Apples Here!

I picked this book from the library as part of an apple unit I've been working on with my daughter (24 months). Of the nine books I selected, this has been her second favorite (after Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington). Each two page spread has a partial sentence (4-15 words) in somewhat small type. The illustrations are very realistic and detailed. At the end there is a two page overview of miscellaneous apple facts. I found this very educational for myself and the information has been fun to incorporate into our many apple discussions this week. The simple story line follows apples through the seasons from bud to harvest and illustrates some of the many uses of apples in our lives and celebrations. The people pictured are very ethnically and age diverse. We have read this book several times this week, and we are both still enjoying it. I have found, though, that my daughter prefers to look at and talk about the pictures at great length instead of reading the text. If I attempt to use it as a read-aloud book, she loses interest about two thirds through.

Its nice to have material for my 6 year old and 3 year old that introduces them to new concepts at their level. Both children could relate to the gentle, pleasant people in the drawings and walked with them through the apple trees in the winter with their hidden buds, through the blooms in spring, the summer and finally picking time --the fall! There are many facts in the back of the book which I enjoyed but went over the heads of my little ones.

This book was written up in our local (Rochester, NY) paper as part of a review of new children's books by local authors/illustrators.Apple orchards are abundant here, are I liked the idea of a book explaining in a simple manner how an apple grows. Living in the suburbs, our son wouldn't have any direct knowledge of where food comes from, and we want to make sure he understands everyone's connection to farms and the earth.He's only 2-1/2, younger than the recommended age for this book, but he really liked it.In early spring, a farmer holds a branch for a young child to see. "There are apples here," waiting to grow within each tiny, swelling bud on the tree. Each illustration takes us further along in the cycle of the apples from bud to dinner table: blossoms ("waiting for bees"); picking the fruit; enjoying it as applesauce on Hanukkah latkes or whole apples given as gifts in Christmas stockings; making pies.Each 2-page spread shows children and sometimes adults examining an apple tree in an orchard, and later, picking the apples and selling them at the public farm market. We're shown families at home, cooking and eating the apples.The very back of the book has a 2-page spread of text with detailed information about apples, some of it scientific and some, just fun. My son is too young for this part, but it would be very interesting for older children whose curiosity was piqued by the book. The illustrations are wonderful. Beautiful and bright, they're realistic and eye-catching. Most important to me were the different races of children represented. People of all colors are shown, enjoying the richness of this bounty. I read in the review that the illustrator kept the faces of local growers, their children, and grandchildren in his head as he illustrated it. A nice, rich, simple book; we really enjoy it.