Customer Reviews

Johnny Appleseed: The Story of a Legend

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I had a chance to review a copy of the book at the Johnny Appleseed Festival in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I have studied and portrayed John Chapman/Johnny Appleseed for the festival since 1979. The artwork and prose writing are very good in this book which tell the legend of Johnny. The historical facts however are not correct. This work doesn't help anyone reading it separate the fact from the myths or legends. Since the author did not leave any historical note distiguishing fact from fiction the work may perpetuate misinformation. Many of the people who work the festival and know the history constantly fight the fabrication that John wore a pan on his head. Settlers in John's day would also not recognize the illustrations since an author who wrote a romaticized novel well after John died made up the pan story. Many authors of fiction and nonfiction are beginning to take that pan off John's head.

This book does display a beautiful folk art style. For best appreciation libraries should keep this book with the art or poetry/short story books. Schools should use this book along with other factual books to explore the richness of Johnny's legends and to teach the differences between historical fact and legends or myths.