A legend even in his own time This classic tale is based on the true story of a kindhearted woodsman who planted thousands of apple seeds from Pennsylvania to Indiana. The real Johnny Appleseed was born John Chapman in a small village in Massachusetts. When he was a young man, he set off for the western frontier and along the way collected bags of apple seeds from cider mills. As John Chapman's apple orchards grew in number, so did the tales of Johnny Appleseed. In this wise and witty story the life of a great American folk hero helps open and tame the wild frontier. Beautifully illustrated, this classic story will capture children's interest and spark their imagination inspiring a lifelong love of literature and reading.