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Johnny Appleseed
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1948
About the author
Steven James Petruccio
65 books3 followersSteven James Petruccio was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was drawing from an early age inspired by his father and the comic books he read. With no formal art training in school, Steven studied and practiced on his own. A meeting with famed illustrator Burne Hogarth led to his attending the School of Visual Arts in NYC. Graduating with a BFA in illustration, his work was included in the senior portfolio as some of the best of his class.
Illustration assignments came even before he left school and eventually, children’s books became his focus. Steven has illustrated over sixty books many of which have received Parent’s Choice Awards, School Library Journal Selections, The Ben Franklin Award and a Reading Rainbow feature book. His work was included in the exhibit, “Hudson Valley Illustrators: The Pictures Behind the Stories”.
Illustration assignments came even before he left school and eventually, children’s books became his focus. Steven has illustrated over sixty books many of which have received Parent’s Choice Awards, School Library Journal Selections, The Ben Franklin Award and a Reading Rainbow feature book. His work was included in the exhibit, “Hudson Valley Illustrators: The Pictures Behind the Stories”.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 14, 2025
The story of Johnny Appleseed, told in an easy to read format for preschoolers & first graders. Johnny was an apple-loving, pot-wearing guy who traveled through the land planting apple trees wherever he went. And he befriended people and animals of all kinds in his journeys. This legacy of spreading apple trees across North America has made him a part of the American legend and icon all the same.
This was a very nostalgic read for me, as it was published back in 2001, and was the book that introduced me to Johnny Appleseed. Coincidentally, it was back when I was in first grade when this was read to me, having recognized the page that showed an elderly Appleseed among children. As expected for a Hello Reader book, the text is relatively short, but very simple to follow through. In contrast, the art by Steven Petruccio is very detailed in his watercolor style that made photorealistic illustrations of the people while capturing the vibrancy of the American pioneer landscape. While this is just one of many picture books about Johnny Appleseed, it is a good start for the basic info about the man who shared his apples across the continent.
This was a very nostalgic read for me, as it was published back in 2001, and was the book that introduced me to Johnny Appleseed. Coincidentally, it was back when I was in first grade when this was read to me, having recognized the page that showed an elderly Appleseed among children. As expected for a Hello Reader book, the text is relatively short, but very simple to follow through. In contrast, the art by Steven Petruccio is very detailed in his watercolor style that made photorealistic illustrations of the people while capturing the vibrancy of the American pioneer landscape. While this is just one of many picture books about Johnny Appleseed, it is a good start for the basic info about the man who shared his apples across the continent.
November 22, 2020
Author: Madeline Olsen
Illustrator: Steven James Petruccio
Reading level: Level G
Book level: Level 1- Kindergarten and First grade
Book Summary: This story is targeted for a younger audience to know the basic story about Johnny Appleseed. It tells the story of John Chapman who became known as "Johnny Appleseed" after his love of apples he went on to plant apple seeds all along the route of his travels in the American frontier.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits:
Voice- I chose voice as the a mentor trait because although the sentences might be vague and short. They are factual and tell students and the readers a basic understanding of who Johnny Appleseed was and what he loved to do. Whom ever may be reading this, you can hear the voice of Johnny as if Johnny himself was talking.
I think this would be a great book for Kindergarten and First graders to introduce the topic about Johnny Appleseed. It would be fun to incorporate this in a mini-lesson during apple season!
Illustrator: Steven James Petruccio
Reading level: Level G
Book level: Level 1- Kindergarten and First grade
Book Summary: This story is targeted for a younger audience to know the basic story about Johnny Appleseed. It tells the story of John Chapman who became known as "Johnny Appleseed" after his love of apples he went on to plant apple seeds all along the route of his travels in the American frontier.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits:
Voice- I chose voice as the a mentor trait because although the sentences might be vague and short. They are factual and tell students and the readers a basic understanding of who Johnny Appleseed was and what he loved to do. Whom ever may be reading this, you can hear the voice of Johnny as if Johnny himself was talking.
I think this would be a great book for Kindergarten and First graders to introduce the topic about Johnny Appleseed. It would be fun to incorporate this in a mini-lesson during apple season!
April 26, 2019
I gave this book a rating of 3 stars because this story is a fun book about the exciting life and times of Johnny Appleseed. It tells students about what Johnny Appleseed did for other people in his town by planting apple trees so they could enjoy them. He did something that would help out his town and the people in it and that is a life lesson that can be taught. Always help anyone in anyway that you are able to like Johnny Appleseed did.
This book is about Johnny Appleseed and how he really loved apples. He loved them so much that he got some apple seeds and planted them in his town, by spring they were bloomed and everyone in the town really enjoyed it. Johnny Appleseed was very happy about what he did and how he encouraged everyone to eat apples.
This book is about Johnny Appleseed and how he really loved apples. He loved them so much that he got some apple seeds and planted them in his town, by spring they were bloomed and everyone in the town really enjoyed it. Johnny Appleseed was very happy about what he did and how he encouraged everyone to eat apples.
July 24, 2011
Johnny Appleseed
Petruccio, Steven James
good early reader
american legends
Petruccio, Steven James
good early reader
american legends
January 29, 2013
This is a fun story about the life of Johnny Appleseed. This is geared for young children with an easy information read about a legend
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews