{"id":356,"date":"2008-11-13T20:36:41","date_gmt":"2008-11-14T01:36:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/archives\/356"},"modified":"2008-11-13T20:36:41","modified_gmt":"2008-11-14T01:36:41","slug":"teaching-history-with-childrens-literature-johnny-appleseed-the-legend-and-the-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/2008\/11\/13\/teaching-history-with-childrens-literature-johnny-appleseed-the-legend-and-the-truth\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching History with Children’s Literature: Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As a child, it is very rare that one does not learn about the legend of Johnny Appleseed. \u00a0Whether its through a poem, song, or cartoon, this famous figure holds the spirit of American culture. \u00a0Jane Yolen’s book, Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth<\/a>, captures both the important aspects of the stories of Johnny Appleseed and the man behind the legend. There are many books about Johnny Appleseed, however Yolen’s book is unlike any other. \u00a0Through the combination of both her text and Jim Burke’s painted illustrations this book combines both the fact and fiction behind the life of Johnny Appleseed. \u00a0On each page, Yolen presents two sides of Johnny Appleseed, a poem, and also the history of his life, told as a story. \u00a0She also adds a fact at the bottom of the page to extend learning even farther, often including the source of the information. \u00a0Burke’s accompanying paintings bring more understanding to both the poem and history. \u00a0The book begins with the birth of John Chapman, who later gains the name Johnny Appleseed.<\/p>\n

Apple blossoms
\nTap the sill,
\nWelcome baby
\nWith a will,
\nJohnny, Johnny Appleseed.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Johnny Appleseed becomes very close to his sister Lizzie as lives with his grandparents after his mother dies. \u00a0His father, Nathaniel, is a minutemen under General George Washington. \u00a0After much suffering throughout the war, Johnny and his family are very poor. \u00a0Their luck changes however, as Nathaniel returns to war and marries a new woman. \u00a0Together the two make one large family. \u00a0Johnny soon becomes very interested in nature and studies all of its parts. \u00a0As a boy in a poor family however, he cannot finish school and is hired to work under a local farm in apple orchards.<\/p>\n

Apples are the perfect fruit. \u00a0They can be eaten fresh or be dried, put in pies or made into sauce, apple butter, cider, or vinegar, or even fermented into an alcoholic drink. \u00a0No other fruit is so useful.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In his twenties, he becomes a great follower of religion, and vows to spread his love of religion around the nation- and apples too! \u00a0He plants apples throughout his travels through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, making friends with the native people along the way. \u00a0At his death in 1845, Johnny Appleseed owned eight hundred acres, full of apple trees!<\/p>\n

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Curriculum Connections<\/strong>
\nJohnny Appleseed is often a historical figure that is taught during early elementary school. \u00a0His lovable character and interesting story easily makes students fascinated by his story. \u00a0Johnny Appleseed, The Legend and the Truth is a great book to teach about past events through legends, stories, and historical accounts (VA K.1). \u00a0Students can also learn about Johnny Appleseed’s contribution to America through this story. \u00a0This book can easily be related to other lessons, especially with the emphasis on legends, apples, and early Americans.<\/p>\n

Additional Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n