Here are a few reviews I really like:
From GoodReads.com:
"I am looking for GOOD quality kiddie lit to use with my students. Smucker, who is a prolific writer of anything West Virginia and in fact just anything, tells the story of West Virginia's state fruit, the Golden Delicious apple. In addition to her story, she does go into detail about it and the Golden Grimes, one of the varieties found in West and thought to be brought here by Jonathan Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed.
In addition to its regional appeal to me, I think the book also shows kids that people are often looking for improvements on things we have and what we think are impossible to improve. It shows that ingenuity can create good things." - Katy
From KirkusReviews.com:
"This lightly fictionalized story of the golden delicious apple truly reads like a fairy tale. In 1905 Missouri, the famous Stark Bro’s Nursery is the place farmers send their apples, hopeful that the brothers will want to sell the apples to their customers. But Paul and Lloyd are picky, likening each taste of a new apple to trying a glass slipper on another woman’s foot. Meanwhile, in West Virginia, Anderson Mullins discovers a one-of-a-kind apple tree on his property that produces the most delicious golden apples. They win fair ribbons, yield year after year and stay sweet even through winter storage. In 1914 he sends three to the Starks and it becomes their Cinderella apple. Paul journeys to West Virginia to buy the apple tree, bringing back twigs to graft onto the trees back home. And from that one tree, every golden delicious apple is descended. The colors of Kemly’s charming watercolor-and-ink illustrations neatly evoke the time period and the agricultural theme. A standout amidst the proliferation of apple books found in elementary classrooms."
From Amazon.com:
The Golden Delicious is my favorite apple! I was surprised to learn that its origins began in my home state of West Virginia. I enjoyed learning the history behind the sweet fruit and how different types of apple trees are developed. The book was well written and beautifully illustrated. ---- Jennifer Weingardt
Thanks to everyone who has enjoyed this book and shared their opinions. It's still one of my favorites.