FICTION

Apples A to Z

illus. by Jake Parker. 40p. CIP. Scholastic. Aug. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-439-72808-9. LC 2010045432.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2—Fox, Bear, and their friends travel through the alphabet supplying facts about everything apple. The format means that chronology occasionally goes by the wayside, with the trees losing their leaves ("D is for DECIDUOUS") before the fruit has been picked ("H is for HARVEST"), but otherwise the information is presented with clarity. There is a Disney-esque feel to the illustrations, which are bright and child-friendly and add humor to the text. Back matter includes a brief biography of Johnny Appleseed, apple activities and jokes, and an explanation of various related expressions. This is a pleasant addition to the canon of apple books in demand every fall, but not an essential purchase if this subject is already well represented.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
This alphabetical tour of apple science and customs sometimes strains for facts, resulting in the uninspired "E is for Eating" and "K is for Kitchen." Some explanations--like the importance of pollen and what characterizes a fruit--are elucidating; more advanced terms (deciduous; grafting) may confuse young readers. The animal characters are superfluous but cute. Apple-related activities, jokes, and expressions are appended.

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