Preschool Book Review: Applebet – An ABC

Written by Clyde Watson

Illustrated by Wendy Watson

From the Preschool Book

"A is for apple as everyone knows. Can you follow this one wherever it goes? B is for Bet in the top of the tree who picked it and shined it and gave it to me."

About the Preschool Book

Applebet is the story of a little girl named Bet and her mother as they get ready to go to the fair. Rock through the letters of the alphabet with this wonderful rhyme about the journey a few special apples take, from the tree to the winner's table at the fair.

From the Reviewer

Applebet is a wonderful educational book for preschoolers learning the letters of the alphabet. What makes this alphabet book unique is that rather than simply going through each letter of the alphabet, it includes soft and hard sounds and blends as well. This is a great introduction to language concepts that many preschoolers have not been exposed to before. Blends and soft and hard sounds are shown to preschoolers in a way that they can understand and that continues the flow of the story.

The fun and action-filled illustrations are appealing to preschoolers and get them interested in the story. Alphabet letters are large and set apart in a different color, making it easy for preschoolers to pick out the letters as they go through the story.

Book Details

Title: Applebet

Reading Level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 Pages

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); Reprint edition (September 1, 1987)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0374404275

ISBN-13: 978-0374404277

Hi! I'm Rachel Lister, the Preschool Education writer at PreschoolRock.com. I live in Utah with my husband and two beautiful boys. When my oldest son was born, I quit my teaching job and opened a home daycare and preschool. I love to help preschoolers learn about the world around them. They make life interesting and I can't imagine doing anything different. If you have any ideas, suggestions or comments, feel free to contact me.

Helpful Tips for Parents

• Screen learning (educational apps and videos) supplements but never replaces human interaction as a teaching medium. Learning happens most efficiently in social, conversational contexts.

• Read aloud daily for at least 15 minutes. This single habit is the strongest predictor of kindergarten reading readiness and long-term academic success.

• Expose children to multiple languages early if possible. The preschool window is the most efficient period for language acquisition the brain will ever have.

• Curiosity is more valuable than knowledge. A curious child who doesn't know the answer will find it. A knowledgeable child who has lost curiosity will stop learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of technology in preschool education?

High-quality educational apps and programs (PBS Kids, Khan Academy Kids, Starfall) used in limited, adult-co-viewed sessions can supplement preschool learning. However, interactive human experiences (conversation, shared book reading, hands-on experimentation, social play) remain far superior as primary learning modes. Screen-based learning is most effective when it is: co-viewed with an adult, limited to 30–60 minutes per day, followed by extension activities in the real world (after a nature app, go outside), and consistently educational rather than commercial.

What is the most important educational skill to develop before kindergarten?

Executive function — the cluster of skills that includes working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control — is the strongest predictor of kindergarten and long-term academic success. Executive function is built through play (especially complex pretend play), physical activity, music, and responsive adult interaction. It cannot be taught through drills or worksheets. A child with strong executive function can learn academic content readily when developmentally ready; a child with weak executive function struggles regardless of academic knowledge.

Related reading: See also our read-aloud guide and our kindergarten readiness guide for more ideas on this topic.

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

• 📚 Pre-Reading Skills — Activities that involve letters, sounds, rhymes, and print directly build the phonological awareness and letter knowledge that are the two strongest predictors of successful reading development.
• 🌐 World Knowledge — Background knowledge about the world dramatically accelerates reading comprehension — children who know more understand more of what they read — making every content-area learning experience a literacy investment.
• 😊 Love of Learning — Positive early learning experiences build a child's identity as a learner — and children who see themselves as curious, capable learners approach school with the engagement and resilience that matter more than any specific skill.
• 🧠 Memory & Recall — Remembering rules, retelling a story in sequence, and practicing skills to automaticity builds working memory and long-term recall — the cognitive foundation that learning in every subject depends on.