*Granny Smith was Not an Apple by Sarah Glenn Fortson

A beautiful picture book chronicling the origin of the Granny Smith apple variety through the life of one determined woman.

*Granny Smith was Not An Apple: The Story of Orchardist Maria Ann Smith by Sarah Glenn Fortson and illustrated by Kris Aro McLeod, Peter Pauper Press, 2023. 32 pages.

• Reading Level: Picture Books, Ages 4-7
• Recommended For: Ages 4-10

Crunch, crunch, crunch. A sour-faced woman is walking along a road in England. Maria Ann Smith isn’t happy; life is hard. But she is a hard worker. She works on farms. She delivers babies, earning her nickname, “granny.” She works in orchards and learns how to graft. When men come, looking for skilled orchardists to emigrate to Australia, Granny Smith decides to go. Taking her family, they journey to a new land. They work hard. Eventually, they have an orchard of their own. And one day, Granny Smith makes a remarkable discovery.

Beautiful illustrations accompany the story of Granny Smith, while informational boxes provide additional historical information. These boxes can be read to an older child, or skipped for a younger audience, without detriment to the story. As Granny Smith ages, her face is softened by wrinkles. The illustrator, Kris Aro McLeod shows a woman aging gracefully-and captures the beauty and dignity of one woman’s life. Recently, I read this book to my nieces. “Why is she sad?” My niece demanded, scrutinizing the first page spread. I read, “Maria Ann is not smiling because farmers have new machines* that work faster than she can by hand. It’s harder and harder to find work.” My niece relaxed, mollified by the explanation. I skipped the asterisked box concerning mechanical reapers and industrialization and kept reading. When we finished, my niece smiled. “Read it again.”

Bottom line: A beautiful book that provides a dignified portrait of one hard-working woman and the famous apple she created.

Considerations:

• Discussion Starter: At the back of the book, a note for parents and educators provides suggested resources for anyone wanting to learn more about Australia’s indigenous population, a population not mentioned in the story, but impacted by the British colonization of Australia.

Remember, unless a book is starred, a review is not necessarily a recommendation. Read more about our ratings here.

Recommended Reading at Redeemed Reader

• Book Review: *The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and David Small
• Resource: Fruit in Season: Worth the Wait (an orchard themed reflection)
• Resource: Favorite Gardening Books for Kids (a booklist)

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