Nightbird by Alice Hoffman*

I could have read this book in one sitting!
Intriguing plot that weaves the past with the present plus an appealing setting (I wanted to pack my bags and wander in Twig's orchard, taste her mom's pies and help Twig and Julia revive the herb garden!!).

In the 1770's two families lived side by side in Sidwell, Mass.  The one son from one family fell in love with the one daughter from the other family.  Then the Revolutionary War broke out-the boy's family was on the Colonist side while the girl's family sided with the British.  Their families forbade them to see each other.  Despite their families' demands, they decided to run away together.  On the night of their planned escape, the boy never shows . . . the girl waits all night, all day, a week, a month, a year.  She places a curse on the boy and  future male generations-they would grow wings.

Fast forward to the present-Twig's family has a secret.  No one knows she has an older brother James .  . .who has wings.  Twig and her mother keep to themselves on the family farm and orchard.  Twig has no friends; no father.  Then a family moves in next door to Twig and starts to remodel the "witch's" house who placed the curse on Twig's family.
Is this a summer of change-for Twig to finally have a friend, to break the curse and for a long-lost father to return?
Some reviewers did not like how everything is resolved neatly and perfectly but I did!  I like nice endings where everything works out!!
**Highly recommend.  Well-written.
Apple pie recipe included in the back.
Warnings/points to discuss: witch/curse; parent separation

Seed by Seed by Esme Raji Codell illustrated by Lynne Rae Perkins

"The Legend and Legacy of John "Appleseed" Chapman

The book starts with two children overlooking a city and then it slowly transports them back to the time Johnny Appleseed lived.
Ms. Codell focuses on four lessons we can learn from him.
The artwork is an interesting mixture: watercolor/gouache, embroidery, woodcarvings, burlap and secondhand book pages.
An unique Johnny Appleseed book!
Ms. Codell also gives creative activities to do as one celebrates Johnny Appleseed on his birthday, Sept. 26th.  Visit Ms. Codell's website  www.planetesme.com for lots of book recommendations and activities to encourage reading.

Apples Here! by Will Hubbell

Very simple, repetitive text shows the reader the development of an apple starting in winter through the fall.  A more in-depth explanation of the apple development is included on the last two pages.  I liked the diverse ethnicities represented in the book.

Applebet An ABC by Clyde Watson illustrated by Wendy Watson

Rhyming verses take a reader through the alphabet as they follow an apple throughout a day.  Bet and her mother take a basket full of apples to the county fair.  I have never read an alphabet book that includes the sounds "ch", soft "c", soft "g", "qu", "sh", "th", "wh"!

Apples by Ken Robbins

A book full of photos that show the entire process of growing apples- from grafting to pruning to pollination to harvesting to eating.  The author includes two pages of apple sayings and classic stories that involve apples.
Some of the photos are not so crisp-good be better quality.

The Story of Johnny Appleseed by Aliki

An older book but gives a great overview of his life.
Simple enough words that a high second grader and most third graders could read it.

Apple Countdown by Joan Holub illustrated by Jan Smith

A class of students goes to an apple orchard for a field trip.  Starting with the number 20, the rhyming story counts down as their field trip adventure unfolds.  Great apple facts are included throughout the book too. The back of the front and back covers are splattered with apple facts too.
**Like this counting book because it includes the teen numbers and number 20.

Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington

Bold, colorful illustrations fill the page.  A perfect book to share with preschoolers about what someone may do with the apples from their orchard.  Recipes that use apples are in the back.

The Apple Orchard Riddle by Margaret McNamara illustrated by G. Brian Karas

Mr. Tiffin's class takes a field trip to an apple orchard.  While they are learning about apples and their products and how an orchard is managed, he gives them a riddle to solve.
The book is full of apple and orchard facts yet the individual children's personalities are well developed for a picture book.  As the story continues and facts are related in story format, the children try to solve the riddle.  Tara, the class day dreamer, slowly solves the riddle.
The last page in the book lists some more facts about apple orchards.
The end pages have drawings of different apples with their names.
Great book to read before an apple orchard field trip.
**Check out this team's other great fall book How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?.  Mr. Tiffin is the teacher is this book too.