One Red Apple [Hardcover]

Harriet Ziefert (Author), Karla Gudeon (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Follow the life cycle of an apple: from fruit growing on the tree to market, to picnic, to seed, to sapling and tree, andfinally to a new apple. This simple, joyful book with radiant illustrations introduces readers to the amazing and delectableway the earth provides food.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Harriet Ziefert lives in South Orange, New Jersey and takes her Boston-based grandchildren apple picking every year at an orchard in Massachusetts.

Karla Gudeon's artwork is displayed in galleries and distinguished collections throughout the United States and abroad. She lives in New York with her family and enjoys apple picking in the fall.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Blue Apple Books (July 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934706671
• ISBN-13: 978-1934706671
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 0.5 x 10.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #754,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Harriet Ziefert was born in New Jersey. She grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Smith College, then received a Masters degree in Education from New York University. "About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year. Ziefert's picture book A New Coat for Anna is about a girl in a bombed-out European city during the months just after World War II. Anna has outgrown her old coat, and her mother trades her few surviving treasures--a watch, a lamp, a necklace, and a porcelain teapot--in order to obtain wool and have it spun, woven, and finally sewn into a fine red coat for Anna. A Horn Book Magazine reviewer stated, "the simple text, based on a true story, carries the narrative along effectively." The book, which was illustrated by Anita Lobel, was chosen as one of ten books to be read aloud by former First Lady Barbara Bush as part of a program promoting reading. Ziefert was invited to the White House for the occasion. The reason Ziefert began writing easy-to-read books was that she felt "they were getting too hard for kids to read in the first grade." She says that she wrote easy-to-read books with seventy-five or fewer words, even ones with fifty or fewer words, "to see how much of a story" she could produce with that limit. She enjoyed the challenge, and cites her book Sleepy Dog as an example. "Sleepy Dog is the most successful book I've ever done, in terms of number of books sold." She's also been working on a developmental program with publisher Dorling Kindersley, made up of books for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Her book Pete's Chicken, which was illustrated by Laura Rader, was reviewed in the New York Times Book Review as "a simple, sweet 'Song of Myself' for children . . . [which] applauds the specialness of every child as it reminds parents of the healing power of just being there for children." Among her other books is a series of easy-to-read books, such as Trip Day and Worm Day, about an inventive science teacher and his rambunctious class of students. Ziefert's book Let's Get a Pet was named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children by a joint committee of the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council. . Ms. Ziefert lives in Maplewood, New Jersey and Lincoln, Massachusetts. She has two adult sons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, simple, and beautiful, February 3, 2010

By 

mamaly "mamaly" - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Red Apple (Hardcover)

This is a beautifully illustrated book that uses sweet, simple terms to walk a child through the life cycle of an apple. My 19 month old absolutely loves it, though I think it could be thoroughly enjoyed by older children as well. The words are brief, allowing the reader to keep it simple or fill in with more complex dialog and make it appropriate for any age. What a beautiful way to get children to learn about our Earth.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Illustrations, April 20, 2011

By 

Debra Pohl Monesmith - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Red Apple (Hardcover)

I just received this book today. At the first touch I immediately noticed how thick the pages are - I felt like I was turning the artist's original canvas. Each page had vibrant illustrations set against fine lines simulating parchment. The story is equally as beautiful, as it tells the recursive story of one red apple from fruit, to seed, through growth to fruit again. This book can truly be appreciated by multiple audiences at various levels. As a mother of one young son, I can't help but think this is our story too.