Apple by Nikki McClure

I’m seeing apple-themed craft and learning activities everywhere on the web at the moment. I suppose it is apple season in some parts of the world.

I thought it would be an ideal time to introduce you to this stunning book that I’ve recently come across.

And continue reading for a fun range of activities that encourage children to explore apples.

Apple is made up of striking paper-cut images; they are predominantly black and white images with one red object emphasized on each page.

Each illustration is accompanied by a single word that describes the image. The single words work together to tell the story of an apple’s journey within a year. (I love that the first word in the book is FALL and shows an apple falling from its tree. It visually helps me explain to my daughter why autumn is known as fall in other parts of the world.)

The apple falls from the tree, where it is shared but later forgotten. It is returned to the ground and waits to grow to begin the process again.

It is the simplicity of this book that I find most appealing. It provides parents and teachers with a wonderful tool for exploring stories and nature.

You might also like Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray

Some follow- on reading activities:

• Almost like a wordless picture book, the structure of the book allows children to create their own stories (or change the story slightly with each new reading).

• The book can be used as a whole to create a story, or each page could be used to tell a story of its own. You could also encourage children to create conversations around each image.

• Older children could be asked to create a story using each of the words presented in the book.

• The images, as well as the information presented at the back of the book about ‘The Life of An Apple Tree’ and ‘Composting’ give children a springboard into beginning their own planting and composting projects.

The red and white endpapers fascinated Cam the most though. She couldn’t see apples in the images. I realized that Cam had never helped me slice her apples.

At the end of our painting session, Cam asked, “What now? Maybe we could dip a yellow banana in paint, or a strawberry or an avocado?”. I love a child’s ideas. I’ll get back to you on that one.

For some other wonderful Apple activities check out:

• An Apple Investigation (Inspiration Laboratories)

• Apple Tasting (Pleasantest Thing)

• Apple Sauce Icy Poles (A Little Learning for Two)

• Apple Core Puzzle ( JDaniel4s Mom)

• Apple Lacing (Teach Preschool)

• Apple Bag Toss (Kitchen Counter Chronicle)

• Apple Cinnamon Playdough (Frogs and Snails and Puppy dog Tails)

• Apple Stamping on Fabric (Red Bird Crafts)

• Apple Printed Lunch Bags (Inner Child Fun)

• Contact Paper Apple Tree (Learning to Be a Mom)

• An Apple themed Birthday Party (Honeybee Books)

By Nikki McClure

ISBN: 978-1419703782

Format: Hardback

Publisher: Abrams Appleseed (Distributed by Thames & Hudson in Australia), August 2012

Suitable for ages 2+