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Johnny Appleseed: My Story

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Johnny Appleseed was an important historical figure, well known for planting apple orchards across the new frontier. But he was also a master storyteller! In his own folksy voice, Johnny Appleseed tells his story to a couple of entranced children in this fictionalized Step 2 title. Readers learn how he started planting apple trees—and about some of the myths and true stories of his life.

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

50 people are currently reading
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About the author

David L. Harrison

127 books23 followers

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5 stars
56 (33%)
4 stars
55 (32%)
3 stars
45 (26%)
2 stars
6 (3%)
1 star
6 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Moonkiszt.
3,073 reviews333 followers
October 21, 2021
Featured in a grandma reads session.

We are knee-deep in apples, and are working our way through jelly, applesauces, fruit leathers and cider. . . so what better book to read than a quick introduction to Johnny Appleseed?? The artwork in this picture book is bright, with movement and a cozy lighting that puts the readers in the cabins, on the roads, through the orchards with Johnny. He was a man on a mission - barefooted and humbly dressed, he spread apples and folktales wherever he went!

A timely book to read to my sweet listeners. . .we are thankful for the authors and artists who provide us the good reads we've found. . . .said between bites of apple . . .
Profile Image for Cal.
53 reviews13 followers
February 7, 2021
Plant Trees, Plant Apples, Plant Apple Trees

A family is going about a normal day when Johnny Appleseed comes to play! Johnny is going to tell a story to the kids so they all go inside and listen. This Book tells us the story of John Chapman better known as Jonny Appleseed, starting with his childhood. His family didn't have good clothes and were hungry. Johnny loved the woods. After school he would work to help his family but when old enough he set off on his own. Then Johnny happened upon a cider mill who was giving away apple seeds Johnny took them and planted them. He was soo happy to have those seeds, but the grin he had soon vanished because of a storm in Pennsylvania. He thought, No storm was going to stop him!" and kept on moving. Walking gave him time to think and he thought, people were going west and they needed Apples when they got there so he decided to make an orchard. Cut down old trees and planted new ones in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. He sold sprouts, 6 1/2 cents a sprout. He sometimes traded for food or clothing, and those who could not afford them he gave them for free. There are also many stories about him. He says there are more stories about him than fleas on a dog! And here's something I didn't know, Johnny's friends with the Native Americans!

Main Character: Johnny Appleseed
My Favorite Part: He says a storm's not going to stop him!
Problem: Johnny's family is poor.
Rating: 5/5
14 reviews
November 10, 2019
This book is a great read with many illustrations. It is about a historical figure named Johnny Appleseed. Johnny Appleseed livd in Massachusetts and trailed all over Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana planting apple seeds. He tells these stories to two kids of his journey and stories that have been told about him .

This book is a historical fiction based on a true historical figure. I can see this in my classroom fro students that can read it on their own depending on their grade level. I also see me using this as a read aloud to teach students about historical fiction book which are books about real people but not quite the true story of what happened. In addition, it can be used to help students recognize common types of text such as poems and historical fiction.
404 reviews24 followers
March 14, 2020
My complaint with this book is fact and fiction blur. He's a man that myths spring up about so distinguishing between those can be tricky, but some of the tales are just clearly not true and I rather think shouldn't be included in a brief biography for children who may have a hard time making the distinction between what actually happened and what didn't. Definitely a book to have discussions with your kids about it when they read it.
Profile Image for Nicola.
3,645 reviews
February 6, 2022
Miss 7 read. It is set in historical America. Johnny tells kids a bit about his life and adventures, including trading apple tree sprouts and tending orchards as he travelled.

Miss 7 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Profile Image for Marta Veenhof.
127 reviews3 followers
September 25, 2018
Some questionable word choices - Indians. However, a few good lessons in here. Johnny Appleseed mentions giving sprouts to the poor for free because he knows how it feels to be poor. A book of mini adventure.
Profile Image for arlene.
192 reviews1 follower
December 13, 2020
Good

I enjoy reading this story to my grandson, before bed and he liked as well. I traded long ago to my children as well
Profile Image for ☼Bookish in Virginia☼ .
1,323 reviews67 followers
October 28, 2009
This book is a Level 2 Reader which is defined as being for Grades 1 to 3. And despite being a Practice Reader this book by David Harrison does as fine a job as any book we have read thus far in teaching young children about Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman).

The book begins with Johnny's arrival on a farm. Everyone is excited to see John again and they invite him to dinner. The two children, Will and Beth, want John to tell them one of this stories, and he says 'sure' but not before he helps dad with the wood splitting.

When they do all settle down after dinner, Johnny tells of his own boisterous childhood. How he found relief from the noise of ten siblings! in the woods and how the woods became a second home to him.

The story goes on to describe how he set off from Massachusetts to go west, and how he fell into apple planting by accident when a cider mill gave him free apple seeds. The book covers the harsh winters in Pennsylvania and how John planted seeds there and in Indiana and Ohio too.

Five Stars. Very Good read-aloud. The book gives some history and explanation of how and why Johnny ended up traveling the wilderness. In addition, it points out in a fun, non condemning way that many of the stories told about John are more myth than truth.

Text is included below so you can judge reading levels for yourself.

"I sold sprouts to folks
heading west in their wagons.
I sold sprouts to settlers living in log cabins.
One sprout cost
six and a half cents.

"Sometimes I traded sprouts
for clothes or food.
Some folks were too poor
to trade.
I game them sprouts for free.
I knew how it felt
To be poor.

Pam T~
mom and reviewer at BooksForKids-reviews.com
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
80 reviews
June 19, 2012
Johnny Appleseed comes to visit the house where Will and Beth live. Johnny sits down to tell the kids a story, Johnny Appleseed's story. He tells Will and Beth that his real name is John Chapman. He tells them how he came about planting apple trees. He also talks about some of the tall tales that have been told about him, never saying if they were true or not true. This is a good book that makes Johnny Appleseed seem more like a real person.
Profile Image for Rosa Cline.
3,328 reviews44 followers
August 3, 2016
This version of Johnny Appleseed did have some true facts in the story but the way the story was portrayed comes across as you have to know what is true and what is not as you read it. So for a student-child reading it they may get confused as the true information. But as a story trueness aside it was a nice one.
Profile Image for Ben Hicks.
45 reviews
Read
November 16, 2017
this story was about a man from a big family who decided to start off on his own and sell saplings to people moving west to make his money

this has always been a good story for kids i love it

this story is great for showing students that it can always get better if you put in the effort.
Profile Image for Catherine Woodman.
5,946 reviews118 followers
July 29, 2011
This whole series is a good introduction to famous folks at a casual level
Profile Image for Laura.
785 reviews86 followers
October 31, 2011
Not my favorite version of the Johnny Appleseed story, but a nice introduction to him as a famous figure.
Profile Image for Tami Tagtow.
10 reviews5 followers
June 23, 2012
This book was donated to ACGC Elementary School by the Atwater Alumni Association in memory of Clara Swingseth, our Atwater High School Librarian.
Profile Image for Brian Murray.
1 review
April 2, 2015
fun

I love this book it's fun to read an learn how apple orchards were made.that is why I love this book
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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