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.

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.

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.

Publishers Weekly

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.)

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.