The 5 Best Books About Apples to Celebrate This Exceptional Fruit

Written by Angie Menjivar
Updated: March 28, 2023
© iStock.com/Baks

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The crunching sound when you bite into an apple is unmistakable. So is its flavor, ranging from tart to sweet. The best books about apples invite you to explore countless apple varieties, learning their names, appearances, and flavor profiles. If you’re interested in learning how to grow apples, there are books that teach you step-by-step what you can expect from the moment you plant the seeds to the season you get your first harvest. Even if you live in a cold climate, there are ways that experts teach you to ensure a successful experience.

Explore other topics around apples and discover how they inspire writers and painters. Apples permeate many cultures and although an apple is often thought of as a lunch accompaniment or simple snack, there is much to learn about their origins and the mystique that inspired well-known paintings. Learn what criteria to consider before you select the best book, and get ready for an exploration of apples you couldn’t have even imagined.

  1. Apples of North America: A Celebration of Exceptional Varieties
    • 312 pages.
    • Contains portraits of heirloom and modern apples.
    • Explains distinguishing characteristics of each apple.
    • Author's family has grown apples in the Blue Ridge Mountains since 1715.
    Check Amazon
  2. Hardy Apples: Growing Apples in Cold Climates
    • 288 pages.
    • A handy guide and tribute to apple cultivars.'
    • Goes through how an apple tree grows, and the ideal conditions for them.
    • Author has over 40 years of experience selling apple cultivars at his nursery.
    Check Amazon
  3. Apples, Apples Everywhere!: Learning About Apple Harvests (Autumn)
    • 24 pages.
    • Recommended for children ages 4 through 8.
    • Works to teach kids about how apples are harvested, picked, and stored.
    Check Amazon
  4. Apples Never Fall
    • 480 pages.
    • A story and mystery about family dysfunction.
    • A number one New York Times bestseller.
    • A relatively new publication, having been first printed in September 2021.
    Check Amazon
  5. If These Apples Should Fall: Cézanne and the Present
    • 240 pages.
    • An analysis of the work of painter Paul Cézanne.
    • Written by one of the world's foremost art historians.
    • Published in September 2022.
    Check Amazon

A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks for the Best Books About Apples

#1 Best Overall: Apples of North America: A Celebration of Exceptional Varieties by Tom Burford

The best book about apples is Apples of North America: A Celebration of Exceptional Varieties. The author of this book is Tom Burford, a man whose family has a long history of growing apples in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They started in 1715. Throughout this work, Burford takes you on a journey to explore far beyond what you see on your grocery store shelves. You learn about apples like Carter’s Blue and Fallawater and explore apples with different flavors, from the tart ones that make you salivate at their thought to the juicy, sweet ones you enjoy on a cool fall day. Burford also addresses how to grow apples and gets down to specifics like planting, pruning, and grafting. If you’re interested in preserving apples, Burford also teaches you how to press, ferment, cook, and dry them.

Customers frequently rate this book five stars. They love that the book doesn’t just incorporate tons of information, but also has gorgeous photos, most of which make your mouth water. While some people purchased this book because they wanted to decide on the types of apples they want to grow, they found that this book only made their decision that much more difficult. They didn’t realize there were so many varieties until they started reading the pages of this book. One customer shared that Burford included information about growing habits and disease resistance, which is not something that he had previously found in other works about apples. Overall, this is a useful book for anyone looking to learn more about apples and keep a small home orchard.

There were no critical reviews for this book.

Pros and Cons of Apples of North America: A Celebration of Exceptional Varieties by Tom Burford

ProsCons
The author’s family has been growing apples since 1715.None
The book explores and describes a wide variety of apples and explains how to grow them, including planting, pruning, and grafting.
It also teaches you how to press, ferment, cook, and dry apples to preserve them.
The book includes many beautiful photographs.
Best Overall
Apples of North America: A Celebration of Exceptional Varieties
  • 312 pages.
  • Contains portraits of heirloom and modern apples.
  • Explains distinguishing characteristics of each apple.
  • Author's family has grown apples in the Blue Ridge Mountains since 1715.
Check Amazon

2. Best Guide: Hardy Apples: Growing Apples in Cold Climates by Bob Osborne

Hardy Apples: Growing Apples in Cold Climates serves as a guide specifically for those living in cold climates. It incorporates the tips you need along with gorgeous photographs and apple stories to thoroughly entertain you. The author is Bob Osborne, who has over 40 years of experience both propagating and selling apples. He starts with the basics to get you well acquainted with the types of conditions apples require and then goes further in-depth about planting, harvesting, and facing the challenges of harsh winters. After the section on growing apples, Osborne presents a catalog of over 90 apple cultivars.

Customers rate this book five out of five stars. They find it impressive that Osborne managed to condense 40 years of experience into such a beautiful and thorough book. They see it as a practical guide for those living in the northern hemisphere and appreciate the humor that Osborne incorporates in some of the descriptions. If you are either a novice or a professional when it comes to growing fruit, this is a must-have book for your library. Overall, it’s reader-friendly, which makes it an asset for anyone looking to learn more about growing apples in unpredictable weather.

There were no negative reviews for this title.

Pros and Cons of Hardy Apples: Growing Apples in Cold Climates by Bob Osborne

ProsCons
This guide includes tips for apple growing in cold climates along with gorgeous photos and entertaining apple stories.None
The author, Bob Osborne, has over 40 years of experience propagating and selling apples.
This in-depth guide will familiarize you with the conditions that apples require as well instructions on planting, harvesting, and facing the challenges of harsh winters.
It includes a catalog of over 90 apple cultivars.
Best Guide
Hardy Apples: Growing Apples in Cold Climates
  • 288 pages.
  • A handy guide and tribute to apple cultivars.'
  • Goes through how an apple tree grows, and the ideal conditions for them.
  • Author has over 40 years of experience selling apple cultivars at his nursery.
Check Amazon

3. Best for Kids: Apples, Apples Everywhere! Learning About Apple Harvests by Robin Koontz (Author), Nadine Rita Takvorian (Illustrator), Terry Flaherty Ph.D. (Consultant Editor)

Apples, Apples Everywhere! Learning About Apple Harvests is perfect for children. It takes them on a journey to the apple orchard during autumn, which is apple harvest time. It’s suitable for kids between four and eight years old. They learn how to pick apples and store them properly. They also learn which types are the best for snack time (and they learn about worms they need to look out for!).

Customers rate this title 4.8 out of five stars. Many teachers have picked this book up for their classrooms. They appreciate that it is simple with fun pictures and that kids as young as three years old can enjoy it. One mom shared that if you’re looking for a kid’s book that touches on the life cycle of the apple tree, this isn’t it. This is more of a fictional story that is great for sparking a conversation to further explore apple-related facts.

This book received two negative reviews, one of which said that the book was dull and the other calling it “terrible.”

Pros and Cons of Apples, Apples Everywhere! Learning About Apple Harvests by Robin Koontz (Author), Nadine Rita Takvorian (Illustrator), Terry Flaherty Ph.D. (Consultant Editor)

ProsCons
This book tells children from four and eight years old a story about apple harvest time.This book received only two negative reviews, one calling it “dull” and the other calling it “terrible.”
It explains how to pick and store apples and which varieties are best for snack time.
Best for Kids
Apples, Apples Everywhere!: Learning About Apple Harvests (Autumn)
  • 24 pages.
  • Recommended for children ages 4 through 8.
  • Works to teach kids about how apples are harvested, picked, and stored.
Check Amazon

4. Best Fiction Novel: Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

Apples Never Fall is a #1 New York Times best-selling novel. It has nothing to do with apples aside from its allusion to the saying, “Apples never fall far from the tree.” The author, Liane Moriarty, touches on a difficult topic that centers around family and how those who are closest to you are often the ones who can hurt you the most. It follows the Delaney family who faces tragedy when their mother goes missing. The siblings suspect their father is involved but they are unsure if they’re supposed to go to the police.

This is a well-known family in their community. However, when it comes time for retirement after 50 years of marriage, Stan and joy, the parents, are quite miserable. They have four children who have grown up and have their own lives. This family is broken apart after a visit from a stranger. The book follows as they all examine their family history with two of the siblings siding with her father and the others feeling unsure about what he may be hiding.

Customers rate this book 4.2 out of five stars on average. They appreciate that Moriarty isn’t afraid of highlighting flawed characters. She writes in an intriguing fashion that explores some of the darkest aspects of life and people. If you don’t appreciate psychological explanations about difficult topics like mental illness and domestic violence, this won’t be a book that you enjoy. However, if these are topics you are interested in exploring further within the confines of a mesmerizing fiction novel, this is the type of book you won’t be able to put down until you get to the very last page.

Some readers said that this book isn’t as good as some of Moriarty’s others.

Pros and Cons of Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

ProsCons
This is a novel by Liane Moriarty, an international best-selling novelist.Some readers said that this book isn’t as good as some of Moriarty’s others.
Aside from the illustration on the jacket cover and the allusion to the saying, “Apples never fall far from the tree,” this book is not about apples.
Best Fiction Novel
Apples Never Fall
  • 480 pages.
  • A story and mystery about family dysfunction.
  • A number one New York Times bestseller.
  • A relatively new publication, having been first printed in September 2021.
Check Amazon

5. Best for Art Appreciation: If These Apples Should Fall: Cézanne and the Present by T.J. Clark

If These Apples Should Fall: Cézanne and the Present isn’t just a feast for the eyes, it’s a modern look into one of history’s most revered artists, Paul Cezanne. The author, T.J. Clark, is a celebrated art historian. He asks the question and explores the reasons why Cezanne’s works managed to enchant so many. Famous writers and artists looked to his works for inspiration and felt a connection with him. Clark comments on the uncanny and beautiful nature of Cezanne’s work and dives in to address the haunting and strange aspects of Cezanne’s achievements.

Like the preceding book, this one isn’t about apples per se, though Cezanne featured apples in some of his still lifes, including the one featured on the book jacket.

Customers rate this book 4.4 out of five stars. They call Clark the best art historian around. He has a way of elucidating the specifics of paintings. It’s a challenging read but rewarding in its brilliance. It’s both moving and powerful and perhaps a bit much for readers who are new to Cezanne’s work or to the way Clark tracks each of his pieces. This is the type of book you either love or hate. If you can appreciate the way that Clark approaches the subject matter, you’ll get lost in it. However, if you start to take it apart from the start, you won’t enjoy the fullness of this book.

A couple of readers said that they would have appreciated more illustrations and “less talk.”

Pros and Cons of If These Apples Should Fall: Cézanne and the Present by T.J. Clark

ProsCons
This book by art historian T.J. Clark explores why Cezanne’s work still enchants so many.A couple of readers said that they would have appreciated more illustrations and “less talk.”
Best for Art Appreciation
If These Apples Should Fall: Cézanne and the Present
  • 240 pages.
  • An analysis of the work of painter Paul Cézanne.
  • Written by one of the world's foremost art historians.
  • Published in September 2022.
Check Amazon

Criteria: What to Look for in Books About Apples

There are a couple of critical factors to consider before you purchase a book about apples. Some are straightforward and deliver the facts you look to learn. Others play on the idea of apples and take a more philosophical approach.

Book Type

Are you looking for a book that serves as a guide or reference? If that’s the case, look for a book that lays out the facts you need. For example, if you want to learn how to grow your own apples, you need an experienced author who lays out the specific steps from planting to harvesting. You can also explore sections that teach you how to preserve your apples and protect them from harsh weather and diseases.

We included a fiction novel and one by an art historian in the list above. The fiction novel explores the saying “apples never fall far from the tree,” and takes you on a twisted journey that explores family ties and dynamics. The other book explores the works of a revered artist who often used apples as inspiration for his paintings.

Intended Audience

There are simple ways to determine the intended audience, like the reading level. In our list, we include one for children. You can invite your kiddos to read along with you and share your love and curiosity about apples. Other books require you to read the full description to determine if it’s the type of book you would enjoy. While you may generally enjoy a good fiction novel, a dark and twisted psychological exploration may not be your cup of tea.

Writing Style

As much as you may want to enjoy a book, the writer’s style may dissuade you after only a few pages. It’s no one’s fault if that’s the case; simply, the writing style is not a match for your preferences. Take a peek inside the pages of the book you’re interested in and devour a page or two. Consider if the style matches your reading palate before inviting the author’s words into your favorite reading nook.

About the Author

Angie Menjivar is a writer at A-Z-Animals primarily covering pets, wildlife, and the human spirit. She has 14 years of experience, holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and continues her studies into human behavior, working as a copywriter in the mental health space. She resides in North Carolina, where she's fallen in love with thunderstorms and uses them as an excuse to get extra cuddles from her three cats.

The 5 Best Books About Apples to Celebrate This Exceptional Fruit FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Who discovered the apple fruit?

Apples were first discovered in Kazakhstan and were transported throughout Europe for further cultivation. Eventually, the Spaniards brought apples to South America and Mexico.

How did apples arrive in America?

French Jesuits brought apple seeds to North America in the late sixteenth century.

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