"JOHNNY APPLESEED - The Legend and the Truth

by Jane Yolen, Illustrated by Jim Burke

As Amazon writes:

“Planting trees is quite an art. He plants the apples with his heart. Johnny, Johnny Appleseed.

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.”

A delightful reading of this book gives children a sense of history that draws in their attention and the fun of reading poetry. As they read the book they want to search their ancestry. Note these clever lyrics: “Johnny loves the orchards. He becomes an apple man, Like his great-great-great-great-Great-grandfather had been." I have been waiting for fall to tell the story of this captivating book and make an apple pie to share.