Industry body British Apples and Pears, working together with KS2 children’s author Laura Baker, has launched its first e-book titled ‘Pip and the Apples’.
BAPL's foray into fiction follows recent research of 1,000 UK children aged 6-11, which found 1 in 10 kids think fruit and veg are made in a factory, while a quarter have never eaten an apple.
'‘Pip and the Apples’ not only encourages children to read but teaches them about where their food comes from,' BAPL said. 'And with sustainability riding higher on the news agenda than ever before, now is the time to teach the next generation about how their food is produced and the importance of British farming.'
Published for supporting lessons at school or reading at home, ‘Pip and the Apples’ tells the story of Pip, a young boy who explores an orchard and learns about the different stages of fruit growing and the biological process behind it.
The e-book includes National Curriculum KS2 (key stage 2) content on sustainability, life cycles, photosynthesis, and the requirements of plants for life and growth; and also meets current KS2 objectives across Science, English, Technology and Maths, BAPL said.
Through the eyes of Pip, children will learn about the food they eat, where it comes from and about the nature and science that supports it.
Highlights include:
• Learning about insects: how ladybirds first hatch into a busy aphid-eating larvae and then pupate into the iconic insect we all know and love
• Learning about pollination: why bees are nature’s heroes
• Learning about how fruit is grown: highlighting growing produce sustainability in harmony with nature, supporting the surrounding biodiversity
• Learning about the food system: where food grows, is stored, and transported to supermarkets and our homes
• Learning about the health benefits of fruit: encouraging children to make smart and informed food choices to benefit their health
The e-book is the perfect resource for any school, designed to be read aloud by the teacher or read individually, all with colourful images that can be displayed on screen to bring the story to life, BAPL said.
Commenting on the book's launch, Ali Capper, executive chair of British Apples and Pears said: “As growers, we want to inspire young people to know not only where their food comes from, but how British growers work with nature to get fresh produce from the field to the table.
“By working closely with Laura Baker and a farming STEM ambassador, we have ensured that ‘Pip and the Apples’ is not only a wonderful story but an excellent educational source.
“We understand that children care about nature and are concerned about climate change. We want to show them how something as simple as eating a British apple can help with their health and the environment.”
‘Pip and the Apples’ is available to download for free from www.britishapplesandpears.co.uk or available to purchase through Amazon.
