Sweet Stories That Celebrate Seasons, Science, and the Magic of Apples
Apples are a classic childhood favorite—from crunchy snacks to fall adventures in apple orchards. But did you know apples also make a wonderful theme for learning? Apple books for kids explore nature, growth, healthy habits, and even math and science concepts in fun and creative ways.
In this post, I’m sharing my favorite apple-themed books for kids, organized by age group. I’ve also included fun activity ideas and thoughtful questions to inspire hands-on learning. Let me know which apple story your little one picks first!
***Disclosure: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission when you purchase through the link from my blog. Thank you for your support!
Table of Content
- Why Read Books About Apples?
- The Role of Books in Teaching Kids about Apples
- 11 Apple Books For Children
- What Apple Book(s) Are You Going To Read Later?
Why Read Books About Apples?
Apple books are simple, seasonal, and packed with possibilities.
They introduce kids to plant life cycles, healthy food choices, and the traditions that come with harvest season. Whether it’s picking apples in an orchard, baking a pie, or watching an apple seed grow into a tree, these stories connect children to the natural world.
Reading about apples helps kids appreciate where food comes from and why seasons matter.
The Role of Books in Teaching Kids about Apples
Books about apples support early science, counting, sequencing, and emotional learning.
Kids learn about how apples grow, how to take care of plants, and how traditions like apple picking bring people together. Many apple stories also feature kindness, sharing, and patience—core lessons wrapped in a fruity theme!
Apple books help kids think, taste, and grow—both inside and out.
How to Use Books about Apples with Children
Here are some juicy and educational ways to deepen your reading experience:
- 🍎 Ask Open-Ended Questions: After reading, ask: What’s your favorite kind of apple? or How do you think a tiny seed becomes a big tree? In class, Turn and Talk can spark conversations about food, farms, and fall.
- 🎨 Engage in Apple-Themed Activities: Try apple stamping art, make a paper apple life cycle, taste-test different apple varieties, or make applesauce together. You can even do a STEM challenge like building an “apple tower” from toothpicks and slices!
- 📚 Refer Back to the Books: During plant science units or fall activities, bring the apple stories back out. Say: Remember how the apple tree grew little by little? That’s just like the trees outside!
- 👨‍👩‍👧 Involve Other Caregivers: Suggest reading an apple book before a trip to an orchard or local farmer’s market. Families can extend the fun with baking projects, crafts, or journaling about what they learned.
11 Apple Books For Children
Younger Children (Ages 3-6)
#1 Hello, World! How Do Apples Grow? by Jill McDonald
đź”— View on Amazon
A bright and friendly intro to how apples grow from seed to fruit for the youngest learners.
Activity Suggestion: Explore a real apple—cut it open and count the seeds!
Discussion Questions:
- What are the steps of how apples grow?
- Why do we need sunlight and water?
- What’s your favorite kind of apple?
#2 Peekaboo: Apple by Camilla Reid
đź”— View on Amazon
A lift-the-flap adventure perfect for toddlers, with bright apples and friendly creatures.
Activity Suggestion: Create your own peekaboo apple craft!
Discussion Questions:
- Who’s hiding in the apple tree?
- Why do you think animals like apples?
- Can you count how many apples you see?
#3 Ten Apples Up On Top! by Dr. Seuss
đź”— View on Amazon
A silly Seuss-style counting book where animals balance apples on their heads!
Activity Suggestion: Stack paper apples on your head and see how many stay up!
Discussion Questions:
- What makes this story so funny?
- How high can you count apples?
- How do the animals work together?
Lower Elementary Children (Ages 7-9)
#4 Apples, Apples Everywhere! by Robin Koontz
đź”— View on Amazon
A great nonfiction read full of facts about apple orchards, harvesting, and apple fun.
Activity Suggestion: Visit a local apple orchard or try tasting different apple types.
Discussion Questions:
- What did you learn about orchards?
- What’s something new you discovered about apples?
- Why is fall an important season for apples?
#5 Pinkalicious: Apples, Apples, Apples! by Victoria Kann
đź”— View on Amazon
Pinkalicious heads to the orchard and picks apples with her family—sweet and fun!
Activity Suggestion: Plan a pretend apple-picking trip with baskets and a picnic.
Discussion Questions:
- What was Pinkalicious excited about?
- Have you ever picked apples before?
- What would you make with fresh apples?
#6 My Little Golden Book About Johnny Appleseed by Lori Haskins Houran
đź”— View on Amazon
A simple biography of Johnny Appleseed that shares the tale of his travels and planting.
Activity Suggestion: Plant an apple seed or draw your own apple tree.
Discussion Questions:
- Why did Johnny plant apple seeds?
- How can one person make a difference?
- What kind of journey did he take?
Check Out Capybara-Theme Daily Reflection Journals For Kids!
#7 How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro
đź”— View on Amazon
An informative look at the apple life cycle with realistic illustrations for early learners.
Activity Suggestion: Label the parts of an apple and the stages of growth.
Discussion Questions:
- What are the parts of an apple blossom?
- What surprised you about apple growth?
- What does a seed need to grow?
Upper Elementary Children (Ages 9-11)
#8 Johnny Appleseed by Reeve Lindbergh
đź”— View on Amazon
A poetic and lyrical retelling of the Johnny Appleseed legend, with beautiful imagery.
Activity Suggestion: Act out the story of Johnny Appleseed with hats and seed bags.
Discussion Questions:
- What do you notice about the way the story is told?
- How does it feel to help nature grow?
- What would you plant if you were Johnny?
#9 Apple Cake: A Gratitude by Dawn Casey
đź”— View on Amazon
A celebration of gratitude through the journey of gathering ingredients for apple cake.
Activity Suggestion: Make apple cake or apple slices together and share.
Discussion Questions:
- What are you thankful for today?
- What does it take to make something special?
- Why is sharing food meaningful?
#10 The Apple Pie That Papa Baked by Lauren Thompson
đź”— View on Amazon
A rhythmic story that builds like “The House That Jack Built,” all leading to pie!
Activity Suggestion: Sequence the steps of making a pie with images or toys.
Discussion Questions:
- What comes first in the story?
- Why is each part important for the pie?
- What’s your favorite kind of pie?
#11 The Apple That Fell Far From the Tree by Trevor Crafts
đź”— View on Amazon
An apple that feels out of place finds its way and discovers the joy in being different.
Activity Suggestion: Write a story or draw about an apple with its own path.
Discussion Questions:
- What does it mean to “fall far from the tree”?
- How does the apple find where it belongs?
- Why is being different sometimes a good thing?
Grab these free resources to make your teaching life easier!
What Apple Book(s) Are You Going To Read Later?
Apple books for kids bring sweetness, science, and storytelling together in the most delightful way. Whether your little ones are learning about nature, cooking in the kitchen, or dreaming up apple adventures, these books plant seeds of curiosity and wonder.
Which apple book will you pick from the shelf? Tag me on Instagram @LittleYellowStarTeaches and share your favorite fall reads, crafts, or orchard memories!
Happy reading!
Prima at LittleYellowStar
* * *
Other Blog Posts That You Might Enjoy:
- 15 Minutes Daily Social And Emotional Learning Activities For The Classroom (SEL Made Easy)
- How To Offer Growth Mindset Praise Effectively
- 3 Activities To Introduce Growth Mindset
