10 Children’s Books About Apples We Love for Fall
There’s something about September that makes us want to pull out every apple book we own.
Apple picking, apple pie, applesauce, learning how apples grow, it’s such a fun little theme to lean into with kids this time of year.
So we rounded up 10 of our favorite children’s books about apples. Some are sweet stories, some teach kids how apples grow, and a few are perfect for pairing with an apple recipe or activity afterward.
Grab a few from the library, plan a trip to the apple orchard, make some applesauce, and call it a pretty great fall afternoon.
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1. Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell
This one feels like fall in picture-book form.
A little girl heads to a farm with her family to pick apples and choose the perfect pumpkin before heading home for Halloween. It’s simple, cozy, and filled with all those little traditions that make this time of year so fun with kids. The publisher recommends it for ages 4–8, with a board-book edition for ages 2–5.
Perfect for: Reading before an apple orchard or pumpkin patch trip.
2. How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman
This is such a fun one.
When the market is closed, a girl decides she’ll simply have to travel around the world to gather everything she needs to make an apple pie. Her adventure takes her from Italy to England, Sri Lanka, Vermont, and beyond in search of ingredients. There’s even an apple pie recipe included at the end.
Perfect for: Kids who love stories with a little adventure mixed in.
3. Applesauce Day by Lisa J. Amstutz
If you’re planning to make applesauce this fall, grab this one first.
Maria and her family visit an orchard to pick apples and then head home to make applesauce together using a special pot that’s been in their family for generations. Kids get to follow the process from picking the apples all the way to turning them into applesauce.
Perfect for: Pairing with a batch of homemade applesauce.
And if you need a recipe, we have an easy Instant Pot applesauce that would make this such a cute little book + kitchen activity.
4. Apple Cake: A Gratitude by Dawn Casey
This one is less about learning facts about apples and more about appreciating where our food comes from.
Through a simple rhyming story, a child gives thanks for the trees, flowers, bees, rain, farmers, hens, cows, and everything else that eventually comes together to make an apple cake. There’s even a recipe at the end so you can make one together afterward.
Perfect for: A cozy fall read with a little gratitude mixed in.
5. Secrets of the Apple Tree by Carron Brown
We LOVE the Shine-a-Light books, and this apple-tree version is so fun.
Hold a flashlight behind the pages and hidden pictures appear, revealing all the creatures living around an apple tree, from worms beneath the roots to birds tucked into the branches. It turns a nonfiction book into a little interactive experience.
Perfect for: Curious kids who love learning how things work.
6. The Apple-Pip Princess by Jane Ray
An apple book + a fairy tale? Yes, please.
After the queen dies, her once-beautiful kingdom becomes barren and sad. The king gives his three daughters a challenge, and the youngest princess, Serenity, uses a tiny apple seed left to her by her mother to bring life and hope back to the kingdom.
This one is a little different from the other books on our list, which is exactly why we love having it here.
Perfect for: Kids who love princesses, fairy tales, and beautiful illustrations.
7. Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray
This is an alphabet book with an adorable little story tucked inside.
A freshly baked apple pie is sitting on the table, and one very determined dog spends the entire alphabet trying to figure out how to get his paws on it.
It’s playful, simple, and especially fun for younger kids who are learning their letters.
Perfect for: Preschoolers and early learners.
8. Hello, World! How Do Apples Grow? by Jill McDonald
For the littlest apple learners, this is such a good introduction.
It walks young kids through how apples grow, starting with seeds and moving through saplings, trees, and eventually apples. It’s part of the Hello, World! nonfiction series and is designed to introduce science concepts in simple language for babies and toddlers.
9. Apples by Gail Gibbons
If you have a kid who wants to know EVERYTHING, Gail Gibbons is always a good place to start.
This nonfiction book dives deeper into apples: their history, how apple trees are grown and cared for, harvesting, and all the different things we make with apples, from cider and jelly to pie.
We like having at least one book in a seasonal stack that’s packed with real information, especially for older elementary kids who have moved beyond the simpler picture books.
Perfect for: Kids who love facts and want to learn more about where their food comes from.
10. A Little Golden Book About Johnny Appleseed by Lori Haskins Houran
And you can’t really do an apple book roundup without Johnny Appleseed.
This Little Golden Book introduces kids to the story of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, and makes a fun addition when you’re talking about apples, orchards, and how apple trees spread across America.
Perfect for: Adding a little history to your apple-themed reading.
Turn It Into an Apple Day
This is one of our favorite ways to use seasonal books with kids: don’t stop at the book.
Choose one or two stories and pair them with something simple afterward.
Read Applesauce Day and make our Instant Pot applesauce.
Pick up How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World and bake an apple pie.
Read Secrets of the Apple Tree and cut open an apple to investigate the seeds inside.
Or read Apples and Pumpkins before heading to an orchard or pumpkin patch.
It doesn’t need to become an elaborate themed homeschool unit. A good book + one little activity is plenty.
Save These for Apple Season
One of our favorite things about children’s books is how easily they can make an ordinary season feel a little more special.
So head to the library, pull out a few children’s books about apples, grab a bag of apples on the way home, and enjoy one of the easiest little fall traditions with your kids.
And if your family has an apple book we missed, send it our way. We’re always looking for good ones to pass along to our sisters.
X.o.
The Threads Between Sisters
