4th December World Pear Day

Happy World Pear Day, everyone! Today marks a very special occasion – the day that we all come together to celebrate pears! This fruit is enjoyed by people all around the world, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by enjoying some delicious pears while reading a story. Are there any stories about pears? You might be surprised to learn that pears do feature in some picture books. See:

• The Pear in the Pear Tree by Pamela Allen

When John and Jane went out walking what did they see? They saw a pear in the pear tree. This humorous rhyming story tells of their attempts to reach the pear. 

• Too Many Pears! by Jackie French & Bruce Whatley

Pamela the cow absolutely loves pears - fresh pears, pear pie, stewed pears, any pears - they are all irresistible to Pamela. Finally it takes a clever little girl to convince Pamela that there is more to life than pears... 

• A Pair of Pears and an Orange by Anna McGregor

An adorable story about making new friends and finding creative solutions to playground problems.
A pair of pears rocked on a seesaw.
A pair of pears played ping-pong.
A pair of pears rode their tandem bike.
Until one day, someone new wanted
to join their fun.

• Orange Pear Apple Bear  by Emily Gravett

By rearranging just four words, Emily Gravett creates a series of playful images which are a sheer joy - and intensely satisfying.

• Little Pear Tree  by Rachel Williams and Jenny Bowers

Watch as a tiny seed grows through the seasons into a fine pear tree in this beautiful book. The charming text makes this the perfect interactive primer to a key scientific topic. 

• Parker and the Pear  by Jim Pluk

Parker gets puzzled after a strangely shaped green thing drops from a tree and plops at his feet. He has never seen a pear before, much less tasted one. What will happen when he tries to return the fruit to its place high in the tree? 

And my favourite

•That Fruit is Mine! by Anuska Allepuz

One day, deep in the jungle, five elephants discover a new tree - a tall tree - and, atop that tree, the most mouth-wateringly delicious fruit any of them had ever seen. "MINE!" each elephant cries. "Mine, mine, mine, mine, MINE!" But who will get there first? And will the elephants spot the five tiny mice, planning and plotting, slowly approaching that tip-top branch?  

Pears were cultivated in China as early as 2000 BC. Pears were also cultivated by the Romans, who ate the fruit raw or cooked. Romans introduced the fruit to Britain. Pears became a much-desired commodity among the the trading routes of the ancient world. In the 18th Century, the pear tree was included in the famous carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas.  Here's some picture books of the carol by well-known illustrators, Jan Brett, Anna Wright, Lara Hawthorne and Jane Ray.