3321 MON. NIGHT 24th AUTHOR

The book Johnny Appleseed is written by Jane Kurtz. In this simple little book early readers get a feel for what Johnny Appleseed did with his life and how he helped people by planting seeds and by giving them baby trees to plant." Kurtz introduces newly emergent readers to the historical John Chapman. Kurtz caps her short, rhythmic text with an invitation to "Clap your hands for Johnny Chapman. Clap your hands for Johnny Appleseed!" An appealing way to open discussions of our country's historical or legendary past. This traditional story of Johnny Appleseed is fun and captivates the children's attention as well as involves them to participate in Johnny's adventures as he travels through the country side. This book is for ages 6-8.

As a future teacher of Special Needs children I can see myself using this book in a social studies and science lesson. In a social studies lesson I would use it in relationships with people. I would ask questions such as: What did Johnny Appleseed travel the country doing? Why do you think he liked helping people? As you have walked in the school halls, how could you help someone you might see? Who does helping someone make you feel? How do you think that person feels to have you help him or her?

In a science lesson I would ask them where do apples come from? Why do you think Johnny Appleseed chose apple seeds to plant? Would apples grow if we planted watermelon seeds, or pear seeds, or carrot seeds? For an experiment I would target easy and fast growing seeds such as grass, or onion seeds and follow the growth pattern. Of course I would have to modify for these students, but it would be worth it. I believe this book offers a great deal of discussion opportunity for the students to get invloved in.

Jane Kurtz was born in Portland, Oregon, but when she was two years old, her parents moved to Ethiopia. Jane grew up in Maji, a small town in the southwest corner of the country. Since there were no televisions, radios, or movies, her memories are of climbing mountains, wading in rivers by the waterfalls, listening to stories, and making up her own stories, which she and her sisters acted out for days at a time. By the time Jane came back to the United States for college, she felt there was no way to talk about her childhood home to people here. It took nearly twenty years to finally find a way - through her children's books.

Now she often speaks in schools and at conferences, sharing memories from her own childhood and bringing in things for the children to touch and taste and see and smell and hear from Ethiopia. "It's been a healing and inspiring experience," she says, "to re-connect with my childhood and also be able to help people know just a little of the beautiful country where I grew up."
http://www.janekurtz.com/