Apples for All

A Story about Grafting

My husband, Steve, worked at a fruit breeding research station while he studied for his horticultural degree. We ate the benefits. Strawberries and apples grown at the station graced our table for several years. Yum.

When I saw Apples for All: A Story about Grafting, I suspected we’d enjoy it as a memory of those days. And he would be my in-house fact checker.

We both agree: this is an inspiring introduction to grafting apples, something I knew very little about before reading Mary Peterson’s book. She is both author and illustrator, which brings a warm and affectionate look at generational farming to these pages.

Bobbi loves fruit. They have fruit trees on their farm but no apple trees. Bobbi loves applesauce, so it seems like a good idea to plant the seed from the apple she’s eating. Grandpa tells her the tree that grows may result in bad apples or no apples at all.

Instead, they’ll buy a tree for more predictable results. They poll the family to learn which is their favorite apple. Everyone has a different answer! How can they satisfy each person?

Grandpa has the answer: grafting. Peterson clearly explains how grafting is done with step-by-step illustrations.

At the nursery, they find a tree with grafts from three scions, Gala, Granny Smith, and Macintosh. They’d like to add a fourth, a crab apple, so the adventure in grafting begins.

“Really?” I asked Steve. “All those apples will grow on the same tree?”

“Yup.”

illustration copyright Mary Peterson from Apples for All: A Story about Grafting, written by Mary Peterson, Feeding Minds Press, 2026

In a friendly, cartoon-like style, Peterson shows us the work involved in grafting, planting, and raising an apple tree. She includes information about beneficial insects, natural pest control, composting … and the patience it takes to wait for apples to grow.

Back matter shares “Fun Apple Facts” (the longest unbroken apple peel will astound you), a double-page spread depicting 18 apple cultivars, and a recipe for applesauce.

You don’t have to live on a farm to grow a grafted apple tree. Find a sunny spot in your yard with good drainage and bring home a sapling from your local nursery.

Apples for All is a fun way to build excitement for your adventure. It’s also a good book for gaining knowledge and respect about growing apples.

Highly recommended.

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Apples for All: A Story about Grafting
written and illustrated by Mary Peterson
Feeding Minds Press
from the
American Farm Bureau
Foundation for Agriculture