Showing posts with label Apples. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Apples. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Exploring Fall with Children's Books

Explore fall with Cloverleaf Books new series, Fall's Here!

Rustad, Martha E.H.
Animals in Fall: Preparing for Winter.
September 2011.
Millbrook Press (a division of Lerner Publishing).
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Children are simply introduced to the ways in which animals prepare for winter in this book - migrating, hibernating and changing for their winter needs. The book is very basic and to the point, allowing the youngest of children to keep focused and understand the changes that animals go through in preparation of the winter months. Definitely a hit for exploring the fall season or to introduce the concept of "Animal in Winter" as a thematic unit!

Learning Activity:
  • The last few pages of the book contain a glossary, other books on the topic, websites to explore and an activity that allows children to "experience" how a gray whale's blubber works.
Rustad, Martha E.H.
Fall Apples: Crisp and Juicy.
September 2011.
Millbrook Press (a division of Lerner Publishing).
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Introducing children to the process of growing apples, this book is slightly more complex than Animals in Fall: Preparing for Winter and will likely be more harder to use with younger children. However, I would imagine that some parts of the story could be modified for use with the younger ones as well! The process shared will likely catch the attention of many children, as many have probably had some kind of experience with apple picking and likely enjoy apple cider. The book is definitely a good one to use as part of a thematic unit on the fall season!

Learning Activity:
  • The last few pages of the book contain a glossary, other books on the topic, websites to explore and a recipe that involves children in making "Upside-Down, Inside-Out Apple Crisp."

There are 4 other books in the series, also by Martha E.H. Rustad, that I am excited to check out at some point!



If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Amelia Bedelia's First Apple Pie

A fun story to match up with making an apple pie!

Parish, Herman.
Amelia Bedelia's First Apple Pie.
November 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Amelia Bedelia spends the day with grandparents enjoying all the different fall activities that there are to experience. When Grandma catches Amelia and her grandfather with nothing to do, she sends them in search of Granny Smith... just what they need to make a pie. It's clearly Amelia's first experience visiting a farmer's market and helping out in the kitchen, as everything direction that is given to Amelia is comprehended in the most simplistic form (a sprinkle of flour and Amelia literally sprinkles the flour all over herself and Grandma), yet it's certainly an adventure that will have readers chuckling and begging to make a pie of their own.

Learning/Reading Activity:
  • After reading the story, make an apple pie of your own with your child using the recipe included on the last page of the book!


If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Ugly Pie

A great read/activity combined for some Autumn fun!

Wheeler, Lisa.
Ugly Pie.
July 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Ugly apples,
raisins, too,
sweet molasses, nuts -
WA-HOO!

Got an itch to satisfy.
Gonna bake some Ugly Pie!
When Ol' Bears hankerin' for a pie provides less than satisfying results, he collects the necessary ingredients to create an Ugly Pie of his own (which closely resembles our Apple Pie).

Delightfully funny rhymes and song lyrics will have children laughing to no avail! It's very likely that your child(ren) will be joining in with the singing once he/she catches on. The story is great fun and provides a great activity for parents/teachers to complete with children - baking an Ugly Pie of your own!

Learning/Reading Activity:
  • Use the recipe provided at the back of the book to create an Ugly Pie of your own! If you really wish to challenge your child, substitute some different ingredients for the apples and raisins! See what kind of "ugly" combination you can come up with!


If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Life Cycle Saturday #2

It's week #2 of Life Cycle Saturday and today, I've got a plant life-cycle non-fiction text to share!

Nelson, Robin.
Life Cycles: Apple Trees.
2008.
Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.


Again, Nelson gears this non-fiction life-cycle book towards beginner readers, most likely Kindergarten through 2nd graders.


The life cycle of the apple tree is very basically described - a seed grows roots, the shoot grows out of the ground and eventually becomes a sapling. Once the tree is full grown, buds appear. The buds open and the tree is full of flowers, a bee visits the flower for pollination (although the pollination aspect isn't mentioned). The flowers fall off and apples begin to grow. It is then shown that the seeds inside the apples can grow into apple trees if planted.

The simplicity of the text is very appealing in using this book as a teaching tool about plant/animal life cycles!

Lesson Plans/Book Activities:

Other Books about the Life Cycle of an Apple Tree:

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com.