to help at real work. At two, our boy is very interested in the work we grown-ups do, and loves to help. This book fits right in with that. This is a wonderful book. We highly, HIGHLY recommend it!

My Apron: A story from my childhood

My Apron is the story of a small boy who idealizes his uncle who is a laborer, specifically a plasterer. The uncle's uniform is a long white apron with a large pocket on the front. The boy's aunt sews him an apron like his uncle's and the boy spends the day helping his uncle lay plaster. The boy feels proud of his accomplishments and forms a warm bond with his uncle through the experience of working together. My 2 1/2 year old son loves this book. He walks around the house with it saying, "Mommy, this is 'My Apron,' I love this book!" That speaks volumes to his mommy!