Boyertown author releases new children’s book
Rachel Yoder’s ‘Davey Applebutter’ highlights PA Dutch culture
Author and illustrator Rachel Yoder of Boyertown presented her newly released book titled “Davey Applebutter” at the Firefly Bookstore in Kutztown on July 21.
Yoder collaborated with author Dogulas Madenford to create “Davey Applebutter” which tells the story of a young Pennsylvania Dutch boy visiting his Grandpop’s farm. The book contains both English and Deitsch translations when it is flipped over. Yoder is also known for creating another dosey-doe style book titled “Penny Olive,” which she also read at the event.
Yoder is certified in K-12 art education by the Tyler School of Art and has a master’s in fine art from Kutztown University in communication design. She was raised in Bucks County but now lives in
Boyertown with her three children and husband, Hunter, who is a hex sign painter from Virginville.
Madenford is an instructor of German and history for the Keystone Central School District and also has his own Youtube channel, with 3,000 subscribers, dedicated to PA Dutch dialect.
Starting the event, Yoder read “Davey Applebutter” in English while highly encouraging audience participation. Then, to present the Deitsch translation, she played a recording of Madenford reading the book. Following this, she read “Penny Olive,” in which the main character is based on Yoder’s grandmother, Olive Fischer-Davies of Oley.
Both books had similar layered illustrations featuring collages of PA Dutch style designs including hex signs and quilt patterns. Multiple times throughout the presentation, Yoder engaged child attendees by having them answer questions, make animal noises and pronounce Deitsch words like Melassich Riwwelboi, which means Shoofly Pie.
Child attendees also participated by coloring and playing PA Dutch themed sheets and games. Some of the coloring sheets allowed children the opportunity to draw themselves as farmers while others featured Deitsch word searches. Both children and adults alike were immersed in PA Dutch culture while also learning the language.
Yoder said she wants children to learn about where they live, through her books, because “it gives them an anchor to hold onto.”
Attendee Ed Clancey, originally from Buffalo, N.Y., moved to Pennsylvania 45 years ago and now lives in Krumsville. Due to a developed interest in PA Dutch culture, Clancey wishes that more educational opportunities regarding the culture were available.
“It’s just great to have people that can speak it. I know folks whose parents spoke it and they can understand it but they never took the time to learn it and they regret it very much [because] the parents are gone now and they have no way of learning it,” said Clancey. “It’s a shame, it should be taught, at least some of it, in high school I think.”
Cookies and apple butter as well as other light refreshments were provided for attendees.
“Davey Applebutter” and “Penny Olive” are both sold at Firefly. The audio translations of the books are also available on masthof.com.
The store also features a selection of other PA Dutch children’s books including “On the Farm Henny and Spunky” authored by Mary Laub and illustrated by Lester Zimmerman as well as a Deitsch rendition of Michael Rosen’s “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” translated by Michael Werner.
“One of the keystones of culture is language. Without language, culture dissipates or dies,” said Matthew Williams, co-owner of the Firefly Bookstore. “It is important that every generation gets the opportunity to learn the language and contribute in their own way to their own culture.”
During the day of the presentation, Firefly, along with several other Kutztown shops, participated in the RAICES Family Reunification Fund fundraiser dedicated to raising money to provide legal services and pay bonds for detained families. The shop dedicated 10 percent of the day’s sales, as well as any donations made in-store, to the fund.