Apple Books For Fall: Read Aloud Book List for Kids

Apples are a perfect topic for fall! These apple books for kids make it easy to combine literacy with science, vocabulary, math, and seasonal learning.

This list includes fiction and nonfiction read alouds about apples that introduce young learners to apple trees, the seasons, apple picking, applesauce, and more.

Whether you’re planning an apple-themed week in preschool or looking for an apple book for kids to read at home, these picture books are a great place to start.

10 Apple Picture Books to Read Aloud:

Here are some of my favorite apple books to share with young children. Click on the links and our affiliate links below to find out more information about the books on Amazon.

1. Apples by Gail Gibbons

Apples by Gail Gibbons is an excellent nonfiction choice for preschool and kindergarten. Children learn about apples from blossom to harvest, including the different parts of an apple, pollination, apple varieties, and how apples are grown and used. The colorful illustrations and straightforward explanations make this a useful apple book read aloud when you’re teaching an apple or fall unit.

2. How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro

If your students are asking, “How does an apple grow?” this book is a great choice. How Do Apples Grow? follows an apple tree from winter buds through blossoms, pollination, fruit growth, and harvest. It is part of the Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science series which introduce young children to important science concepts.

3. Applesauce Day by Lisa J. Amstutz

In Applesauce Day, Maria and her family visit an apple orchard to pick apples and then work together to make applesauce. Children get to follow the process from picking the fruit to preparing it with a special family pot. This is a warm story that also provides a chance to talk about families, traditions, cooking, and sequencing.

4. The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall

The Apple Pie Tree follows two sisters as they watch an apple tree change throughout the seasons. Children see the tree go from bare branches in winter to spring blossoms and ripe apples ready to pick. The story also introduces bees and pollination before ending with an apple pie. It’s a wonderful way to connect a story with a discussion about seasonal changes.

5. A Tree Is a Plant by Clyde Robert Bulla

A Tree Is a Plant is a nonfiction picture book that introduces children to the life cycle of a tree, using an apple tree to help explain how trees grow and change. Young learners can explore seeds, roots, leaves, flowers, fruit, and seasonal changes.

6. Ten Apples Up on Top! by Dr. Seuss

Looking for an apple book that adds some math practice? Ten Apples Up on Top! is a silly, engaging choice for young children. Three characters try to balance apples on their heads as they count higher and higher. It gives children a fun way to practice counting to ten while enjoying a funny story.

7. The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons

The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree follows Arnold and his apple tree through all four seasons. Children see the tree change throughout the year while Arnold finds different ways to enjoy and care for it. This books is a great pick for learning about seasonal changes and how an apple tree looks different throughout the year.

8. Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington

Apple Farmer Annie introduces children to the many jobs involved in growing and selling apples. Annie gathers apples from her orchard and uses them to make products such as applesauce and apple cider before taking them to market. This is a fun choice for talking about farms, community helpers, food, and where our food comes from.

9. The Apple Orchard Riddle by Margaret McCartney

The Apple Orchard Riddle gets children to think carefully about clues and make predictions. It’s a fun fiction choice to go with the nonfiction books. You can ask students to make a prediction before revealing the answer and explain what clues helped them decide.

10. Apples for Everyone by Jill Esbaum

Apples for Everyone introduces young learners to apples and apple orchards. Children can learn about how apples grow, the work involved in an orchard, and the different ways people enjoy apples. The photographs make it a good choice for children who enjoy real-world pictures and informational books.

Tips for an Apple Book Read Aloud:

You don’t have to simply read the book from beginning to end. A few simple strategies can turn an apple book read aloud into a meaningful literacy lesson.

Preview the book. Before reading, look at the cover and ask children what they notice. What do they think the book will be about? Is it a fiction or nonfiction book?

Introduce new vocabulary. Words such as orchard, blossom, stem, seed, harvest, and pollination can be introduced naturally while reading.

Ask questions before, during, and after reading. Try questions such as:

What do you think will happen next?
What changes do you notice on the apple tree?
What does an apple need to grow?
How did the family make applesauce?
What did you learn about apples?

Connect the book to a real apple. Give children an opportunity to examine an apple after reading. Let them look at the stem, skin, flesh, core, and seeds. This hands-on experience helps make the vocabulary meaningful.

Let children retell the story. After reading, have students use pictures, sequencing cards, or their own words to explain what happened.

Why Read Aloud to Students:

Apple-themed books are more than a fun addition to a fall classroom. They can support several important early learning skills.

Build Vocabulary

Children hear and use new words while talking about apples, trees, farms, seasons, and food.

Strengthen Listening Comprehension

When children listen to stories and answer questions, they practice remembering details, making predictions, and explaining their thinking.

Teach Science Concepts

Nonfiction apple books introduce concepts such as plant life cycles, seasons, seeds, flowers, pollination, and fruit growth. How Do Apples Grow?, for example, specifically follows an apple from bud to flower to fruit.

Practice Math Skills

Books such as Ten Apples Up on Top! can be paired with counting, sorting, comparing quantities, and simple addition activities.

Develop Concepts of Print

Reading aloud gives children opportunities to notice the title, author, illustrations, front cover, and direction of print.

Pin It For Later:

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Next Steps:

Ready to extend your apple-themed read alouds into hands-on literacy and math practice? Try these fall and apple activities to keep children learning after the story ends.

Practice letter recognition: Try these Fall Letter Matching Cards for a low-prep way to help preschool and kindergarten students match uppercase and lowercase letters. The apple-themed cards are great for literacy centers, small groups, morning tubs, or independent practice.
Build fine-motor and writing skills: Use these Apple Tracing Worksheets to give young learners practice with tracing while reinforcing the apple theme.
Practice beginning sounds: Add the Fall Beginning Sounds Sort Activity to your literacy center for hands-on practice identifying initial letter sounds with an apple-themed activity.
Review counting and number recognition: Use the Fall Counting to 20 Mats to practice counting, number recognition, and number tracing while incorporating apples into your math center.

Pair one of these activities with an apple picture book for a simple literacy or math extension. For example, read Ten Apples Up on Top! and follow it with the Fall Counting to 20 Mats, or read an apple-themed nonfiction book and then practice letter recognition with the Fall Letter Matching Cards.

This combination of read alouds about apples and hands-on activities gives preschool and kindergarten students multiple ways to hear, talk about, and use what they’re learning.

Apple Books For Kids