Product Description

In the rich, warm colors of autumn, here's a slice of American history as we watch Anna and her extended family help with the town's traditional fall apple harvest. Now available in paperback.


From the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #391756 in Books
• Published on: 1998-08-11
• Released on: 1998-08-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780517885758
• BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-Every year, Anna's extended family helps bring the apple harvest in, and so far she hasn't been able to fill a whole bin herself. Now, she's determined to do it, and, sure enough, she reaches her goal. This quiet story is a celebration of family and community; taking time off from work and school, everyone turns out to pick the fruit before it spoils. The text conveys the rhythm of the day-early-morning enthusiasm, dancing to the radio at lunchtime, and afternoon combat with the sharp sun and weariness. The sense of bustle and labor, as well as Anna's determination and satisfaction, are effectively portrayed in Ray's slightly impressionistic, watercolor-and-acrylic paintings. Especially pleasing are the use of light and shadow to mark the changes of the day. White spaces frame the pictures and contribute to the book's quiet mood. It's not clear if the setting is contemporary or historical, but-especially if it's current-the lack of ethnic diversity in the illustrations is jarring. Nonetheless, paired with Arthur Dorros's Radio Man-Don Radio (HarperCollins, 1993) this offering will give a good picture of how kids help bring in the harvest.
Carolyn Noah, Central Mass. Regional Library System, Worcester, MA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 4-8. When the apples are ready for harvesting, everyone in town knocks off from jobs and school to work in the orchards. Recalling apple-picking times in her Washington State childhood, Slawson uses the present tense to tell the story of a young girl's day in the orchard. Before daybreak, Anna's family sets out for the orchard. She plays among the trees with the other children, but when work begins, Anna's determined to fill a whole bin of apples for the first time. There's a strong sense of family and community here, but the focus is on Anna, her observations, her experiences, and her sense of satisfaction. The first-person narrative is simple and concrete enough to be convincing. Ray's artwork, pastels with watercolor washes, gives the book strong visual appeal. The orchard seems suffused with golden light, and the children's faces are as round as the apples they pick. Carolyn Phelan

Review
"This quiet story is a celebration of family and community...a good picture of how kids help bring in the harvest"(School Library Journal). "Ray's artwork gives the book strong visual appeal. The orchard seems suffused with golden light and the children's faces are as round as the apples they pick" (Booklist).


From the Hardcover edition. -- Review

Customer Reviews

Magical Writing
Upon reading the book to my 3rd grade class my students were mesmerized. They loved the pictures, the writing was easy to understand, and the story line came alive. Ray does an excellent job with the illustrations - they complement the author's beautiful words. Benoit Slawson's writing is absolutely wonderful - my students could not get enough of this book. In fact, we continued our storytime by following the book up with a trip to the local apple orchard (insisted upon by my 8 year olds!). I just wish Benoit Slawson would come out with her next book; although, it will be hard to follow the perfection of "Apple Picking Time". I will be the first one to buy her next book, and I am positive my students will love it as much as their beloved "Apple Picking Time". The book is both poetic and informative - such a wonderful combination for this brand-new, highly talented author!!

Apple Picking Time
Absolutely wonderful illustrations for an apple/harvest theme storybook. Very realistic - makes you think you're right there participating in the life cycle of an apple.

Our last bedtime story every night
My oldest son has always had a hard time getting to sleep. We struggled for his first 18-24 months until a friend who is a fourth grade teacher (Hi Amy!) gave us this book and we started reading this at the end of our bedtime routine. Now, 6 years and one little brother later, this is still the last book we read before going to bed.

I'm absolutely biased as I think I've read this book about 2000 times now. The story line is wonderful, the pictures are captivating, and the rhythm of the (now well-rehearsed) sentences is mesmerizing. Now, if I could just find a real orchard to visit nearby...