Johnny Appleseed

by Reeve Lindbergh, Kathy Jakobsen (Illustrator)

Overview

This stunningly illustrated classic is the perfect way to introduce young readers to the legend of Johnny Appleseed.

Rhymed text and illustrations relate the life of John Chapman, whose distribution of apple seeds and trees across the Midwest made him a legend and left a legacy still enjoyed today. Reeve Lindbergh's rhythmic verse is the perfect read aloud to share with the whole family, while Kathy Jakobsen's lush paintings bring to life this beloved classic story. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316526340
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	09/01/1993
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.12(w) x 9.12(h) x 0.25(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kathy Jakobsen is one of America's premier folk artists. Widely collected, her paintings are included in a number of permanent collections, including those of the Museum of American Folk Art and the Smithsonian. She is the author and/or artist of several books for young readers, including My New York, This Land is Your Land, and Johnny Appleseed.

Reeve Lindbergh is the author of many books, memoirs, and poems for adults and children, including several works featuring her father, world-famous aviator Charles Lindbergh. She is also involved with the Lindbergh Foundation, which seeks to improve the quality of life through a balance between technology and nature.

Editorial Reviews

A Booklist Editor's Choice
A Redbook Children Picture Book Award Winner

* "A glorious celebration of John Chapman's life through verse and illustration."—Horn Book, starred review

* "An eye-catching book."—Booklist, starred review

* "It's a treasure."—School Library Journal, starred review

From the Publisher

There is no lack of books about Jon Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, but this is an outstanding addition to the collection. Lindbergh's ( The Midnight Farm ; Benjamin's Barn ) poem tells the story of one man's crusade to spread apple seeds from Massachusetts to the Midwest. Jakobsen's captivating illustrations, rendered in deep tones of rustic blues, browns and golds, are reminiscent of detailed folk art paintings as they depict Johnny on the road, planting and harvesting, talking with settlers. On facing pages borders fashioned like patchwork quilt squares enrich the tale with their minute details. Too many versions of the Johnny Appleseed legend make him into a superhero; this work shows him as a gentle, religious man on a mission, a lover of the land with a consuming interest in the environment. Ages 4-9. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

This homespun book provides the perfect vehicle for the story of the legendary Johnny Appleseed. Lindbergh's poetic narrative, related by an elderly woman to her grandchildren, tells the story of John Chapman's life and travels, including tidbits referring to his kindness and piety, his nonviolence and bravery, and his respect for all living things. Grandmother Hannah's tale, simply told, holds the power to mist readers' eyes. Finely crafted folk art illustrations, painted on canvas and overflowing with tiny details, complement quilt pattern borders on the facing pages of text. Small panels within these borders show vignettes of Chapman's life and legacy. The full-page illustrations embellish Hannah's story and provide a clear glimpse of life on the frontier during the early 1800s. The book includes a short introduction and a page of factual information at the end. A map on the endpapers shows the states through which Chapman travelled. Steven Kellogg's Johnny Appleseed (Morrow, 1988) is more of a compilation of lore about Chapman's bravery and great feats of strength, while Lindbergh's quiet tale emphasizes the man's true religious nature. It's a treasure. --Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

School Library Journal