How Do Apples Grow? (Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science: Stage 2

Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2

by Giulio Maestro Betsy Maestro, Giulio Maestro (Illustrator)

This carefully detailed presentation of how fruit comes from flowers, from winter's snow-covered buds through pollination and growth to ripening and harvest.

Genres: Science, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Plants, Childrens, Nature, 1st Grade

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 1992

Reviews

[Carly MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super informative non-fiction book for littles. However, I am giving this book a 4 because it was a little much for kindergarten. Would be a better book for older ages.

[Rachael Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple but detailed explanation of how apples grow. Nice illustrations-good for teaching with. (not for storytime)

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a mom, I love trying to pick out the perfect books to match my kids' interests. My four-year-old eats one to three apples each day, so I thought he might like this book.

The best part was when we learned how the blossom end of an apple still shows the remnants of its origins, and my son exclaimed, "So that's how those little things get onto the apples!"

As for the book, overall it's a great explanation of how apples grow. The illustrations almost tell the story themselves, but the text is simple and clear as well. The fertilization part was a little complicated and I think I lost my four-year-old for a minute, but I don't grudge the author, since that's how it really happens!

[Mortisha Cassavetes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for kids teaching them how apple trees grow and produce the fruit. Wonderful Illustrations and very educational. I recommend this for the young and old. You are never too old to learn something new.

[Sinthia Burgos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love apples. This book has great illustrations to show the growth of an apple. It tells you the season apples begin to grow. I think it's awesome how it illustrates how a seed is formed. This book makes a great tool to teach children in kindergarten about apple growth.

[Sarah Westgate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Informational
This book is great for Kindergarten and up. One unique feature of this text is the illustrations were done in pencil then watercolor.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The life cycle of an apple is explored in this work of picture book natural history from author/illustrator team and husband-and-wife Betsy and Giulio Maestro. From the bare apple tree of winter, when tiny leaf and flower buds lay dormant, to their blossoming in spring, to the development of fruit from apple flowers, the process is described in simple language and through watercolor illustrations. The scientific process behind this transformation—the biology of the flower, the pollination provided by bees—is described, as are a few varieties of apple. The book closes with two children enjoying a treat...

Published in 1992 as part of HarperCollins' Let's-Read-and-Find-Out-Science collection, How Do Apples Grow? is the ninth picture book I have read from the Maestros, and the second with a scientific bent, following upon their Why Do Leaves Change Color? , which is part of the same collection. It features an engaging and easily comprehensible narrative that answers the titular question, and appealing watercolor artwork that ably depicts what is being discussed in the text. I'm sure there are a number of other picture books published on this theme, but this one makes a good first introduction to the topic, for grade-schoolers, and it is for that purpose that I would recommend it.

[Kathryn Jaeger]

This book goes through the life cycle of an apple. It shows how the apple begins its life on the tree as a bud, then a flower, which gets pollinated and turns into the apple. This apple continues to grow. It talks about how insects are important for pollination. The book talks about the different types of apples and also that an apple tree can grow the seeds inside the apple. I believe students would be surprised to know that at the bottom of the apple is the remaining parts of the flower that started the whole process.

[Lynnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

definitely one of the most comprehensive Apple books we read. my 3-year-old was just a little too young for it. maybe even when he's three and a half this would have been better. it's great because it takes you through the life of the Apple. it's very clear and concise in the pictures are great. but there's no story to it so my toddler wasn't super interested but that's fine. definitely saving it to come back to it in kindergarten and maybe even later on when he can read it himself.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm...I'm not sure why my kiddos didn't like this one. The information was good, and they do like non-fiction sometimes. The illustrations were fine. Nothing odd or anything. But I found that the book just couldn't keep their attention during our unit on apples. Honestly? It didn't work all that well for me, either. It just...dragged. Not sure why, but there you are.

[Danna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to teach the science of how apples grow. It was an excellent read to go with our apple unit for the beginning of school. Rainy day fun reading about apple growth, making apple books, graphing apple foods, and science experiments with apples made our day complete.

[Westin Hankins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an informative text to explain to children where apples come from. This can be used with a younger age as this book has pictures and explanations to the production of apples from the beginning all the way to the very end.

[Anchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about apples, seeds, parts of a flower, pollination , a fruit tree’s cycle. It’s a book of read to my kids (age 4 and 7) again and again as they grow older to be refreshed on key ideas.

[Sophia Northfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book when I was in kindergarden circa 2006. I am recording this for the sake of my future children to experience the magic that is flowers turning into food. That frickin fascinated me when I was 5.

[Jouliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

i wasn't know at the first that apple was from flower. But, after read this book this morning, i've got some new insight and some good information about apple tree, chlorophyl, flower, also some part of flowers.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pulled this out of our science book collection thinking we had outgrown it as 5th graders, but it turned out to be quite informative and interesting for this age group. Though simply written,it conveys facts clearly and succinctly, so I think we will hold onto it until junior high.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

AR 3.5

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great addition to our Apple unit and it was an introduction to the life cycle of an apple tree and the parts of an apple. The grands and I each learned something from the book.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good, informative book. Just simply too much for preschoolers.

[Whitney Hamilton]

I even learned something!

[Bryn Fleming · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fully science-based book specifically going through the steps of growing apples. I think that this would be great for a science lesson or informational reference book in the room.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good explanation of how apples grow. I liked it.

[Sarang Ranade · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book . It was fun reading it

[Kayla Noffze · Rating 3 out of 5]

Older content than my 3yr old can appreciate

[Abby Wheelwright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Board book. Very basic. Kids like it.

[Addie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about how apples grow. 2 year old wasn't into this one.

[Sarah Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because the author creates good questions. I also liked the size of the book and the colors of the pictures.

[Matti Davis]

Title: How Do Apples Grow?
Author: Betsy Maestro
Illustrator: Giulio Maestro
Genre: How-To
Theme(s): Flowers, Life, Autumn, Apples
Opening line/sentence: When you bit into a juicy apple, you’re eating part of a flower. Fruit comes from flowers.
Brief Book Summary:
This fun book tells all about where apples come from and when and where they grow. It starts off by telling its readers that if they have ever eaten an apple then they are eating part of a flower; this grabs attention from the beginning. By the end, you know how apples go from flowers to a fruit therefore making apples more appealing and fun to eat.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Horn Book-
Maestro, Betsy and Maestro, Giulio How Do Apples Grow?
32 pp. HarperCollins ISBN 0-06-020055-3 PE ISBN 0-06-020056-1
(2) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. The text of this informative book is simple and clear, and the illustrations range from scenes through the seasons to labeled close-ups of the apple bud, blossom, and fruit. Readers will gain an appreciation of both the scientific facts about and the natural beauty of this common fruit.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
CLCD-
Carolyn Phelan (Booklist, Dec. 15, 1991 (Vol. 88, No. 8))
From the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out series, this simple, fully illustrated book explains how apples develop from flowers, which, in turn, develop from buds. Deft pastel drawings with watercolor washes show the orchard through the seasons and then zoom in for well-labeled close-ups and cutaway views of the flower and fruit. Most libraries serving students in the primary grades will find this a worthwhile selection. The many school and public libraries located near orchards, which are deluged with teachers' requests for apple books each fall, will want multiple copies. Category: For the Young. 1992, HarperCollins, $14 and $13.89. Ages 5-9.
(PUBLISHER: HarperCollins (New York NY:), PUBLISHED: 1992.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
I really enjoyed the CLCD review because I believe that they are completely right when they say that many teachers, especially ones near apple orchards will want this book. It is very informative and would be great to use for a lesson. The Horn Book review was also very short and sweet to the point, just as it explained the book was. I agree with it when it says that readers will be able to learn facts and the natural beauty of apples.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book does not have any characters in it except for the ones illustrated. The main ‘character’ would technically be apples and this story talks all about how they are grown. This book is very informative and the text is easy to follow. The illustrations follow along with the story very well and they add more to the story rather than take from the facts of it.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
In my classroom, I would use this book to help teach my students all about apples. If an apple farm was conveniently close, I would have my students read this book and then take them to the apple farm. I would make up a worksheet following this book that they would have to fill out while we were at the farm. I would also want them to show me specific parts of the apples on the trees that we learned about from the book.

[YUE LE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: how do apples grow
Author: Betsy Maestro
Illustrator:Guilio Maestro
Genre: How-to book
Theme(s): how do apples grow, natural science
Opening line/sentence: when you bite in to a juicy apple, you’re eating part of a flower. Fruit comes from flowers.
Brief Book Summary: introduces how do an apple becomes an apple start from a branch.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-- Beginning with the bare branches of winter, the Maestros describe the apple until the time of picking. The parts of the flower are presented in a simple manner and labeled. Fertilization is also discussed in a way that is easily understood. The text is brief, but adequate in its content. Soft watercolor illustrations enhance the text. An excellent addition, particularly in communities that celebrate Johnny Appleseed's birthday. --Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Professional Recommendation/Review #2: From Kirkus Reviews
A straightforward, carefully detailed presentation of how ``fruit comes from flowers,'' from winter's snow-covered buds through pollination and growth to ripening and harvest. Like the text, the illustrations are admirably clear and attractive, including the larger-than-life depiction of the parts of the flower at different stages. An excellent contribution to the solidly useful ``Let's-Read-and-Find-Out-Science'' series. (Nonfiction/Picture book. 4-9) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


Response to Two Professional Reviews: Agree with the reviews, this book provides a carefully detailed, step by step introduction of how an apples grows. More than that, it also brings in the parts of flowers at different stages. This is an informational how-to book which children can follow step by step and grow an apple tree.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The text is straightforward and simple but informational. The watercolor Illustrations are in great details, and are vivid. Not only this book is telling reader how do apples grow, but also teaching some botanical knowledge.
Consideration of Instructional Application: Can be used in a botanical class. Moreover, it can be used as a guide book to grow an apple tree. In winter we start the apple tree, and each time we revisit the book and move on to the next step of growing an apple tree.

[Shanna Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book describes the way an apple grows on a tree, from the tiny leaf buds that exist in winter, to flowers blooming while bees pollinate them, through the time the apple ripens and is harvested. The text gives carefully detailed descriptions of how the fruit develops without being wordy, and children who like to understand how things work will appreciate the straightforward way these facts are presented. Like most of the books in this series, the illustrations are pretty average, but when apple harvest rolls around this is a great book to have in the reading basket. While the general concept of an apple growing from a flower will be understood by preschoolers, it is targeted toward primary school ages.