Author with Leominster roots releases book focused on Johnny Appleseed

LEOMINSTER — City native and author Jeff Aubuchon recently had another book published, which pays homage to one of Leominster’s most famous claims to fame.

The author, educator, and historian wrote “American Apple: Johnny Appleseed & the Growing United States, 1600-1850,” which celebrates America’s 250th birthday and John ‘Johnny Appleseed’ Chapman at 252 years old. The inspiration for it struck during Aubuchon’s service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal in 2024, where he was asked to address the school assembly on Sept. 26. — Johnny Appleed’s birthday.

“Seeds, an apple, growing trees, and the environment were simple visuals that explained the Johnny Appleseed story to non-Americans,” Aubuchon shared in a press release. “When my term finished the next year, several students and teachers reminded me of the ‘Apple Man.’ I felt I left part of American history in Nepal along with my Peace Corps work.”

That experience led to writing “American Apple” featuring the story of Johnny Appleseed, the famous American pioneer born in Leominster who introduced trees grown with apple seeds to large parts of the United States and Ontario. According to the release, crafted as a history primer, Aubuchon’s latest literary offering features short, focused chapters structured to support immigrants and English Language Learners (ELL) “while remaining engaging for any history enthusiast.”

“I remembered my Nepali hosts as I wrote ‘American Apple,’” he imparted. “The book explains how America’s origins parallel the life of Johnny Appleseed, from his Puritan ancestors to his life on the frontier. It’s for those who want to learn, or forgot, early U.S. history.”

Aubuchon was born in Leominster, where his family remains, and he most recently lived there from 2009 to 2020. He taught at Oakmont Regional High School in Ashburnham for a decade beginning in 2010 and Aubuchon holds degrees in history from Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire and Fitchburg State University and is a graduate of the writing program at Harvard University.

He now calls Honolulu home, where Aubuchon is the Hawaii Legislature librarian. The prolific author has published nine books with 92252 Press and will be returning to the East Coast to do a book reading for “American Apple” on Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Ashburnham Historical Society.

In 2022 Aubuchon published “Flocked: My Grandparents, Midcentury America, and Plastic Flamingos,” which documented his grandfather’s role in the production of the iconic plastic pink flamingo lawn ornament at city business Union Products, where creator Don Featherstone worked.

“American Apple” is a companion piece to that book, and its launch coincides with Aubuchon’s upcoming return to Nepal. During his time with the Peace Corps, he lived just 50 miles away from the catastrophic floods that recently struck Rasuwa, and in November he will be traveling back there to connect with the host community to celebrate the Nepali holiday of Tihar — Diwali — “and stand in solidarity with those affected.”

“I can’t do much to rebuild Nepal, but I can sit and listen as a friend,” Aubuchon conveyed. “There’s no greater goal for Peace Corps work than to extend the hand of friendship to our global neighbors.”

And he’ll be bringing a special gift across the ocean for the English teachers there and their students — a box of American apples.

“American Apple: Johnny Appleseed and the Growing United States, 1600-1850” is available in print and electronic form from online retailers. To learn more about the book, request a review copy, or schedule an interview, email [email protected], visit jeffreywaubuchon.com, and connect online @jeffreywaubuchon.