Apples for Everyone by Jill Esbaum (ages 4 and up) is a wonderful, educational book to include in your home library. I was immediately attracted to this particular book because of the photographs (it’s made by National Geographic Kids so I wouldn’t expect anything less than fantastic) and its accurate descriptions of how apples grow and where they come from.
I wanted to share a book with my children that described how apples grow, where you find them, what can be made out of them, how they taste, and how many different types exist. It also touches on the story of Johnny Appleseed, which can spark a whole conversation in itself. Apples for Everyone is an excellent book to have on your bookshelf year round, but especially in the Fall when apples are in season.
With respect to language, this book can help facilitate answering “wh” questions, expanding vocabulary, critical thinking, sequencing (learn the steps of how an apple grows), colors (variety of colors of apples), describing, actions (eating, picking, etc), shapes (apples can be a variety of different shapes such as round, ball or lumpy-bottomed). It can open a discussion for many more topics (e.g., healthy eating, apple picking, history of apples, etc). This can also be a great time to discuss eating caramel apples on Halloween or having apple pie for Thanksgiving. It’s a yummy book in many ways!
Various Ways to Eat Apples: Apples for Everyone helps explore various ways that you and your child can enjoy an apple. Enjoy an apple whole (depending on how old your child is), peeled, and/or cut up as part of a meal, snack or dessert. According to Allison Topilow, MS, RD, CDN, nutrition consultant, apples are a great way to get fiber, Vitamin C, and antioxidants in your diet. She recommends pairing an apple with a protein source such as a slice of cheese or a tablespoon of nut butter for a well balanced snack. Dip a slice of apple in yogurt and wheat germ for a calcium, protein and fiber boost. Use sliced apple as part of your fondue platter with some melted cheese and/or dark chocolate.
Carryover baking activities: Low Fat Apple Cinnamon Bread, Apple Challah, or Applesauce
Becca Eisenberg is a certified speech language pathologist and mom of two.Through her own personal challenges at mealtime with her two young children she ventured on creating a website to help parents facilitate language and make mealtime fun. Her website gravitybread.com focuses on facilitating and encouraging language with fun and easy recipes, educational books and recommended toys and apps.
* Healthy Living is section of our website co-hosted by Lemi Shine. Lemi Shine has compensated Mommybites to be a partner in this awesome Healthy Living section on our website. This partnership does not influence the content, topics or posts made on this blog. We always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on all topics, products, and services.
The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.