Apples for Everyone (Picture the Seasons) [Paperback]

Jill Esbaum (Author)

Book Description

Release date: July 28, 2009 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years | Series: Picture the Seasons

Apples for Everyone is a new picture book in the Picture the Seasons series that the whole family can enjoy. This attractive and educational companion to the best-selling titles A Tree for All Seasons and Pilgrims of Plymouth features stunning National Geographic photography and a stimulating, accessible text.

Apples! The very word conjures up images of fall: ripe red apples falling off the tree as the leaves begin their glorious extravaganza of color change; baskets of gathered fruits at the foot of laddered orchards; the rich aroma of an apple-pie cooling. As school starts again, an apple for the teacher is a time-honored tradition. Apples are coated in candy or caramel to celebrate the end-of-year holidays. They are crushed into cider to keep us warm around a fire as summer slips away and the first hint of frost chills the darkening nights. In this beautifully produced book, apples are more than just fruit, they are iconic of everything fall.

Apples for Everyone is a seasonal treasure that will help to shape a National Geographic view of the world for young readers. This delightful look at the fruit of fall is sure to inspire a rich appreciation of all things autumnal.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Though they have little to do with the science behind the planet’s changing seasons, the new titles in the Picture the Seasons series do a fabulous job of conjuring up the sights, smells, and sensations of a brisk autumn. Using minimal text with National Geographic’s typically fine photographs, Esbaum brings out familiar, comforting details of the outdoors—and slips in a lesson or two so skillfully readers won’t even mind. Apples for Everyone starts small with extreme close-ups of buds and bees before wowing with wide shots of apple-strewn orchards and massive buckets of fruit. The writing flows with sensory details (“Your teeth sink in—crunch!—and tart-sweet juice dribbles down your chin”) and works in bits of history, such as the story of Johnny Appleseed. Fun, cozy, evocative stuff Grades K-2. --Daniel Kraus

About the Author

Jill Esbaum is the award-winning author of several books for young readers. She lives on a farm near Dixon, Iowa, with her husband and family. She loves visiting school, as well as teaching adults how to write for children in numerous classes and workshops.

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Paperback: 16 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books; 1 edition (July 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426305230
• ISBN-13: 978-1426305238
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.1 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #403,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Diet & Nutrition

More About the Author

Jill Esbaum grew up in small-town Iowa. Her summers were spent creating comic strips, getting kittens to follow her home, and playing Barbie beauty pageant with the neighbor girls (during which her Barbie frequently tripped and fell during the swimsuit competition). One of her favorite possessions was the mini flashlight that illuminated post-bedtime, undercover reading marathons with Nancy Drew.

She is a frequent school visitor and conference speaker. She teaches writing for children at the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival and the Whispering Woods Picture Book Writing Retreat. She lives with her husband on a farm near Davenport, Iowa.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This visual tour of one of America's favorites, the apple, will teach the young child many interesting facts about this fruit! June 16, 2010

By D. Fowler TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Many times in the fall season children are off on classroom field trips to farms, pumpkin patches, and apple orchards. This book is one is a series of National Geographic books called "Picture the Seasons." This slim book gives the young student an opportunity to get a glimpse at one of our favorite fruits, the apple, and to take a tour of an orchard. Both the text and its vibrant, accompanying photographs would make an excellent reading experience prior to a field trip.

In the spring apple trees begin to blossom in "orchards and backyards." Bees are attracted to these trees and "buzz from blossom to blossom." After the petals fall from the trees, "fuzzy small bumps appear" that will eventually turn into many different varieties of apples. When the apples are mature, many fall to the ground, "then rot and become food for the growing tree." Once the apples are harvested in the fall they find their way to many places from roadside stands to grocery stores. In this book you will see how people bob for apples, munch on candied ones, see them in pies, learn how they are made into applesauce or cider, you'll learn a bit about the history of their growth in America, you'll meet Johnny Appleseed, you'll learn how you can see the "star pockets" in an apple, and will see many apple varieties.

This visual tour of one of America's favorites, the apple, will teach the young child many interesting facts about this fruit. Of course a book this short is not a treatise, but rather an introduction to the apple. Its intention is to introduce the apple to the young student, primarily in a visual mode. The text is informative, but the pictures relate a parallel story.... For example, we see a youngster bobbing in a bowl for an apple and another one munching a candied one and we read, "People bob for apples at Halloween parties or dip them into melted caramel for a sweet gooey treat." This would be an excellent book to keep in the classroom to read just before that special field trip to the orchard! Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely STUNNING October 13, 2009

By Lisa Barker

Format:Paperback

Oh. my. goodness! The photography in this book is absolutely STUNNING and mouthwatering. Right away I found myself thinking, "What better way to tempt kids to eat right!" This is a great companion for an autumn or Johnny Appleseed theme or study series. I plan to use this book with my first grader for that very purpose and also when we study apples for science (how an apple tree grows) and art (making designs with cut apples and paint used as stamps). As you can see, much use can come from this awesome little book. Definitely worth the money for teachers, homeschoolers and any parent that wants to encourage their little one to grab an apple for snack! Perfect for autumn.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fall November 24, 2012

By traci poellnitz

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great book very bright pictures and well done. The chdrdn enjoyed reading this and the lovely non animated pictures. Great book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Apples for Everyone October 13, 2012

By J. Sherrill

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Wonderful NEW book out on apples. The first grade class loved it! Great pictures and wonderful information. I think any of these National Geographic Kids Books would be a winner. Nice to see a fresh new book on the shelves that is new information!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Apples for Everyone July 4, 2012

By Avid reader

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Young children need to read or hear read non-fiction books that are realistic too. The photography is excellent, the topic of seasons, the familiarity of a food children commonly eat, makes this a top rate choice. Children understand the food apple and food. This book will show where apples grow, etc, etc.Apples for Everyone (Picture the Seasons)