The Apple Orchard Riddle (Mr. Tiffin's Classroom Series) - Hardcover

McNamara, Margaret

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0375847448 ISBN 13: 9780375847448

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade, 2013

Synopsis

Mr. Tiffin and his students from the perenially popular How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? are back in this picture book about a school trip to an apple orchard!

In this playful, humorous, and child-friendly classroom story, the students learn a lot about apples and apple orchards—including how apples are harvested, how cider is made, and what the different varieties of apples are—while trying to solve a riddle. The book also celebrates how some children learn differently than others.

Margaret McNamara and illustrator G. Brian Karas bring us another fun and educational picture book.

About this title

About the Author

MARGARET McNAMARA adapted this story from a riddle she learned from talking to teachers. "This book is for every child who learns a little differently," she says. Margaret is the author of How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?, also about Mr. Tiffin's class, called "illuminating" by Family Fun magazine and recommended as "a first-purchase consideration" by School Library Journal; The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot; and, most recently, George Washington's Birthday. Margaret McNamara grew up making pies and crumbles with the apples that grew in her backyard. She now lives in New York City.

G. BRIAN KARAS is the prolific, versatile, and award-winning illustrator of many books for children, including, most recently, Neville and Clever Jack Takes the Cake, which received four starred reviews. His other books include How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?; Are You Going to Be Good?, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book; Home on the Bayou, recipient of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award; and Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!

Reviews

K-Gr 2-Mr. Tiffin and his class from How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? (Random, 2007) head out on a field trip. As the students tour Farmer Hills's orchard, they are introduced to many varieties of apples, get a chance to pick some, and watch how cider is made. Mr. Tiffin also gives them a special assignment: "Show me a little red house with no windows and no door, but with a star inside." The children offer many guesses, but it is Tara, the daydreamer among them, who solves the riddle while thoughtfully munching on an apple core. Karas's detailed pencil and acrylic illustrations show the youngsters engaged in lots of hands-on learning, from examining an old tractor to recording their observations in a notebook. A page of apple facts is included. This engaging story will spark fruitful curriculum discussion.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canadaα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

While most of Mr. Tiffin’s students hurry out to the school bus for their field trip, Tara, daydreaming again, walks at her own pace. At the apple orchard, Mr. Tiffin asks his class to ponder this riddle during their tour: “Show me a little red house with no windows and no door, but with a star inside.” Farmer Hills leads the tour of her apple trees, storage barn, and cider press. As the children explore the farm, they think about the riddle. In the end, Tara discovers the answer. An appended page of “apple orchard facts” rounds out the presentation. Though the farmer offers plenty of information during the tour, the students’ natural-sounding comments and conversations keep the text from sounding too purposeful, and the riddle’s solution brings the story to a satisfying conclusion. Karas’ distinctive pencil, gouache, and acrylic pictures illustrate the story with their own quirky charm. This sequel to How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? (2007) is enjoyable as well as informative. Grades K-3. --Carolyn Phelan

Edition details

• Publisher: Schwartz & Wade
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0375847448
• ISBN 13: 9780375847448
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Karas G. Brian
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40