Crazy for Apples

Emma Every Day

by C.L. Reid, Elena Aiello (Illustrator)

Fall is Emma's favorite season. She loves the weather, the leaves, and most of all, the apples! Every fall, Emma's dad takes Emma and her best friend, Izzie, to the apple orchard. And every year they pick dozens of apples so they can make apple pies, applesauce, apple tarts, and other apple treats. But this year, things don't go as planned at the orchard. Follow Emma and Izzie on their apple adventure in this early chapter book from the Emma Every Day series. An ASL fingerspelling chart, glossary, and content-related questions complete the book.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Disability, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

36 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2020

Reviews

[Kaprisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was to cute loved I know asl so seeimg that in there was awsome a very good read kids well love it

[Abby Johnson]

This is a really sweet, simple series of easy readers about a Deaf girl who has a cochlear implant and uses sign language. Written by a deafblind author, I think it does a really nice job of presenting a Deaf girl's experiences in everyday situations like dancing in a show, going on a field trip, etc. Emma often has concerns about whether she will be able to understand what people are saying (for example, at a party where she might not know many of the other kids already). The series shows her having these concerns and then facing what happens, always with a positive outcome. It's not only reassuring to hearing impaired readers, but it normalizes these situations for hearing readers, showing that Emma faces her doubts and makes her way just like any kid would.

The ASL alphabet is printed at the front of the book and throughout the book there are a few words displayed in fingerspelling, which could encourage young readers to try their hand at it. Those unfamiliar with the ASL alphabet may get confused because I found a couple of the letters to look really similar (particularly C and O, as in when you're spelling out C-O-O-L) and a bit unclear. Diagrams of signs for some of the words used in the book are included at the end of each volume.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our library has a link on its website for National Deaf History Month, which is celebrated from March 13th through April 15th. I was excited to see a listing of Deaf authors and books covering Deaf Culture. One of the people listed is a new author, C.L. Reid, whose picture book series Emma has only recently been released. Ms. Reid has been Deaf-blind since childhood, received a Cochlear Implant as an adult and also uses ASL to communicate.

Emma is a young deaf girl who has a cochlear implant to help her hear. Each of these short stories in the series follows the same simple formula that is perfect for young students to practice their independent reading skills. The afterward has section with some beginner signs that were used in the story, a glossary and a section for parents/educators to utilize and expound the story with discussion or written reflection.

In this edition Emma, her dad, and her best friend Izzie visit an apple orchard for a fun day of apple picking. So many problems continuing to come up, will it be possible to salvage the day?

[Shelby Cottrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book features a young deaf girl, Emma, and her adventure to the apple orchard with family and friends. She met a new friend, Izzie, who was also deaf and it was great to see them so excited to be able to relate to each other. At the end she meets Candy Bell who works at the apple store. She notices Candy also has a CI so Izzie and Emma also get to talk about being deaf with her. This book introduces many new terms to kids which are often bolded and explained early on- such as Cochlear Implant. There are also many resources on learning the sign language alphabet, which is printed at the beginning, and throughout the book some words are given a sign language translation next to them. At the end, it goes over signs for different emotions, fruits, seasons/weather, etc. The end also has a very helpful glossary that is great for children who might find those bolded words in the story and need a definition for them.
Overall, I thought this book was great and touching. It never once treated deafness as a bad thing. It was very normalized in their social circle and I think that sends a great message to kids where this may be their first introduction to learning about how people can be deaf. It has this perfect balance of being educational but still being a very entertaining and easy to read story.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma, her dad, and her friend Izzie are headed to the apple orchard. It is a kind of rainy day, though. Will they still have a good time picking apples?

It is nice for Emma to meet someone else who has a cochlear implant in this story. I like that things don't go perfectly for Emma and Izzie's trip to the orchard. It is good for kids to realize that even imperfect days out can still be fun, and in kids lit the day is either entirely awful or entirely wonderful too often. This feels very realistic. The inclusion of ASL spelling of words in the story and at the end will help readers learn some finger spelling and signs.

[SL · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually listened to this on audio through my Libby app (thanks to my local public library! 🧡) and it was a fun experience both listening and reading along. This is the first early reader I've read with Deaf characters and I loved seeing how the story incorporated ASL. The story was cute, and the audio narrator did a good job with the read aloud. And as the narrator read, the words she read would light up which would prompt readers to follow along. Overall, super adorbs and I'm ready for more stories with Emma!

[Carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m in second grade and I’ve recently become interested in sign language. These books were perfect for me to learn a little bit of ASL and learn about what it’s like for a kid who uses ASL and has a cochlear implant. Each book in this series starts out with the signs for the alphabet and numbers 1-10. It has a short story told in three chapters (introduction, problem, solution). A few words are finger spelled in the book, so the reader can try them out. The last page includes a few signs that go with what happened in the story.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma goes apple picking with her dad and her friend, Izzy. They're in for a bumpy ride but a fun day in the end.

As with each of the other Emma Every Day books, this book helps us to understand yet one more thing about someone who is deaf and wears a coclear implant. Candy, the apple orchard owner's daughter, also wears a C.I., but she still prefers to sign. Emma agrees that is her preference too, and we see Izzy again, show how she learned to sign for Emma.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I absolutely adore the fact that the main character has a cochlear implant and uses sign language. I especially love the use of the sign language alphabet and the opportunity to practice/learn to sign words from the book. That being said, the story was… basic and bland. The series presents itself as Emma going through different challenges or adventures in each book. However, having a basket of apples fall into a mud puddle is not a very thrilling plot twist…

[Stephani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute Fall story! Advanced Early Reader/ Beginning Chapter book. The ASL guides and finger spelling in the body of text and the glossary at the back are great additions to create awareness of ASL and Deaf culture.

[Manda Marigold · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows a young girl with a cochlear implant named Emma through a day during the fall season. Emma went apple picking so she could make delicious apple treats. Overall, this is a cute book with great disability representation.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma and her friend Izzie go apple picking with Emma’s dad! They pick apples and make plans for making lots of apple treats! The farmer’s daughter is deaf too, just like Emma!

My son loves this series and loves learning the signs at the back of the book!

[MaryJo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wonderful that there is a whole series of books about a young deaf person.

Sorry the illustrations are not to my liking.

[Jurene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great easy reader, it encourages young children to not let mishaps cloud their day.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life can be muddy but with lower expectations it is quite enjoyable.

[MaryAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma, her friend and her dad go to an orchard to pick apples.

[Adrianne Rosal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one!!!!!!

[Olive · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice book that focuses on inclusion and sign language. If you have a toddler this may have to little of picture and a lot more words but the words are big and easy to read.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

C. L. Reid's character Emma is a typical girl. She loves doing things with her family and her best friend, Izzie. While Emma has a Cochlear Implant, she also communicates with American Sign Language.

I loved this book (and the series) because Emma's just living her best life. Reid includes several ASL signs, a glossary, and just enough facts for the intended age group. I can't wait to read about Emma's future adventures! One thing I don't understand is why the apples were no good after they fell off the cart (not an apple farmer here) - were they bruised?