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Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth – A Breathtaking Picture Book about the American Icon for Kids
Everyone knows the legend of Johnny Appleseed, the man from Massachusetts who planted apple trees all the way to California. But the true story of Johnny Appleseed, or John Chapman, is even greater than the legend. In deft and lyrical prose, Jane Yolen tells the whole story of an individual who forever changed the landscape of America.
Breathtaking paintings by award-winning artist Jim Burke illuminate the historical detail of this man's life while capturing all the magic and mystery of his legend.
Breathtaking paintings by award-winning artist Jim Burke illuminate the historical detail of this man's life while capturing all the magic and mystery of his legend.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2008
About the author
Jane Yolen
988 books3,250 followersJane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 21, 2019
As always when reading a book written by Jane Yolen, I learned more than previously known.
For example, this is not a simple tale of Johnny Appleseed with a pot on his head scattering apple seeds, rather it is a detailed rendering of his life.
He and his sister were orphaned when their mother died at an early age. His father then went on to marry a much younger woman who gave him many more sisters and brothers.
Poor families rarely kept children in school, and such was the case pf Johnny. Apprenticed to a local farmer, Johnny developed a love of working in the orchards. And, he loved picking and sewing seeds of apples.
Traveling throughout the states, he sells and sows seeds. Sadly, he died in winter after walking through the cold Indiana weather. When he saw cows who broke through a fence, he traveled many miles to repair the fence. As a result, he developed pneumonia.
You can visit his gravesite in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Buried in a six-dollar coffin (which was quite a lot of money at that time,) he died at the ripe age of 71. Owning eight hundred acres , a horse and thousands of apple trees and seeds, he left a large legacy.
As the book notes, "Bills and a greedy lawyer took much of his estate. Anything left went to his very special half sister." What he leaves behind is a legend."
I will keep this book with the other beautifully told and illustrated books kept on a special shelf.
Four and 1/2 stars!
For example, this is not a simple tale of Johnny Appleseed with a pot on his head scattering apple seeds, rather it is a detailed rendering of his life.
He and his sister were orphaned when their mother died at an early age. His father then went on to marry a much younger woman who gave him many more sisters and brothers.
Poor families rarely kept children in school, and such was the case pf Johnny. Apprenticed to a local farmer, Johnny developed a love of working in the orchards. And, he loved picking and sewing seeds of apples.
Traveling throughout the states, he sells and sows seeds. Sadly, he died in winter after walking through the cold Indiana weather. When he saw cows who broke through a fence, he traveled many miles to repair the fence. As a result, he developed pneumonia.
You can visit his gravesite in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Buried in a six-dollar coffin (which was quite a lot of money at that time,) he died at the ripe age of 71. Owning eight hundred acres , a horse and thousands of apple trees and seeds, he left a large legacy.
As the book notes, "Bills and a greedy lawyer took much of his estate. Anything left went to his very special half sister." What he leaves behind is a legend."
I will keep this book with the other beautifully told and illustrated books kept on a special shelf.
Four and 1/2 stars!
June 26, 2018
This book explores the legends of Johnny Appleseed and then gives the true history. Interesting but a little long and over the heads of my 6 & 4 yr olds.
4/24/18 Read with Naomi & Julia
4/24/18 Read with Naomi & Julia
November 20, 2018
Poet and Children's Author Jane Yolen uncovers both the truth and the legend of real-life tall tale, Johnny Appleseed.
John Chapman was a pioneer who with a bag of seeds, a tin pot hat, a coffee sack shirt, bare footed, and a belief in Swedenborg, missionary religious beliefs (at the time), brought and encouraged the westward traveling pioneers to bring Apple trees with them across the United States.
The truth and myth are both hazy as limited records exist, but songs, poems, and of course tales circulate about this guy.
The nice part about the book is that it lets the kids know what was indeed FACT, BUT...it lets children think about what is myth and what may be true.
The poems that describe the events of his life that top each page are simple but completely understandable.
The illustrations are also fun and colorful.
Good intro bio for school age kids (probably 2nd or 3rd Grade)
John Chapman was a pioneer who with a bag of seeds, a tin pot hat, a coffee sack shirt, bare footed, and a belief in Swedenborg, missionary religious beliefs (at the time), brought and encouraged the westward traveling pioneers to bring Apple trees with them across the United States.
The truth and myth are both hazy as limited records exist, but songs, poems, and of course tales circulate about this guy.
The nice part about the book is that it lets the kids know what was indeed FACT, BUT...it lets children think about what is myth and what may be true.
The poems that describe the events of his life that top each page are simple but completely understandable.
The illustrations are also fun and colorful.
Good intro bio for school age kids (probably 2nd or 3rd Grade)
November 29, 2017
Age: Upper Elementary
Genre: Biography
The reason I picked up this book is because I am distantly related to Johnny Appleseed. So it was fascinating to dig a little deeper into the history.
The book breaks it down to the history--storytelling form-- and then the true facts on what they know and where certain memorabilia is kept (museums)
I really like to hear the story that has been past down and then the facts that they know.
Good story and I enjoyed it.
Genre: Biography
The reason I picked up this book is because I am distantly related to Johnny Appleseed. So it was fascinating to dig a little deeper into the history.
The book breaks it down to the history--storytelling form-- and then the true facts on what they know and where certain memorabilia is kept (museums)
I really like to hear the story that has been past down and then the facts that they know.
Good story and I enjoyed it.
February 26, 2020
I have known about Johnny Appleseed since I was a little girl, but I learn some new facts from this delightful book.
March 25, 2021
Told in three parts -- the song lyrics (which I didn't know), the history, and the facts. A good example of a way to debunk myths, to get at what is true.
April 24, 2022
I enjoyed the illustrations but this one was way too wordy for my prekindergartener. This is a picture book that's not for reading aloud.
June 15, 2022
i didn't know half of this stuff about Johnny Appleseed
February 11, 2019
This book is the story of Johnny Appleseed. This explains how a boy named John Chapman from Massachusetts planted apple trees all the way to California. This book told me things about Johnny Appleseed than I had ever heard before. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone wanting to learn the true story.
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July 5, 2016Title: Johnny Appleseed
Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Jim Burke
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): legends, nature, apple trees, importance of helping
Opening line/sentence:
Apple blossoms tap the sill, welcome baby with a will, Johnny, Johnny Appleseed.
Brief Book Summary: This book tells the legend of Johnny Appleseed, who went around the country planting apple seeds and is the reason that we have apple trees in the United States. It also tells the story of the real Johnny Appleseed, John Chapman, who did plant a lot of apple seeds but is not the only one who planted apple trees.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Kirkus Review
Yolen wants it both ways: Johnny Appleseed the legend and John Chapman the somewhat fruity (“There is no doubt Johnny is strange”) Swedenborgian apple-tree merchant. So she tells two tales here in a call-and-response fashion: a slice of legend followed by a piece of fact that either corrects or enlarges upon the history of Johnny Appleseed. Introducing each of the two-page spreads is a poetic stanza that serves forth a sample of the legend: “Tin-pot hat, / Ratty hair, / Clothes just rags, / Feet go bare.” Burke’s soft illustrations, with their deep-dish color and touch of old stencils, lend an antique and jolly mood to Johnny’s antics, which Yolen finds legend-worthy even without the tin-pot hat, for Appleseed was a man who made a real impact on the look of the frontier. Some of the speculation is on the strong side—“Because Father Nathaniel was not given the acres of land promised all colonial soldiers, some historians believe he was dismissed for stealing army supplies”—but this is mostly a smart, concise, perspective-setting look at Appleseed/Chapman’s life. (Picture book/biography. 6-9)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Horn Book Guide Reviews
Yolen attempts to distinguish mythology from biography regarding the famed apple evangelist. Each spread includes a snippet of a hagiographic poem, some myth-busting information ("The History"), and thumbnail supplemental details ("The Fact," which sometimes includes Yolen's source). Burke's accomplished earth-tone paintings reflect imaginative Johnny's preoccupation with apples, starting in childhood and continuing throughout his life.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviews talk about how the book tells the real story and the legend of Johnny Appleseed. I think that this was a very interesting way to tell the story to help children distinguish between what is real and what is false when learning about this time in history. Both reviews also talk about the earth tones in the illustrations, which really brings the text together with the pictures.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The text is done in poetry to tell the legend of Johnny Appleseed, and as a factual paragraph to tell the history of the real man. This contrast in writing styles really makes it clear what is real and what has been exaggerated which I think is a really nice way to tell the story. The pictures in the book go along with the factual part of the reading, which I think also helps readers to distinguish between what is real and what is not.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I think a fun activity to go along with this story would be to have students write a factual history of their lives and then come up with a legend about themselves. They could copy the way the book is with using two different types of writing or they could use the same style of writing for both. This would be a fun way to get kids interested in writing because they would get to share about themselves and then get to tell about who they would be if they could do anything.
Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Jim Burke
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): legends, nature, apple trees, importance of helping
Opening line/sentence:
Apple blossoms tap the sill, welcome baby with a will, Johnny, Johnny Appleseed.
Brief Book Summary: This book tells the legend of Johnny Appleseed, who went around the country planting apple seeds and is the reason that we have apple trees in the United States. It also tells the story of the real Johnny Appleseed, John Chapman, who did plant a lot of apple seeds but is not the only one who planted apple trees.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Kirkus Review
Yolen wants it both ways: Johnny Appleseed the legend and John Chapman the somewhat fruity (“There is no doubt Johnny is strange”) Swedenborgian apple-tree merchant. So she tells two tales here in a call-and-response fashion: a slice of legend followed by a piece of fact that either corrects or enlarges upon the history of Johnny Appleseed. Introducing each of the two-page spreads is a poetic stanza that serves forth a sample of the legend: “Tin-pot hat, / Ratty hair, / Clothes just rags, / Feet go bare.” Burke’s soft illustrations, with their deep-dish color and touch of old stencils, lend an antique and jolly mood to Johnny’s antics, which Yolen finds legend-worthy even without the tin-pot hat, for Appleseed was a man who made a real impact on the look of the frontier. Some of the speculation is on the strong side—“Because Father Nathaniel was not given the acres of land promised all colonial soldiers, some historians believe he was dismissed for stealing army supplies”—but this is mostly a smart, concise, perspective-setting look at Appleseed/Chapman’s life. (Picture book/biography. 6-9)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Horn Book Guide Reviews
Yolen attempts to distinguish mythology from biography regarding the famed apple evangelist. Each spread includes a snippet of a hagiographic poem, some myth-busting information ("The History"), and thumbnail supplemental details ("The Fact," which sometimes includes Yolen's source). Burke's accomplished earth-tone paintings reflect imaginative Johnny's preoccupation with apples, starting in childhood and continuing throughout his life.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviews talk about how the book tells the real story and the legend of Johnny Appleseed. I think that this was a very interesting way to tell the story to help children distinguish between what is real and what is false when learning about this time in history. Both reviews also talk about the earth tones in the illustrations, which really brings the text together with the pictures.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The text is done in poetry to tell the legend of Johnny Appleseed, and as a factual paragraph to tell the history of the real man. This contrast in writing styles really makes it clear what is real and what has been exaggerated which I think is a really nice way to tell the story. The pictures in the book go along with the factual part of the reading, which I think also helps readers to distinguish between what is real and what is not.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I think a fun activity to go along with this story would be to have students write a factual history of their lives and then come up with a legend about themselves. They could copy the way the book is with using two different types of writing or they could use the same style of writing for both. This would be a fun way to get kids interested in writing because they would get to share about themselves and then get to tell about who they would be if they could do anything.
August 3, 2012
In three parallel strands, Yolen’s near-poetic prose relates the tall tale, the history, and the bare facts of the life of John Chapman, who even in his lifetime was better known as Johnny Appleseed. Simply and rigidly organized, each opening presents a full-bleed, double-page spread, a new verse to a continuing song, a dramatized portion of Chapman’s history, and a briefly stated fact. The five-line song stanzas each end with the refrain “Johnny, Johnny Appleseed,” and serve as the conduit for the traditional tale, albeit in a soft-focus, generalized style without any mention of the specific outlandish acts of derring-do that make the Johnny Appleseed stories so compelling to many. Grouped in a apple-bordered, ragged-edged cartouche with each verse is an entry titled “The History,” which together comprise the bulk of the text, telling the story of Chapman’s life in a narrative which is factual but embellished with unknowable details to round out the tale. Down in a corner of each opening is “The Fact,” which generally explicates a central point of verifiable information upon which the associated verse and history are based, sometimes including references to source documents, although in a few places they stray into the realm of opinion. Spread behind Yolen’s text are Burke’s paintings, which vary in style from realistic portraiture to simpler figure work, often alluding visually to early American folk art. Sometimes supporting the facts, but more often portraying some aspect of the tales, the art also evokes Chapman’s era by borrowing geometric motifs typical of contemporary needlecraft. Yolen ends with a consideration of how Chapman’s fellow pioneers perceived him and the way in which the great man became a great legend.
January 31, 2013
Mommy's review from 11/13/11 -
Neither of us cared for this at all. The first page bored us and after flipping through and reading parts of other pages we realized neither of us had any desire to bore ourselves further.
I wanted both of us to learn the story of Johnny Appleseed (me after 33 years of living on this planet) so after putting this one down without finishing we read Johnny Appleseed by Bill Balcziak and liked it only slightly more than this one.
I can't say Yolen did a bad job on this. It's simply that the story doesn't interest myself or my daughter in the least. The way Yolen did the fact/fiction would be interesting for anyone really wanting to learn a little about the subject.
I'm glad we read Balcziak's version and I'm glad we tried to read this. Out of the two I'd recommend Yolen's for older children and Balcziak's for the younger ones.
Neither of us cared for this at all. The first page bored us and after flipping through and reading parts of other pages we realized neither of us had any desire to bore ourselves further.
I wanted both of us to learn the story of Johnny Appleseed (me after 33 years of living on this planet) so after putting this one down without finishing we read Johnny Appleseed by Bill Balcziak and liked it only slightly more than this one.
I can't say Yolen did a bad job on this. It's simply that the story doesn't interest myself or my daughter in the least. The way Yolen did the fact/fiction would be interesting for anyone really wanting to learn a little about the subject.
I'm glad we read Balcziak's version and I'm glad we tried to read this. Out of the two I'd recommend Yolen's for older children and Balcziak's for the younger ones.
August 6, 2009
A neat book that deliniates between fact and fiction in the legened of Johnny Appleseed. It was fun to read about the generosity of a religious, good, self-made man and his many contributions to our landscape, starting in Leominster, Massachusetts, September 26th, 1774.
Leavning home in the 1790's, he planted and shared apple trees for human physical sustinance and acted as a missionary for the later-called "Swedenborgian Church of the New Jerusalem", spreading the beliefs of Emanuel Swedenborg, who believed that "humans were spirits in material bodies" and had visions of "Eden on earth." Interesting to find out he many not have been as penniless in the end as he often looked in life. A man fit for legend and a fitting ancestor for my favorite second grade teacher Ms. Chapman.
Leavning home in the 1790's, he planted and shared apple trees for human physical sustinance and acted as a missionary for the later-called "Swedenborgian Church of the New Jerusalem", spreading the beliefs of Emanuel Swedenborg, who believed that "humans were spirits in material bodies" and had visions of "Eden on earth." Interesting to find out he many not have been as penniless in the end as he often looked in life. A man fit for legend and a fitting ancestor for my favorite second grade teacher Ms. Chapman.
November 17, 2009
Genre: Biography/Poetry
Copyright: 2008
The legend of Johnny Appleseed has been told for years, but do you know the story of John Chapman? "Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth" follows the life of John Chapman A.K.A. Johnny Appleseed and author Jane Yolen provides a unique twist to the story. Each page contains a short poem about John Chapman and is followed by the history behind the poem as well as important facts about the man known as Johnny Appleseed. Colorful illustrations and a brief author's note about the legend of Johnny Appleseed complete this unique, yet informative book about the man, the legend, Johnny Appleseed.
Copyright: 2008
The legend of Johnny Appleseed has been told for years, but do you know the story of John Chapman? "Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth" follows the life of John Chapman A.K.A. Johnny Appleseed and author Jane Yolen provides a unique twist to the story. Each page contains a short poem about John Chapman and is followed by the history behind the poem as well as important facts about the man known as Johnny Appleseed. Colorful illustrations and a brief author's note about the legend of Johnny Appleseed complete this unique, yet informative book about the man, the legend, Johnny Appleseed.
March 15, 2010
Format: Picture Book
Interest Level: 2nd and 3rd grade
This book tells the legendary story of Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman). In this book Jane Yolen tells Johnny's story along with actual facts. She shares information about his family that we usually don't see when reading other books about Johnny Appleseed.
This would be a good book to use when looking at other tales of Johnny Appleseed. This book can be used to teach actual facts and how they compare to the tall tales.
I used to read a tall tale about Johnny Appleseed with my students, this book would be a nice compliment to that tale.
Interest Level: 2nd and 3rd grade
This book tells the legendary story of Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman). In this book Jane Yolen tells Johnny's story along with actual facts. She shares information about his family that we usually don't see when reading other books about Johnny Appleseed.
This would be a good book to use when looking at other tales of Johnny Appleseed. This book can be used to teach actual facts and how they compare to the tall tales.
I used to read a tall tale about Johnny Appleseed with my students, this book would be a nice compliment to that tale.
March 19, 2016
The author did a really great job in this book. The text flows very nicely while she divided up a poem about Johnny Appleseed. The History of him and the 'facts' about him and the time he lived in. Each page has a little of all these. It talked of from the time of his birth, to his Dad serving in the war, to him living with his grandparents, to how he became who and why he became a legend.
It was nice learning the real life facts along with the History part so you can compare and know what was 'real' and what was made up. Nicely done. Illustrations are really nice as well.
It was nice learning the real life facts along with the History part so you can compare and know what was 'real' and what was made up. Nicely done. Illustrations are really nice as well.
June 4, 2009
General rule: if it's Yolen, it's good.
This new bio of the Johnny Appleseed by one of the masters of children's literature, Jane Yolen, lives up to her standard. Each spread has 3 distinguishing features: poetic prose about the legend, an interesting and little-known fact about the real man, and a beautifully-detailed illustration with quilt-patterned backgrounds. Elementary libraries will want to add this one to their shelves.
This new bio of the Johnny Appleseed by one of the masters of children's literature, Jane Yolen, lives up to her standard. Each spread has 3 distinguishing features: poetic prose about the legend, an interesting and little-known fact about the real man, and a beautifully-detailed illustration with quilt-patterned backgrounds. Elementary libraries will want to add this one to their shelves.
July 27, 2016
I get that this is supposed to be an educational book about Johnny Appleseed's life but it was a complete bore. I was barely into the first page when I already realized I wasn't going to like the book. After that I just skipped the main sections and just read the facts because they were the most interesting parts.
The only thing I really liked was that he was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, which isn't far where I live.
The only thing I really liked was that he was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, which isn't far where I live.
September 17, 2011
Jonny Appleseed by Jane Yolen is a biography about Johnny Appleseed. Copyright 2008. In addition to having the facts found about his life as a biographical aspect, there is also text about the legend, and discussion about legends in the back of the book. In additon to the historical facts about his life, there are poems on each page about his journey as well.
April 20, 2012
this book is about the life of johnny appleseed. i can see this book being used in preschool all the way to 5th grade. it is a good book to use when talking about johnny appleseed or if children need to do research about johnny appleseed it is a great resource. The pictures have a variety of color and the drawing is clear and you are able to make out all the detail.
September 29, 2015
Yolen cleverly combines the legend and the man by introducing a bit of the legend and following it with factual information. Together the two narratives: Johnny Appleseed/John Chapman provide a vivid portrait of this celebrated American icon. Burke's richly colored folk art inspired artwork is a wonderful addition to the text.
September 12, 2008
Jane Yolen just never disappoints. The illustrations are lovely and the organization of the text is inspired: each spread has a short rhyme, followed by the legend with a short statement of the known facts at the bottom of the page. Wonderful.
September 18, 2008
I bought this book specifically to see how Yolen organized history, documentation, and narrative into a kid-friendly story.
The result -- awesomeness, and confidence for a project I've had on my mind for a couple years now.
The result -- awesomeness, and confidence for a project I've had on my mind for a couple years now.
April 29, 2009
Being from NYC, I had heard of "Johnny Appleseed" but knew nothing of the legend nor recall ever being taught it in school. However, as a librarian, it behooves me to learn about people like Johnny Appleseed. In Yolen's book, myth and reality collide neatly. I enjoyed it.
November 22, 2009
This is one of the Battle of the Books reads in New Mexico this year (Elementary list), and I really enjoyed it. The kids did as well, we read it together. The story really puts a good spin on the "legend vs. truth" issue that I think is so important to teach kids in elementary school.
August 30, 2014
This is an interesting take on a biography with the text divided into three sections: a minimal poem, a historical narrative section, and a section called the facts where Yolen basically validates her history by revealing the resources that provided her with the story she shares.
October 4, 2012
Not too bad for a biography. I liked the poem at the top of each page. I'd read Johnny Appleseed a Tall Tale Retold by Steven Kellogg with this to lighten it up, and then I'd make some real applesauce with the kids for a good activity.
August 9, 2014
Multigenre text -- poetry, lyrical history writing, and straightforward facts -- describes the life of Johnny Appleseed. I believe this text has limited kid appeal due to the 3 writing styles on each page and the muted, though beautiful, paintings.
September 22, 2008
Illustrations are beautiful and I like how it explains what is true vs. the legend.
September 12, 2008
Wonderful!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews