Join author Cynthia Cliff at Scrawl Books on September 19, 2026, for a reading of her book Mary E. and the Apple Tree.

Mary E. and the Apple Tree is a timeless and richly thematic picture book about one girl’s experiences on her family’s farm and how our traditions involving food can connect people and places through generations. On their way to Grammie’s house, apple dumplings in tow, a mother explains a time-honored family tradition to her daughter.

Cynthia Cliff has written and illustrated a rich family story full of love, tradition, responsibility, and of course, food. The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where the author grew up surrounded by her family’s orchards, shines in her elegant text and timeless, folk art–influenced illustrations.

Your RSVP is requested (link below).