Golden Delicious: A Cinderella Apple Story

by Anna Egan Smucker, Kathleen Kemly (Illustrator)

Based on real events, this is the story of how the Golden Delicious apple came to be. Owners of a nursery in Missouri were looking for the perfect apple. It would be sweet and juicy. In the spring of 1914, they were astonished to taste just that apple.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, History, Fairy Tales, Biography, Food

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent example of nonfiction that will appeal to the youth, of several grades. Most kids tend to have eaten an apple for lunch or as a snack in school, at least in the USA, so this book will appeal for the explanation of something encountered in their daily life. Kids are sure to wonder, why is a green apple considered ripe when most green apples and other green fruit is not ripe and ready to eat? This is a simple book about the accidental discovery of the Golden Delicious apple. It also explains how scions (and what is a scion) are grafted to root stock to be able to get clones of the original fruit. There is an afterword giving more details about the discovery of the apple and why it was a "Cinderella". Definitely recommended as attractive nonfiction for younger readers!

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am looking for GOOD quality kiddie lit to use with my students. Smucker, who is a prolific writer of anything West Virginia and in fact just anything, tells the story of West Virginia's state fruit, the Golden Delicious apple. In addition to her story, she does go into detail about it and the Golden Grimes, one of the varieties found in West and thought to be brought here by Jonathan Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed.

In addition to its regional appeal to me, I think the book also shows kids that people are often looking for improvements on things we have and what we think are impossible to improve. It shows that ingenuity can create good things.

[CFAITC]

Discover the role of cross‑pollination in developing new varieties of apples through this true story about the Stark Brothers' quest for the world's best apple.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely "local interest" story about one very special apple tree that produced the first Golden Delicious apples. Well-written and engaging.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book with great possibilities to discuss compensation and labor rights. Follow up social justice questions:

Do you think Anderson Mullins was properly compensated for the Golden Delicious tree? Does anyone deserve compensation for something created by nature? How would compensation have changed if Anderson Mullins had been a person of color (assuming he was not)? Where do the apples you eat come from? Who owns the farms? Who works the farms? How are those workers treated? Are they properly compensated for their work?

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this true story of the origin of the Golden Delicious Apple. Lovely pictures! The apple originated in Clay County WV which is especially nice since I live in WV.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful. Really cute illustrations and good information about one of the most popular apple varieties.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story based on true events. LOVED the illustrations.

[Sarahs Reads ToKids · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting story to read about how the Golden Delicious Apple came about. This is a nonfiction children's picture book but it reads kind of like an adventure story.

[GardeniaPearl]

Nice illustrations, easy to read.

[Luanne Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story provides the history behind the discovery of the Golden Delicious apple and its destiny to become the world's best apple. It began in 1905 in Missouri at the Stark Bro's Nursery where the brothers sampled apples sent to them. They were hoping to find the perfect apple. Miles away in West Virginia, apple farmer Mullins found an apple tree bearing yellow apples on his new farm. Hoping to make some money, he sent some to the Starks. Even at six months old, the Starks loved the apples. There is a great author's note that provides interesting historical and scientific facts about the Golden Delicious. I enjoyed this book!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful and interesting account of how the Golden Delicious apple was found and propagated into the millions of trees that exist now. Cinderella is mentioned. No evil step-apples, instead it is a heartwarming tale that was wonderful. According to the author's notes in the back, it is possible Johnny Appleseed planted one of the trees that contributed to the creation of Golden Delicious.

I dislike it when authors deliberately choose misleading titles to get people to read it, especially when the book was so good. It tarnishes it for me.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's too bad the subtitle is, "A Cinderella Apple Story," because I almost passed this book up when researching apple books for children. Fortunately, I decided to flip through it and caught the author's note in the back about this being a true story about the Golden Delicious apple. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but I could have done without the Cinderella reference.

[Rll520a_Christina Coleman]

This is the Cinderella tale of the Golden Delicious apple. Quite a different spin on this tale. Story is about how the apple came about, the fairs, the tasting of the apple. At the end of the book, there's even more information about the story.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I'd entered a review for this, but I don't see it on my "read" list. It is a fun children's book which shows the facts about the Golden Delicious apple tree coming into existance. I recommend it for anyone interested in apples and or history. Of course, the drawings are pretty good too.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent balance of information and story.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Educational but not stunning. I enjoyed learning how apples are grown.

[Mary T · Rating 4 out of 5]

#cbad 2018-2019 - 5th grade SCA - 10/29/18 - average rating 4.6