It took a year and a half of working on our apple story project before the book was ready
The story behind the story of Anna and the Apple Tree
Miranda
I saw Richard at an event at The Evesham Festival of Words, where my children, even my sceptical teenage son, sat completely enthralled for an hour (without fortnite!) So, I jumped at the chance of working with him. Richard’s story really struck a chord with me because I believe trees are a vital part of childhood (they were for me). Being in nature can trigger imagination and creativity, inspire wonder but also just let kids slow down and think. In an age where modern life can be very stressful, for all ages, this story of hope, is more important than ever.
Richard
After the event in Evesham, Miranda sent me sketch of the performance, and I was so impressed that I really wanted to work with her on a story that had arisen from a barely alive apple tree I’d recently rescued at a well known dumping ground for garden waste. The tree responded incredibly well and produced one delicious apple in it’s first season. As I travelled around the country and told the story of the rescued tree, the character of Anna and her story quickly developed. Once the story was in first draft I had great fun taking it around schools and getting children’s and teachers feedback. Then Miranda and I doing a final joint feedback session before we went to print.
As someone who is a keen planter of all kinds of trees, an advocate of outdoor learning and a Grandad I am so pleased that we have a book which promotes and reflects the importance of trees and benefits of younger and older people working together.
* As we were starting to get to the end of the book and the rescued apple tree’s second season it produced over twenty delicious apples!
The Book
Anna and the Apple Tree is a timeless yet contemporary story about a girl who strikes up a friendship with an old apple tree. The tree has to produce at least one fruit to prevent it being felled by the local authority. Anna sets out on a quest to prove to everyone that the tree is worth saving.
The next door neighbour Florrie popped her head above the garden wall, and told them all about the village and the problem with the old apple tree. ‘It never grows any fruit, and I doubt if it ever will, it’s pretty useless’ she said dismissively.
'A book that parents and grandparents can enjoy reading to younger children and older children can read for themselves.'
*Only a limited number of the books have been published and are becoming rare collectors items.
*Please see below there is a free colouring sheet to download
| anna_colouring-_in_sheet_1.pdf |
