Free Printable Apple Counting Book Perfect for a Preschool Apple Theme

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. This free printable apple counting book has been used by a variety of students over my years as a teacher.

Related: Apple Pie Sensory Play

Free Printable Apple Counting Book

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 early literacy skills.

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Here’s how to make the book

Print out a copy of the book (you can grab a copy 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:

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.

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

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, book suggestions, and the following printables:

- Apple Number Cards (0-35)

“Counting Apples” emergent reader
“I See Apples” emergent reader
Apple Letters (uppercase and lowercase in both red and green)
Apple Life Cycle Cards (in color and b/w)
Label the Apple Diagram (in color and b/w) with labeling cards
Apple Pattern Cards
Put the Apples on the Tree Game Mat
Editable cover and pages for a class apple book

Get Your Preschool Apple Lesson Plans

Preschool Apple Lesson Plans for Classroom Teachers

Apple Preschool Lesson Plans for Home Preschool Families

You can also find us on Teachers Pay Teachers

25 More Ideas for Your Apple Theme

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

Letter Matching Apple Tree Activity // Mom Inspired Life

Apple Lacing Fine Motor Bag // Coffee Cups and Crayons

Kindergarten Math Activity: Apple Matching Game // Schooling a Monkey

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 // Sugar Aunts

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 Letters of Literacy

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). Click on the button below to get it sent to your email. If you’re already a member, clicking on the button won’t add you twice!