What's an Apple?

by Marilyn Singer, Greg Pizzoli (Illustrator)

What can you do with an apple? You can pick it, kick it, wash it, squash it—but don’t forget to eat it. This charming new series will show readers how to find magic and joy in the beauty of everyday life.

Also

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Storytime, Childrens

24 pages, Hardcover

Published August 30, 2016

About the author

Marilyn Singer was born in the Bronx (New York City) on October 3, 1948 and lived most of her early life in N. Massapequa (Long Island), NY. She attended Queens College, City University of New York, and for her junior year, Reading University, England. She holds a B.A. in English from Queens and an M.A. in Communications from New York University.

In 1974, after teaching English in New York City high schools for several years, she began to write - initially film notes, catalogues, teacher's guides and film strips. Then, one day, when she was sitting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she penned a story featuring talking insect characters she'd made up when she was eight. Encouraged by the responses she got, she wrote more stories and in 1976 her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't, was published by E.P.Dutton & Co.

Since then, Marilyn has published over seventy books for children and young adults. Her genres are many and varied, including realistic novels, fantasies, non-fiction, fairy tales, picture books, mysteries and poetry. She likes writing many different kinds of books because it's challenging and it keeps her from getting bored. She has won several Children's Choice and Parents' Choice Awards, as well as the following: the Creature Carnival, Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book, 2005; I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes with Religion, New York Public Library's "Best Books for the Teen Age," 2001; Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls, Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2000 (YALSA); On the Same Day in March, Booklist's Top Ten Science Books of 2000; NCSS-CBC Notable Book, 2000; Deal with a Ghost, finalist, YA category, Edgar Award, 1998; It Can't Hurt Forever, Maud Hart Lovelace Award, 1983; The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 1983; Turtle in July, NCTE Notable, N.Y.Times Best Illustrated and Time Magazine Best Children's Books of 1989; Turtle in July was also a Reading Rainbow review book.

Marilyn currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband Steve; their standard poodle Oggi, a cousin of their beloved and recently departed poodle Easy, seen in the home page photo; a cat named August ; two collared doves named Jubilee and Holiday; and a starling named Darling. Her interests include dog training, reading, hiking, bird-watching, gardening, meditation, playing computer adventure games and going to the movies and the theatre. She's also a major Star Trek fan.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

On one hand I appreciate the silliness and I enjoy the rhyme; on the other hand I'm not a fan of some of the content. Way too many apples being thrown and squashed. I know, I know...I'm no fun...but I can totally see a three-year-old taking some of these a little too seriously.

[Meaghan Ball · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book won the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. This story is about all of the things you can do with an apple. The print content of this story uses rhyming words to make the story more interesting for children to read and gives it a more fun aspect. It gives it a playful tone. Teachers can utilize this story in book selection when they are teaching their students about poetry. Poetry comes in many forms, and this one displays rhyming.

[Library Lady Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that it gives a lot of examples of what you can do with an apple. I don't like giving the idea that some of the things you can do would actually make the apple no longer edible. Don't think we should be promoting that if food is already scarce.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a simple story - but now classes could do this with any topic! What's a polar bear? What's a community? What's a planet? So many places you could go with this! :) OR just talk about apples!

[Kate Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grades K-3. Fun book to use as a model for creativity. Taking a common object (an apple) and imagining all the alternative ways to use it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this will be a fun fall read aloud to the little ones. The rhyming and silly uses for apples will be sure to entertain.

[Rosemary Szczygiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pre K - 3.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

What is a frustrated librarian who went against the flow and thought that this was dumb?

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect to get preschoolers to think about all the creative ways you can use an apple (or any object).

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the apple books we liked better for playing preschool apples unit.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about many things (both practical and silly) to do with an apple, like pick it, kick it, throw away the core, wash it, try to squash it. Great for toddlers and preschoolers

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book option for younger storytimes. Short rhymes show all the things you can do with an apple, and Pizzoli's fun illustrations are a perfect accompaniment.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Preschool
Rhyming

[DiAnne Warfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holt-Delhi library Preschool story time 09-17-2024

[CharityJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet but long on rhythm and rhyme! Fun read aloud with a great beat!

[Clyde Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big fan of the rhyming scheme in this book. It had me bobbing my head a little as I read it. I could see this book being used in a classroom activity involving apples. I thought the illustrations were cute and simple as well.

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with Julia

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marilyn What's an Apple? Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli. PICTURE BOOK. Abrams Appleseed (Abrams Books), 2016. $12.95.

In this poetic picture book, children explore many different ways to use an apple, including kicking it, squashing it, and using it as a bowling ball. While these options could make things a bit messy -- and even dangerous if a young child takes them seriously -- they're still amusing, and they do encourage creative thinking centered around an everyday object.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) -- OPTIONAL. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: What's an Apple? You can pick it. You can kick it. You can throw away the core. You can toss it. You can sauce it. You can roll it on the floor. You can wash it, try to squash it, or pretend that it's a ball. You can drink it. You can sink it. Give your teacher one this fall!

Premise/plot: Marilyn Singer has crafted a poem answering the question, "What's An Apple?" The text is simple and rhythmic. Plenty of rhymes to be found. It reads pretty effortlessly.

My thoughts: I do like this one more than What's A Banana? Perhaps in part because I LOVE apples and don't really like bananas. But also because I think some of the rhymes are just better in this one. I really like the 'You can smell it, caramel it' line. The books do complement one another.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

With sparse, rhyming text and simple illustrations on solid backgrounds, this small picture book is perfect for little ones learning about apples or to celebrate fall. The great rhymes make for easy reading, with the exception of “caramel” (depending on how the reader pronounces it, the word may or may not work in the rhythm of the text). Pizzoli’s digital art has a retro feel to it, while still appearing fresh and colorful, and the scenes are amusing. This great picture book is recommended for children ages 3-7 and would work for sharing one-on-one or with a group.

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable rhyming story that illustrates to the young reader all the delights that apples can offer. This is a sweet story that is sure to be a hit with young readers, as the story has a sing song quality and pictures that capture the silliest and most clever ways to enjoy delicious apples and to create healthy eating habits.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny ode to familiar objects for newly independent readers. Just plain fun but also great practice with decoding, nicely aided by Pizzoli's illustrations. Charming.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Filled with goofy rhymes about apples. Can you imagine bowling with an apple?!?

[Meredith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Please stop throwing apples around and stomping on them.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most fun apple book ever! Excellent storytime read, especially paired with all the "here's-how-you-grow-and-harvest-an-apple" picture books. The rhythm is catchy, and the pictures are fun. Love it!

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun sing-song about all the things you can do with an apple with simple illustrations.

[Stevie]

Cute story about apples for a younger reading group. My three year old enjoyed me reading a page, then he'd "re-read" it to me. We read this twice in a week, which means he enjoyed it!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read about apples with great illustrations by Greg Pizzoli. I can easily see this in a food storytime or kit.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The things you can do with fruit.

[Nikki Glassley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Pizzoli's illustrations but what an otherwise "meh" book.