The Biggest Apple Ever

Mouseville

by Steven Kroll, Jeril Bassett (Illustrator)

Clayton and Desmond are back and bigger than ever in this companion to the New York Times bestselling series!

As another year at Mouseville School begins, the students will be learning all about apples—starting with a contest to find the biggest one ever! As usual, Clayton the town mouse and Desmond the country mouse are each eying the prize. But when they can't find the biggest apple, even after they decide to work together, will they just give up? Or do they have another trick up their sleeves?

The newest installment of this beloved, bestselling series continues to showthe benefits of collaboration and friendship in a story centered around the fall season.

Genres: Picture Books, Autumn, Childrens, School, Fiction, Friendship, Food

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2011

About the author

Stephen Kroll spoke at schools and conferences all over the world. He was married to the journalist, Kathleen Beckett, and they lived in New York City and an old carriage house in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. When he was not writing or traveling, he played a lot of tennis and walked around looking at everything.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the opening day at Mouseville School and a challenge has been set for the students. They are to fins the largest apple possible and bring it in to class. Clayton and Desmond are sure they can complete this task, pitting themselves against one another. However, their competitive spirit only goes to stymie their ability to win. Still, they want to do something... and come up with the perfect (delicious) idea. Neo loves apples and when there was mention of a pizza oven, he was all in. Makes me happy to see that autumn is around the corner and we can find ourselves some excellent pies.

[Jaqueline Franco · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story "The Biggest Apple Ever" by Steven Kroll is a book intended for first grade through third grade. I believe this book fits best for this intended audience because the topics shows how teamwork looks like and how they adapt knowing they would lose. For example, in the book we see that the school is learning about apples and decided to make a competition of who brings in a big apple. Everyone in the class were excited. Even more, we have our main characters are Desmond and Clayton who were competing with each other and along with other students in the classroom. Then, the next day we see that the school was going to take the class to the Barnaby's Orchard to find the apple. After going to the orchard, we see that James has found a pretty big apple and both Desmond and Clayton did not find an apple. Near the end, they decided to bake a delicious apple pie after collecting a bunch apples. With the help of the Dad, Uncle Vernon, and Mr. Tony. When they bring the apple pie in the classroom we can see everyone enjoying the pie. Even though they lost, they were able to infuse their knowledge on apples, to create a desert. The lesson here shows that even knowing that you may not win, you can work together with a friend to bring a positive outcome with the whole class about the lesson. Why, I would include this book in my library is because the story values friendships, even after competing they also got a slice of apple pie, it wasn't like, oh I won't give you slice because you won. Instead they were also happy for James to win. I would like this book in my library, so students can value there friendships.

[DarkNinja_X-man · Rating 4 out of 5]

This children’s book has a nice solid story that offers some learning opportunities and discussion points. The pictures are nice, but not overly flashy and most likely geared for elementary aged kids.

In the book, two mouse friends, Clayton and Desmond, attempt to find the largest apple to bring to school so the class may learn about apples and just so happen to win a prize if they bring in the largest apple. With no avail, the pair are not able to locate an apple that will exceed the size of the one a friend brought, even after picking several apples at an orchard. Essentially, the two decide that their friend, James, deserves to win the prize for the largest apple, but they would not let the apples they picked at the orchard go to waste and bake the class the largest apple pie to share.

Overall this book has a very valuable message about not always winning and not giving up easily, looking for alternatives, sharing with others, and strong community.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own a copy of The Biggest Apple Ever as part of my classroom books. I like using it to teach children about sharing instead of competing with one another. The students move from looking for the biggest apple to making the biggest apple pie and sharing it with the entire class. It is a great book to use at the start of the school year. I know from experience that when children enjoy a story they ask for it to be repeated and The Biggest Apple Ever is often requested by my classes.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a charming story! While a little wordy as a storytime title, I appreciated this one for the wonderful attitude of the little mice when they realize their friend is going to win the classroom contest. Competition is good, and the mice do get into the spirit of it, but they also understand that sometime cooperation can be even better. I found this to be a story with a beautiful message and would highly recommend it.

[Ashley Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cute! Desmond and Clayton's class get told that whoever finds the biggest apple gets a prize. They search and search and search and they end up fighting over the same apple. Then, they put their heads together and think of making a BIG apple pie, with all of the apples they have, and they both win the contest.

This book gets five stars because it is a good example of teamwork and shows how to work together to achieve a goal.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the beginning of the school year for Clayton and Desmond. Their class is going to be studying apples and the teacher sets up a contest to see who can bring in the biggest apple. Sad for Clayton and Desmond but another classmate found a huge on a trip to the orchard and they simply cannot find a bigger one! However, there is a surprise at the end, all about apples and being creative and sharing with everyone! It's a fun story!

[Mama Bearian · Rating 2 out of 5]

The students at Mouseville School are in a contest to find the biggest apple ever, and Clayton and Desmond are determined to win the prize. But when they can't find the biggest apple ever, they get a better idea. It's a nice story about friendship and fall.

[Melli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was tonight’s homework read for my preschooler.. I loved the message it’s ok to not win.. but to work together..

[Carly MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent fall apple themed story.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book about competition and working together.

[Heather Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute! I based an entire class lesson off this book. I had my class each bring in the biggest apple they could find.

[Zazie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story and I'm sure any child would as well. Great teaching tool, which is always a good thing. I recommend.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two young mice want to win the biggest apple contest at their school.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book my students enjoyed.

[Kayla Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe the colors and fun use of dialogue and colors throughout would make this a great read aloud for younger students. The characters are fun and the use of imagery pays off.

[Baily Classen]

Baby shower gift from aunt Lacey

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining book about competition and the joys of picking apples in the fall.

The narrative is appropriate for young readers and the colorful, cartoonish illustrations are fun.

[Jenn O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7 ⭐ This book would be a lot of fun to read on the way to the apple orchard and then get home to make an apple treat with kids. Autumn fun!

[Amanda Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is another great example of the power of collaboration and friendship. It has a great message that instead of fighting over something, work together to make it work for both of you. I read this book to my class when we are studying about the life cycle of an apple and we talk about the team work that Desmond and Clayton have and what that does for them.

[Sharla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Heartland School.

[Ellen Diem · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Biggest Apple Ever is about a class of mice who are in a contest to find the biggest apple, who ever wins gets a prize. The class travels to a apple orchard and one class mate finds the biggest one. The two main charters get an idea to make the biggest apple pie ever and so the do just that return to the orchard and pick a lot of apples. Then they go a pizzeria and make the pie, finally the pie arrives at school and the whole class gets to eat apple pie.

The general age for this book is primary. This book teaches children that you do not always need to win the prize, and that sharing is a good thing.

The artistic elements in the book are good. The illustrator uses a lot of color to catch the readers eye. The book is about apples there are apples drawn on ever page. The lines are used to create movement and show thought, and heat.

This book should be read in class rooms to teach students that sharing is good. That winning is not important. Children need to see that with help from friends helping each other you can achieve more than you could alone.

[Edna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clayton and Desmond realize that James has found the biggest apple and will win the school contest but they come up with a much tastier and bigger surprise for the whole class. Cute illustrations and a good book about teamwork.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess this book was ok. It didn't really hold the kids attention, even though they picked it out. It taught a good lesson about teamwork and being a good sport.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book about looking for the largest apple. Two mice figure that they will not find the biggest apple so the set out to make the biggest apple pie.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like when they handed out a slice of the pie.

[Breanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book, though my son is a bigger fan than I am. Could be used in the classroom to talk about big, bigger, biggest, or the idea that we can't all win all of the time.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story about teamwork and overcoming a problem. The Biggest Apple Ever offers great visuals to match the text.

[Courtney Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

A class has an apple picking contest for whoever can pick the biggest apple. Two mice friends decide that though they can't find the biggest apple, they will be able to make the biggest apple pie for their classmates.

[Maria Pelayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fun book to read around the time of autumn. It's a fiction book about mice that are competing to look for the biggest apple. I would recommend this book for a 1st/2nd grade classroom library.