21 Best Apple Books For Kids: Picture Book Collection
Apple Books for Kids. The fall season is filled with so many fun-themed units and booklists. Our favorite apple books are marked with an asterisk. These books are gold, and I look forward to reading these books with my kids for many years. Please, grab a few apple books from your local library. Place them in a book basket for your kids to read all apple season long or read one of these apple theme books before going apple picking.
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21 Apple Books for Kids: A Picture Book Collection
1. How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman *
A closed market sends readers around the world to collect the ingredients to this deliciously silly recipe for apple pie. A simple apple recipe is included in the back. If I could only choose two apple books to read this year, I would choose this one as my pick and the book listed below.
2. Give Me Some Apples and I’ll Bake You A Pie: A Story About Edna Lewis by Robbin Gourley *
Edna Lewis was a female African-American chef who strongly advocated for fresh, in-season ingredients and was a true artist of farm-to-table meals, refining the view of southern cooking. Without the conveniences of the modern grocery store, Edna’s family lives off the land and cherishes each provision of nature. The book includes five kid-friendly recipes.
3. Apples to Oregon by Deborah Hopkinson
Papa decides to move from Iowa to Oregon and bring his precious apple trees, peaches, plums, pears, grapes, and cherries. This picture book is a funny tale of a fruiting pioneer and the trials of the dusty trail.
4. Secrets of an Apple Tree: A Shine-A-Light Book by Carron Brown
The Shine-A-Light Book Series are fun, educational, and interactive learning books (we haven’t read them all yet). Young children will enjoy searching for the hidden creatures that make the apple tree their home, the wiggly worms that live among the tree’s roots, and the singing birds that nest in its crooked branches. Hold the pages up to the light to discover more about the many secrets of the apple tree.
5. Ten Apples Up On Top by Dr. Seuss
A competitive counting book as the lion, tiger, and dog compete to balance the most apples on top of their head. But watch out for the bear with the broom.
6. Amelia Bedelia’s First Apple Pie by Herman Parish
Beloved Amelia and her grandad hunt for Granny Smith at the Farmer’s Market. They bring home apples for her grandmother to bake an apple pie for dinner. Amelia makes a mini apple pie with the leftover scraps. An unfortunate event featuring hungry birds occurs, resulting in Amelia’s mini apple pie saving the day. There is a recipe for an apple pie in the back of the book.
7. Applesauce Season by Eden Ross Lipson *
This wonderful picture book features a multigenerational family and their family tradition of making applesauce. When the apples start coming into the market, the family pulls out the big pot for applesauce. Their unique recipe is included in the back of the book. I agree with grandmother, grab at least three varieties of apples to make the best flavorful applesauce. Here is my simple applesauce recipe.
8. Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble *
This sweet book is a beautiful, heartwarming story of the love between a father and his daughters. The family prepares for winter under the apple tree, picking and sorting apples. They seek the perfect apples for Christmas. An unfortunate winter storm leads to a Christmas blessing. Oh, I cannot tell you more, or I risk spoiling this story. Yes, it’s a perfect story for Christmas, but don’t hesitate to enjoy it this apple season.
9. One Red Apple by Harriet Ziefert
This picture book about apples follows the life cycle of an apple seed to tree to fruit with simple text and illustrations.
Content warning: The children in the book thank the Earth for providing food.
10. An Apple a Day! Over 20 Apple Projects for Kids by Jennifer Storey Gillis
A collection of over 20 fun apple projects to do with kids during apple season. This book is out of print. Look in thrift stores and at your local library for a copy.
11. The Apple Pie That Papa Baked by Lauren Thompson *
This delightful book reads like the English nursery rhyme The House that Jack Built. The author traces the apple pie back to the apple tree’s roots and the rain. The best part is the loving bond between the father and his daughter.
12. One Green Apple by Eve Bunting
Farah is the new kid in school, a young female Muslim immigrant. She is from another country and speaks a foreign language. Even in the middle of an apple orchard surrounded by her classmates, she feels alone. She is instructed to pick one apple. Her classmates seek ripe, red apples. She discovers a green apple. While this story may not address every aspect of different cultures, its sensitive text opens up conversations about our many differences.
Content warning: bullying.
13. The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall
This charming picture book follows an apple tree through the seasons. Two sisters watch the robin in its nest, admire the pink blooms, and play in the shade of their apple pie tree.
14. Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins
I found this book after reading Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins, and it is just as fun. This fun book is a simple counting book (backward from 10-1) featuring farm animals and a funny storyline. I did struggle with the rhythm.
15. Seed by Seed: The Legend and Legacy of Jonny “Appleseed” Chapman by Esme Raji Codell
Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman is an American folk hero. This is a great way to introduce kids to the story of Johnny Appleseed and his legacy. This picture book biography is full of insightful text and mixed-media illustrations that kids of all ages will enjoy.
16. The Apple Doll by Elisa Kleven
A young girl named Lizzy turns an apple into a doll to keep her company on her first day of school. Unfortunately, dolls aren’t allowed at school. Her mom comes to the rescue and teaches her how to turn her doll, Susanna, into a real apple doll that will last forever. Lizzy overcomes her timidness and invites her school friends to play in her beloved apple tree. I love this little girl’s imagination and her willingness to teach her class how to make their own apple doll (the book includes instructions).
Content Warning: Bullying.
17. Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington
We love this busy apple farmer. Annie’s days are filled with picking, counting, sorting, baking, and selling her apples. The book includes a few of her apple recipes at the end of the book.
18. The Season of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons
Gail Gibbons is known for her beloved informational picture books. This wonderful book presents the seasons of an apple tree. A young boy named Arnold observes the changes in his apple tree as he collects apple blossoms in the spring, builds a treehouse in the summer, eats apple pie in the fall, and decorates with strings of popcorn and berries to feed the birds in the winter. The simple text and bright illustrations are perfect for young children.
19. Apples Galore! by Jane O’Connor
If you have early readers who are Fancy Nancy fans, they will enjoy this festive apple story. Fancy Nancy goes on a field trip to an apple orchard. She has a mission to find the perfect Gala apple for her dad.
20. How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro
This nonfiction picture book is filled with information about the life cycle and anatomy of apples. This educational book about apples for early elementary-age kids is the perfect addition to an apple unit study. Don’t hesitate to read to younger children. They always understand more than you think. 🙂
21. Apple Picking Time by Michele B. Slawson
This apple book for kids features a multigenerational family who work together in the apple orchard during apple picking season. The family works all day picking apples to fill their bins and get their tickets punched. A little girl works alongside her family members, working hard to fill her bin. I adore the fond memories of the family togetherness and the romanization of a day working in the apple field.
Interested in More Booklists for Kids: Check These Out!
38 Fall Favorite Picture Book List
Get the complete booklist of Favorite Books for the fall season HERE.
15 Thankful Books for Kids: Thanksgiving Day Picture Books
Get the complete list of favorite Thanksgiving children’s books HERE.
Favorite Farm Picture Books
Get the complete booklist HERE.
More Booklists Coming Soon!
Thanks for Stopping By!
Lastly, I want to thank you for stopping by! Please say Hi in the comment section and share your favorite apple activities and favorite book to read at apple harvest time. I hope you and your children find a favorite book from this list of apple books for kids. Happy Reading!
– With Great Joy, Katie
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This is such a great list of apple books!! Apple Tree Christmas is our current favorite. I found some new ideas for my boys. Thank you so much!