This free printable apple counting book has been used by a variety of students over my years as a teacher. It’s the perfect addition to your preschool apple theme.

Related: Apple Pie Sensory Play
Oh how we love book-making in preschool (and my kindergarten students loved it too)! Homemade emergent readers help teach children important early skills, and they’re very meaningful to the kids.
You can grab your own copy of the printable book at the very bottom of this post.
Apple Counting
As I mentioned above, I’ve used some version of this printable emergent reader with both preschool and kindergarten children. It’s a fun way to extend an apple theme and work on both early math and early literacy skills.
To really drive home the counting aspect of the book, consider pairing it with some real apples.
How to Make the Counting Apples Book
Print out a copy of the book (found at the end of this post). Fold each page in half along the black lines, making sure the pictures are facing out. Place the pages in the correct order, with the folded sides facing to the right. Staple along the left-hand side of the book.
Typing it out seems to take longer than actually making the book does! Here’s a short video that shows you what I mean:
Related: Counting Flowers Printable Book
I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Using the Apple Counting Book with Children
Then it’s time to bring the kiddos in to work on their apple counting books. I like to do this in small groups or one-on-one.
Explain to the children that they’ll be making their very own book about apples in an apple tree. It will be a counting book, and they’ll get to be the book’s illustrators.
Read the first page to the kids, pointing to each word as you say it aloud. Have the children use a washable ink pad to make a fingerprint apple on the first apple tree.
Then go ahead and let them color in the apple trees. Proceed with the rest of the pages in the same way. Toy apples and buttons are another idea for apple counting.

Related: Apple Calendar Numbers
Depending on the kids, this apple book might take a day or two to complete. Some children can spend a long time coloring, while others aren’t too keen on it.
I don’t force the children to make the book look “just so.” If they’d rather just add the apple fingerprints and read the book with me, that’s great. I’ve found that those children who don’t want to color the book at first often go back and add illustrations later.
Once the books are done, kids can place them in their book boxes. That way, they can read and reread the book throughout the school year.

Related: Apples Up On Top Names
Benefits of This Apple-Themed Free Printable Book
Here are some of the early math and literacy skills that can be taught and practiced using this apple counting book:
- Left-to-right, top to bottom progression
- Print conveys meaning
- Number recognition
- One-to-one correspondence
- High frequency words
Have you ever made an apple counting book with your students? Be sure to let me know what they think about this one. Remember, you can get your own copy at the very bottom of this email.
Apple Theme Preschool Lesson Plans
Save time and get right to the playful learning with a week’s worth of apple lesson plans already done for you! Read below the image to see what comes with the printable plans.
This set includes active hands-on learning ideas, fully-developed lesson plans, book suggestions, and the following printables:
- “I See Apples” color word emergent reader
- Apple Letters
- “We Like Apples” editable class book cover and page template
- Apple Number Cards 0-35
- “Counting Apples” emergent reader 1-10 (three variations)
- Apple Theme Word Cards
- 0-10 Apple Matching Number Cards with numbers, words and sets
- Apple Sorting Prompt Cards
- Shape Mats
- Apple Dice Game
- Life Cycle Cards (multiple versions)
- Apple Pattern Cards
- My Apple Science Journal
- Label the Apple Diagram
- Apple Taste Test Voting Cards and Class Graph Pieces
- Taste Test Results Tally Sheet
- How to Make Applesauce Sequencing Activity and Recording Sheet
- Real Apple Photographs
- Match the Apples Visual Discrimination Game
You can also find us on Teachers Pay Teachers
25 More Ideas for Your Apple Theme
If your students enjoyed the apple counting emergent reader, be sure to check out even more apple themed activities for kids!
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
Letter Matching Apple Tree Activity // Fun Learning for Kids
Apple Lacing Fine Motor Bag // Coffee Cups and Crayons
Kindergarten Math Activity: Apple Matching Game // Steamsational
Bobbing for Apples Fine Motor Activity // Stir the Wonder
Write and Wipe Math Cards | Bobbing for Apples // Science Kiddo
Apple Life Cycle Printable Book // Stay at Home Educator
Number Match Apples // A Dab of Glue Will Do
Apple Life Cycle Hat // The STEM Laboratory
Fine Motor Strengthening Apple Activity // The OT Toolbox
Apple Tree Counting Puzzles // The Kindergarten Connection
Shape Matching Game // Life Over Cs
Oatmeal Apple Crisp: A Recipe for Kids // Liz’s Early Learning Spot
Apple Addition Write and Wipe Cards // Playdough to Plato
Johnny Appleseed Apple Coverall Games // Recipe for Teaching
Apple Play Dough Surprise Activity // Play & Learn Every Day
Balancing Apples Up on Top // Sara J Creations
Apple Seed Counting Busy Bag // Powerful Mothering
Alphabet Apple Puzzles // The Kindergarten Connection
Apple Subitizing Cards // The Simplified Classroom
Editable Apple Sight Word Game // DIY Farm Wife
Apple Tree Busy Box // Teach Me Mommy
Apple Ten Frames // Still Playing School
Tracing Letters Printable Apples // Modern Preschool
CVC Spelling Mats // Fairy Poppins
Apple Color Matching Activity // Frogs Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
Grab Your Free Printable Apple Counting Book
This free printable is available to members of Fun-A-Day’s free email community. If you’d like to join, we’d love to have you (and you’ll get the emergent reader as a free gift). Enter your information in the form below to get it sent to your email. If you’re already a member, doing so won’t add you twice!
If you can’t see the above form, you can access it here.

This is a great idea! My son will love it!
Thank you! 🙂 Let me know what he thinks. 🙂
I like and thank you for help teachers
I’m glad I can help, Elena!
I have provided my email for the free printable apple counting book but I have not been able to find a link or pdf to pull it up.
The email with the download link might take a few minutes (sometimes up to 24 hours, but that’s rare) to arrive in your inbox. I just checked, and the email shows as sent. Please do touch base if you can’t locate it!
Oh, my daughter is going to love this. She just loves apples! I can’t wait to take her apple picking at the orchard this fall.
So glad to hear your daughter will love the book! Yes, apple picking sounds like a wonderful fall family idea. 🙂
Great ideas! Will use with grandson.
Thanks so much, Betty! Let me know how he likes it!
I am so thankful for all the emails I get, I am a mom of a 12,4 and 15 month old. I used to be a pre-k teacher and though i saved all my teaching things. I love all the ideas you email us parents/teachers. Its so nice to have new materials to teach my little ones at home.
Thanks so much for the sweet words, Nicole! I’m glad my ideas and emails are helpful!
Indeed, it’s an engaging and whimsical activity for my toots👌
Glad to hear that!!!
why do I have to keep sign up for this group this must be the 3rd time I had to to get the free downloads
Hey there, Ellen. I put a lot of work into the free printables I make. As such, most of the free printables are available to members of my (also free) email community. Entering your name and email address gets the printable sent to you. If you’re already a member of the community, it doesn’t sign you up extra times or anything like that.
Thanks for the wonderful ideas!
So happy to help, Devon! 🙂
I love this
Thank you!!!!
So much hard work on your part. Soooo many BLESSINGS for my part. Thank you so much.
I’m so happy to hear you love the apple counting book, Kathy! I love hearing that others enjoy using what I make, too.