An Apple for Harriet Tubman

by Glennette Tilley Turner, Susan Keeter (Illustrator)

Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College One day I am going to be free―and I'm going to have all the apples I want. Like other enslaved African American children, young Harriet Tubman had to work hard. In her master's orchard, she spent long hours picking the juicy apples she was forbidden to eat. Harriet vowed to one day be free and to grow apple trees of her own. When she was grown, she made her escape to the North. Then, repeatedly risking her life, she returned to lead many other African Americans to freedom.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Biography, Childrens, American History, History

24 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2006

Reviews

[Faloni ©]

Folk-tales say slave masters kept the news that the enslaved were free, a secret, only to keep their crops properly cultivated. Harriet discovered a courageous way to lead the enslaved to freedom. Aren’t you proud to be an American?

[L12aliciacarrera]

Young Harriet Tubman was born into slavery. Her family was owned by Edward Brodess an unkind man. When Harriet was seven, she was sent to care for a baby that belonged to a woman who slept with a whip so that she could use it on Harriet if the baby cried. As Harriet got older she worked in the fields picking apples that she was not allowed to eat. "Whenever she held a shiny red apple in her hand, she wished, oh, how she wished, she could take a big bite out of it!" One day she decides to do just that. Harriet gets caught and receives a horrible punishment from her master. She swears that one day she will be free to eat as many apples as she likes. Little does she know that she will be able to keep this promise. In 1849, she decides to run away and she risks her life by escaping to the North where she finds freedom. She leads many people to freedom as their "conductor" by guiding them through the Underground Railroad. In 1869, Harriet is able to buy her own home with a lot of hard work and courage. She plants rows and rows of apple trees that she decides to share with the townspeople as soon as they were ripe for picking.

This is a story of Harriet Tubman, a woman who courageously guided her "passengers" through the Underground Railroad knowing full well that she was risking her life if the slaveholders ever found her. This is a story that was inspired by Harriet's love of apples which is not a very well known fact. It is written for K-3 grade levels. It is a text that can be used to explain slavery and the Underground Railroad. Harriet's love of apples symbolizes freedom and courage.

[Melody]

I loved the illustrations. This book was a good introduction to Harriet Tubman for younger or more sensitive children. It demonstrated the cruelty and injustice of her life without too many details of all of her experiences. The author introduced the injustice of slavery and helped children connect to Harriet by showing the unfairness of a child working all day for free with the threat of being punished. Children will identify with Harriet seeing the apples she is working so hard to pick, day after day, and will understand her desire to have what she is working so hard for. They will feel the injustice that she is never allowed even one taste of an apple herself. The scene where Harriet is beaten for biting an apple is short and not too graphic, but is still powerful. It is used as a turning point as she decides she will be free and will have her own apples one day. This book had a triumphant ending as the reader sees Harriet owning property, keeping her promise to herself to have as many apples as she wanted, generously opening her orchard to the community each year to make sure everyone can enjoy them.

[Laura Mcclanahan]

Genre- Historical non-fiction

The text by Glennette Tilley Turner (illustrated by Susan Keeter) is a succinct and vivid recount of Harriet Tubman's life. The story is set up as a colorful children's book, small portions of Harriet Tubman's life retold one paragraph at a time every 2 pages. The paintings use bold, vivid colors showing the beauty of the south and representing facial expressions. For instance, when describing the underground railroad, illustrator Keeter paints a shining star in the night sky over a church, symbolizing the beacon to freedom.

Though mostly a factual retelling of a historical figure, the book also uses figurative language with the apple. As a child, Harriet Tubman was directed to pick apples but was not allowed to eat them. Once when she disobeyed she was severely whipped. At the end of the book, Harriet Tubman plants apple trees and invites the townspeople to enjoy eating the apples- symbolizing her achievement of freedom and her sharing that freedom with others. The text would be an excellent example of teaching not only history but also symbolism to young children.

[A_Leticia]

As readers, we enter into the world of a great heroine, Harriet Tubman, in An Apple for Harriet Tubman. In this picture book biography, we understand the important role Tubman played in the Underground Railroad and the freedom of many slaves. An important part of her life is portrayed with rich, dramatic drawings. The illustrations and the text join together in portraying Tubman's childhood life in the slave industry and goes on to further portray the life she led as an adult slave. As we read, we come to learn that not only does Tubman yearn for freedom, but that she has a divine passion to taste an apple. Unfortunately, she was prohibited from eating them; and, so when she was finally free, she grew her own apple trees for all to share. The apple held symbolic meaning for Tubman: freedom.

[My Book Addiction and More MBA]

AN APPLE FOR HARRIET TUBMAN by Glennette Tilley Turner,illustrated by Susan Keeter is an powerful Children's books/Educational. We all know that Harriet Tubman was the greatest conductor of the Underground Railroad. But did you know she was a Union Army nurse,a scout for the Civil War or that she loved apples? Which are just a few of the things you will learn in this title. Well written in a way young readers can understand,with beautiful illustrations,and engaging characters. A powerful and engaging story from beginning to end. Historical lovers will also enjoy this title. A must read for not only young readers,but for grandchildren,and educators alike. A wonderful teaching tool. Received for an honest review from the publisher.
RATING: 4.5
HEAT RATING: NONE(CHILDREN'S BOOKS)
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

[CH_Kathleen]

"An Apple for Harriet Tubman" is the biography of Harriet Tubman's life and her involvement with the underground railroad. The story has an interesting point about Harriet's life and the symbolism of an apple to her. When Harriet was young she loved picking apples, but always wondered what they tasted like. One day she took a bite and was whipped. The story goes on to tell of her involvement with the underground railroad. When Harriet had her freedom for awhile she planted apple trees at her home so that she could have as many apples as she wanted and shared them with the townspeople. The apples were a symbol of freedom to her. The book does a good job explaining the underground railroad and would be perfect for a 2nd or 3rd grade classroom when introducing this part of history.

[Kathryn]

The book is about Harriet Tubman growing up in slavery and her journey to becoming a free woman. I liked the book because of the pictures, I think it is a good way to read this story to young children because the illustrations aren't too graphic. I think this is important to read so we can show diversity in our American heroes. I would read this to my class to show diversity and allow them to see that you can do anything you can set your mind to.

[Ashley Allen]

This is a very sad book as well. I would use it in my classroom to talk about Harriet Tubman and her contribution to the underground railroad. I would talk about how many african americans used the underground railroad.

[Halea]

This is a short picture book about Harriet Tubman and her life living as a slave then escaping. She grew apple trees because as a child slave she was not allowed to eat apples off the trees. Beautiful illustrations. Great for a history lesson that's easy to understand for children ages 8 to 10

[MissInformation]

The apple becomes a symbol of freedom to Harriet, who heroically lead hundreds of slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad.

[CFAITC]

Learn about Harriet Tubman's journey while discovering her love for apples and the freedom they symbolize.

[Jessica]

This was a NONPRINT version of the text. The DVD was engaging and showed the illustrations of the book.

[Allison]

Cool twist on the history of the Underground Railroad and the history of Harriet Tubman.

[Brittany]

Who is Harriet Tubman? Great book to introduce Harriet Tubman and discuss her life and the courage she had to accomplish some events.

[Isabella O]

This was a heartwarming story about who Harriet Tubman was and what she acomplished

[Berls]

3.5 stars

[Kaylee Harkness]

A good introduction to learning about slavery and the Underground Railroad. When it brings up a new topic the author takes the time to explain what it means in a way that could be understood by youth readers.

I read this book aloud to my seven year old little girls. The book mentions that when Harriet was seven she was already caring for a baby that wasn’t hers. Staying up all night to keep the baby from crying or risk being beaten and whipped.
During reading we were able to have a conversation relating their experiences to Harriet’s. I stressed that this was a true story and not a pretend storybook.
This introduction to history is so important so that children of all nationalities and skin colours can know and understand our real harrowing history.

As a child I didn’t know anything about Harriet other than she was someone important. I was shocked as I grew older to learn the truth.

This black history month take the time to educate a youth around you. Put aside time in your day to ask hard questions, answer questions and lead a discussion in your home. Seek out media written by and about Black Voices.

Thankful for books like this.

[Stephanie Croaning]

This true story about Harriet Tubman and her love of apples is not the usual story that is told about this amazing woman. It gives readers a different look at this heroine for whom an apple came to represent freedom.

There is an author's note in the back of the book that explains more about Harriet and provides a list of books for further reading.

This book would make a great introduction to the Underground Railroad and slavery for children. It explains the horrors of slavery and the courage of Tubman in a very accessible way that would not overwhelm young people.

[Jazmin Holdiness]

This book made me emotional. It was very informative about Harriets life and how even an apple would've changed a part of her life. It is very heartbreaking someone would go through life just simply wondering how an apple tasted but having to pick them because you were forced into it since being born. Slavery was a very sad and difficult time, I truly will forever wish that this never happened in history and am so happy there was a change. I hope our world can come back together one day.

[Heidi]

When looking for read alouds on YouTube concerning Apples, this book was listed. My grands and I listened to this book and then we took a quick detour from our Apple Unit to study a little bit about slavery. The kids were horrified at the thought of people being purchased.
This was a wonderful book to learn a bit about Mrs. Tubman with some historical facts as well.

[Makayla Gourley]

The story of Harriet Tubman's life and how she was born into slavery. The jobs she did, and then how she escaped using the Underground Road.

[Brittany]

Short picture book about Harriet Tubman, her childhood longing for an apple, and how she escaped from slavery and helped others escape too.

[Dennis Fischman]

Beautifully illustrated, and the telling of the story avoided glossing over the violence of slavery without getting too graphic for children. A fine book.

[Andrea]

This book was a biography picture book of Harriet Tubman’s life. The illustrations were done in what seems like water color. The illustrations were, in my opinion, crucial to this book because it depicted what was going on in the story. If you were to use this book in a classroom setting the children could actually get into what is happening in the story because they can see the illustrations. It also gives a very good lesson about the Underground Railroad and how it worked. It showed Harriet having great perseverance to gain freedom, for not only herself but others as well. I can see children relating to Harriet, at least a little, because the story started out at the time when she was younger. They can see that she is curious about the apple, and maybe they too have been curious about having something they were forbidden to have by their parents. This book is a great in showing the importance of the Underground Railroad and why we should learn about it. I would definitely recommend this book not only to teachers, but parents who want to teach their kids about these times.

[Neli Trevi]

History, courage, sacrifice and most importantly family.

[Reece Hamilton]

a good story of someone who would become a legend

[Denise]

1. Not applicable
2. K-3rd
3. It talks about how Harriet Tubman became a slave and the jobs she was forced to do even if she was just a little girl. It then continues to talk about her life, explaining how she was able to escape to freedom but then risked her life to lead and save hundreds of others to freedom.
4. This book tells the story of an important historical figure while telling her story in a perspective that children can easily understand. It does not try to hide the fact that slaves were abused (like her getting whipped) and it truly captures how big of a hero she was to hundreds of people.
5. -Have each student draw a hero in their life on a construction paper cutout of an apple and label it (could be a celebrity, family member, friend, etc). Before hanging them up in the room, those who wish could share why that specific person is a hero to them.
-Introduction to "black history". Could expand from this book to learn more about slaves, the underground railroad, and learn about other heroes like rosa parks, martin Luther king jr, etc.