Picking Apples

Mrs. Connor's class is off on a field trip to pick apples! But one member of the class is not so sure he wants to add to the piles of this yummy fall fruit. Can Mrs. Connor and the rest of the kids convince Michael to join in the fun — with an apple picked just for him?

Mrs. Connor's class is off on a field trip to pick apples! But one member of the class is not so sure he wants to add to the piles of this yummy fall fruit. Can Mrs. Connor and the rest of the kids convince Michael to join in the fun — with an apple picked just for him?

Children's Literature

Mrs. Connor is taking her class on a field trip to an apple orchard. Michael just does not want to cooperate. The other kids climb up and pick apples (not likely to really happen on a school trip) while others gather them from the ground or by shaking a tree. Finally the teacher starts giving the names of the various apples and one is called a Granny Smith. It turns out that is Michael's last name and our resourceful teacher has finally found a way to get Michael to participate. The illustrations are pen and watercolor and have a loose look that goes well with the story. The text uses simple sentences, extended vocabulary, and familiar words for those just starting to read. A level 1 book in the "Ready-to-Read" series. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Margaret McNamara is a writer and an editor who has spent many years working in children's publishing. She is the author of all the books in the Robin Hill School series, and gets many of her ideas from her own daughter's experiences at school. Margaret McNamara lives with her family in New York City, though she likes to spend as much of the summer as she can in Maine.

Mike Gordon has illustrated all of the Robin Hill School books, but his work covers a truly wide range, extending from educational and non-fiction books to entertainment and fiction. Mike's illustration now includes both design and illustration for major publishers such as Harper Collins, Headline, Ladybird, Longman, Penguin, Random Century, Reed International, Simon & Schuster, Walker Books, Western Publishing and Wayland. The international publication of many of the titles illustrated by Mike means his work is seen in over eighteen countries. In addition, Mike has produced more than 400 humorous greeting card designs for clients such as Hallmark, as well as the major UK companies, Hanson White and Gordon Fraser. He lives with his family in Santa Barbara, California.