Reviews and Testimonials

There have been feature articles on Ann Purmell in a number of publications, including those specifically for writers such as "Children's Writer Guide to 2002"; Magazines: "Writer's Digest," February 2003, Special Issue On Creativity; "Writer's Digest," June 2003, You Can Write For Children issue; and the book, "Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market 2004." Read some interesting articles on Ann Purmell.

Jackson Citizen Patriot Highlights Purmell's Love of Writing

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Ann-thology
Jackson author Ann Purmell finds niche in children's books
By Pat Rombyer
As appeared in the Jackson Citizen Patriot — Sunday, November 12, 2006
All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with Permission.

Ann Purmell churns out children's stories like a pioneer mother making butter.

Her rhythmic typing produces page after page as she works in her upstairs writing nook, surrounded by sunblushed windows and a view of her beautifully landscaped yard.

During the course of creating, editing and then fine-tuning a children's book, she can use hundreds of sheets of paper to produce one 25-page volume.

>> finish reading the Jackson Citizen Patriot story on Ann Purmell

The Jackson Citizen Patriot reviews Christmas Tree Farm

Pumell puts out a story of Christmas
By Gail Slaughter
As appeared in the Jackson Citizen Patriot – Sunday, November 12, 2006
All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with Permission.

Just in time for Christmas, here comes the latest children's book by Ann Purmell of Jackson -- "Christmas Tree Farm" (Holiday House).

The book begins in November, as Christmas trees are cut down for Grandpa's Tree Hut, where they're sold from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve.

But the family is busy all year long -- planting trees, pruning trees, measuring and tagging them. Readers experience the process through the eyes, ears and nose of a grandson.

>> finish reading the Jackson Citizen Patriot story on Ann Purmell

Ann Purmell was featured in the September 2005 issue of Kids in Common

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Born to Write Books
By Carolyn Widman
September 05 KiC Feature Article
All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with Permission.

Jackson-area children's author Ann Purmell gushes with enthusiasm, explaining her surprising success in the children's literature world. She radiates happiness, talking about her family and her work. Her passion for life, and for writing, is unmistakable.

>> finish reading the Kids In Common article on Ann Purmell

Praise from the American Library Association

PreS-Gr. 2.
It's cider-making time on Grandpa’s apple farm, and the whole family helps. Alex and Abigail pick bright red apples and carry bushel baskets to the wagon. They stand along a conveyor belt helping to sort the perfect (eating) apples from the not-so-perfect (cider) apples. Later, they watch as the apples are chopped into what Grandpa calls "apple mush" and pressed into cider. The cider is bottled and sold, and the family celebrates the labor with glasses of the sweet drink. The comfortable, colorful art brings little ones up close to the process and gives them a good look at the conveyor belts and presses and other machinery involved; the scene of the apple orchard store, shelves filled with jams and honey, gallons of cider, and pies and doughnuts all neatly stacked for purchase is especially nice. A double-page spread, "Cider Lore," following the story provides wonderful tidbits about the cider-making process. An excellent resource for autumn units or to use in preparation for a trip to the orchard.

— Helen Rosenburg
*Copyright@ American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Kirkus Reviews Apple Cider Making Days

Nothing says back-to-school than an elementary school unit on apples. Purmell’s is a wonderful addition to the curriculum. On Grandpa’s family apple farm, there is a job for everyone as Alex and Abigail and their aunts, uncles and cousins work together to harvest the apples, sort and bag them, press cider, make apple products, and sell Them in Grandpa’s store, The Apple Barn. From the wagon ride out to pick the apples, to the barn, the process of harvesting and processing them is described in detail. Readers will love to see how the apple cider press works. They will follow as imperfect apples take a trip through the grater, which creates apple mush, on to the steel frame of the cider press where layer upon layer of apple mush is stacked up, then pressed. The cider flows out the bottom through a tube and into a holding tank where it’s kept cool. From here, it goes into the jugs people will buy as unpasteurized cider. Friar’s (The Shape of Betts Meadow, not reviewed etc.) drawings perfectly fit the topic. Details are rich and the colors are just right for autumn apple picking days. The Cider Lore section at the back enriches the readers’ understanding with more details about apples and cider. For instance, cider is a blend of different types of apples that cider makers usually keep a secret. Also, no two pressings of cider ever taste exactly the same. A great new addition to an overstuffed field. (Nonfiction 4-8).

— Kirkus Reviews

Superior Land Preview Center Calls Apple Cider Making Days a “Must-Read”

This book is a "must–read" before a class or family makes a trip to an apple orchard or cider press. The soft illustrations provide just the touch before cousins visit Grandpa's apple farm where they pick apples that are destined for eating or pressing cider. The apples called "eating apples" are shown in bags, sorted by variety like McIntosh and Cortland. The other apples are chopped and squeezed, then made into cider. Grandpa's store, The Apple Barn, also homemade jam, squash, pie and donuts. The total effect is mothering. One of the best features is that the farmer looks like most farmers today and bears no resemblance to "Old MacDonald."

— Mary Ann Paulin
Director, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette
32 years of experience as a school librarian/media specialist.

School Library Journal Honors Purmell Book as a “Useful Purchase for Most Collections”

It is cider-making time on grandpa’s apple farm, and Alex, Abigail, and the rest of the family pick and sort the fruit. Only the odd ones, by shape or color, are tossed into the chopper to make apple mush. The mush then goes to the press where the juice is squeezed out. Once the cider is ready, the family opens the Apple Barn where they all help sell the apples, cider, and home- made jams and pastries. The realistic illustrations are soft with autumnal colors and show the process that results in that glass of cider. Although listed as fiction, there is more straightforward information than story. The addition of the children makes this book more personal for young students. A useful purchase for most collections.

— Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

An Essay From An Aspiring Author Ann Purmell

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By: Shannon

My inspiration is Ann Purmell. Ann inspired me to write. I never did like to write, until I met her.

It started at Honover Horton Elementary when she came to visit for March is Reading Month. She told us about her new book Apple Cider Making Days and explained the publishing process.

I am on our school newspaper called Comet Tales. My job was to interview Ann for the newspaper. When I met her she had a warm, friendly smile that I will never forget. I interviewed her. We talked, and she shared some personal secrets with me, even though we had just met it seemed as though we had been friends for all my life.

That very next day Ann sent a copy of her new book to me. Ann signed it and inside it say, "I believe you will become a published Author someday and remember me when you write your first book."

The next year for Christmas my mom bought a copy of her newest book Christmas Tree Farm. It was sent to Ann and signed by her also. This time it said, "You are a double great kid and a triple great writer. Always be curious and always have a sense of humor, but always always, always, write." Ann was my inspiration to write. She's my role model, but Ann will always be more than an Author or a role model to me, but my best friend.