Up, Up, Up! It's Apple-Picking Time

by Jody Fickes Shapiro, Kitty Harvill (Illustrator)

Myles and his family love to pick apples at Grandma and Grandpa's California orchard. They gather bushels of Red and Golden Delicious, McIntosh and Pippins, Gravensteins and Winter Banana.

And before they know it, it's apple-selling time! Time to meet neighbors who taste, admire, and buy apples to share. It's a fun-filled weekend at the apples ranch, a weekend that flies faster than you can say, "McIntosh-Granny Smith-Golden Delicious-Pippin pie!"

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction, Family, Food, Apple

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[J9 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one brought me back to when I was a kid spending time on my grandparents vegetable farm. Lots of good memories. A great educational book for your children of all ages. My 5 yr old loved it as well as my 3 yr old twins. Lots of good information with beautiful pictures that will help keep children engaged. A great addition to any children's library.

[Hannah Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are Winter Blossom apples, Pink Delicious apples, Stark Red apples, Winter Pearmain apples, MacDonald apples and so many other different types of apples! The best part of all is that we get to pick some of every kind with Grandpa and Grandma! It's apple picking time!

Up, Up, Up was cute but I wasn't crazy about the illustrations. The people weren't detailed and they only had little dots for eyes. I did however enjoy that the story involved the entire family. It shows unity and makes me think about spending time with my family. Also I really loved how the big brother let his little sister sleep on his shoulder. He wasn't mean to her and didn't make her stop, he just let her be.

This would be a fun book to read in the fall. Closer to the end of the story it talks about making cider and desserts. It would be really fun to bring cider and apple desserts so they could enjoy some after reading the story. This book would be good to talk about how apples grow too.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's funny. I've been reading a lot of apple books for the unit we're doing here, and I find it amusing how many of them have the grandparents living on apple farms. Do we not think young people can be involved in agriculture any more? It's actually quite a bias, and one of which I was unaware until reading all these. Young folks: Please don't think you can't be the ones to run a farm. We're still going to want to eat in 30-40 years, and if the next generation doesn't grow food, we're going to be in big trouble!!!

But enough of that...

This is a pleasant book, with lots of interestingly-named apples to discuss with the kids. How fun would it be to do an apple-tasting as part of the reading? The illustrations are enjoyable and the story, while simple, does offer something most apple books do not: a farm stand! Pair this book with a trip to an apple-selling farm stand or a good farmer's market, and you'd be Golden Delicious! :)

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for Apple themed storytime 10/2/2018

[Stacey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got bored reading this one... :(

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute and surprisingly detailed story about family, apples and apple-picking, and farmer culture. The book was heartwarming and taught good lessons.

[Deborah Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice story. It talks about picking and selling apples. The pictures are colorful. There are 3 different color apples within the book so it can be used for math. Counting each apple of each color will allow students to add them together, or subtract one color from the whole. Math lesson great for K -2nd grade. The book could be used for other grades in science.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy and his sister are risen early to travel to their grandparents house to help harvest the apples on the orchard trees. Once the apples are picked the children are given cool apple juice to drink while their grandmother bakes Pippin apple pie, which the recipe for is included in the back.

[Chessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book that really got us in the mood to eat apples! We really liked the front and back pages especially, where there are drawings of about 20 different types of apples, many of which we had never heard of. Makes me really want to find a u-pick nearby! :)

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It would be interesting to read this one along with Apple Picking Time - Interesting to compare the two stories.

[Mama Bearian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Myles and his family drive and drive until they reach his grandma and grandpa's apple orchard. There, they help pick apples and then sell them at the apple stand. There isn't much excitement or draw here, but it is a good one to help talk about apple orchards with young readers.

[Kristie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations! A good story, but probably better for older audiences due to the length.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable story about kids heading to grandparent's farm to help with apple picking for their farm stand. bright pictures. describes many varieties of apples.

[Jennybug · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book for fall.

Shelf 1

[Tamara the Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

story about a boy going to the country to pick apples on his grandparents orchard. they sell some of the apples at a stand at the end. not that exciting.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of work goes into apple raising and selling. Most adults would struggle naming the 21 varieties of apples pictured.

[Roxann · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable book to read to children in the fall. Gives kids some info about picking apples, names of different types of apples and what to do with them.

[Edna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice textured cut-out illustrations but wordy text describe a family who helps grandma and grandpa pick and sell their apples.

[Lauren White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for grades prek-1

[Library Lady Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the multi-generational aspect of this story and the subtle way the importance of the family is reinforced with this story.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful book to read in the fall. Bring in some apples and do your own taste test, then graph it.

[Danielle]

1. No awards
2. Kindergarten-Grade 3
3. This story brings three generations together during an apple harvest. The family goes and picks apple from their farm and work together to make pies, cider, and selling the remaining apples to friends and neighbors.
4. This story captures the warmth and love of a family, across generations. The simple story is easy to follow, with rich expressive language. This story encourages families to spend time together, and enjoy the simple pleasures.
5. This is a great book for a fall seasonal story, it also is good to encourage students to spend time with their families.