Johnny Appleseed

Of all the books on Johnny Appleseed that I have, this one is the best. I love reading this book to my Kindergartners! It's a MUST for introducing that tall tale of the legend! I read this first then use the Johnny Appleseed clip from Disney's Legends after they've learned all there is to know about Johnny Appleseed and a visit to an apple orchard.

I love this book. We are reading tall tales in my classroom and I think Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg was my favorite tall tale book out of all the books my teacher read to the class. I like how Johnny helped everyone, but I love the fact that he planted apple trees so that evryone could have apples to eat. I like apples. This was a great book!

Almost 5 Stars In this wonderfully illustrated children's book, Steven Kellogg mixes history and legend to tell a charming tale. Sometimes, the illustrations tell the story without the need for words. Because of the lengthy text on the pages and the more mature vocabulary used, as well as two different discussions about death, this book is really geared towards the eight to twelve category. The author includes a note at the end of the book to clarify where history ends and legend beings--as well as can be done. And the map at the back of the book will help children visualize his life-long journey.

There aren't enough children's stories that are based on American heroes, so this one definitely desreves much recognition. Appleseed's character is based on a true character, yet there is a a fair amount of myth in the story to keep things interesting and the children engaged; this book is a definitely a treat

My children and I seem to be on a Johnny Appleseed binge. This is one of the three books that we have read lately and our second favorite. This book begins with some background on John Chapman, his birth, his mother's and baby brother's early death, and his fathers remarriage and the subsequent household that resulted in 11 children. We are given to understand that young John retreated to the outdoors to escape "from his boisterous household" (lol). And we are told that animals sensed his gentleness and responded in kind. We also see John befriending Indians and clearing the woods in spots to plant his beloved trees. Much of the old ways of life are shown. There are pictures of covered wagons being pulled by oxen, as well as a house raising. The War of 1812 is mentioned briefly, as well as the fears settlers had of the Indians at that time. Unlike Aliki's book, this one does not describe how some of the difficulties with the Native Americans came as a result of the actions of the settlers. And you don't quite get the sense of there being good settlers and bad, good Indians and bad, as you do from the latter book. Still this book has much to teach and there is a lot to point out and discuss. Besides the factual matters mentioned above there are several tall tales such as the one about the soles of John's feet being so tough that a rattlesnake fangs couldn't penetrate them, and the one about his frolicking with bear cubs while mama bear watched. [By the way, this book does a better job than most in pointing out that many of these stories are tall tales.] The book ends with Johnny going further west into the wilds of Indiana (LOL) where he eventually runs into the children of the children he used to tell stories to. Four stars. A very nice book. The artwork is distinctive and there are many opportunities for children to learn some of our country's folk heroes.