Johnny, Johnny Appleseed is a favorite childhood poem. In it, children are introduced to a wonderful man who is known to have spread apple trees across the United States. But what is the real history behind this legendary person? What are the facts behind the life of Johnny Appleseed? Author Jane Yolen in her latest children’s book, Johnny Appleseed (Harper Collins Publishers, ISBN 978-0-06-059135-9), recites the famous poem about Johnny Appleseed and presents readers with the history and known facts about John Chapman.
The Life of John Chapman
John Chapman was born on September 26, 1774 in Leominster, Massachusetts. His family was poor and life was often hard. He lived with his mother until she and her youngest child passed away. Then he and his remaining siblings went to live with their grandparents until his father returned home from the war.
His father also brought home a new, young wife and many more children are born. The family remained poor and when John reached the age of fourteen he went off to work in the apple orchards as an apprentice to a farmer. He learned how to grow and care for apple trees and by the time he reached his twenties, he was ready to start a new life with all that he had learned.
John converted to the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg and was determined to help create an Eden on earth and to spread the word of God. He became a missionary and went to the cider mills in Pennsylvania and gathered the apple seeds there for free. He then began planting apple orchards and selling apple trees to settlers who were moving out west.
John Chapman had many great adventures but few true facts are known about his life. He died of pneumonia on March 18, 1845 and left behind a legacy of legends that will be retold for centuries to come.
History Made Interesting
Johnny Appleseed is an illustrated children’s book for kids, ages 6 to 9. Illustrator Jim Burke has done a fantastic job of portraying patchwork images of John Chapman’s life and helps pull this legendary person out of the shadows and into the light of fact.
The recitation of the famous Johnny Appleseed poem, the pages of history, and the known facts presented on each page keeps young readers hungry for more. Jane Yolen proves her skill once more as a children's author and shows kids that history is exciting, interesting, and fun to learn.
Elizabeth Yetter - Elizabeth Yetter is a full-time freelancer. She reviews books for numerous publishers, and has been published both online and in ...
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