Business Details
31 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Early Childhood Education
Apples & Books has been dedicated to providing high-quality early childhood education and care since 1995. Our mission is to nurture the whole childcognitively, emotionally, physically, socially, and spirituallythrough a curriculum aligned with New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards. Accredited by Grow NJ Kids since 2012, we were part of the original pilot program that launched this initiative, reflecting our commitment to excellence. Our team of certified educators holds specialized training in The Creative Curriculum and GOLD Assessment, alongside CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications. We maintain small class sizes to ensure personalized attention, with classrooms and playgrounds equipped with security cameras monitored by our administrative team. Our philosophy emphasizes family partnership, cultural respect, and fostering a love of learning through hands-on, multi-sensory activities.With over 30 years of experience, we serve children from infancy through 5th grade, offering flexible schedules and programs such as summer camp, back-up care, and a Counselor-In-Training program for older children. Our facility features a 10,000-square-foot playground divided into age-appropriate play areas, ensuring a safe and engaging environment. Parents consistently praise our staff for their kindness, professionalism, and ability to create a nurturing atmosphere where children thrive. We are proud to be a family-owned and operated center, deeply invested in maintaining our reputation for excellence in the community.
Services
Infant Care
Toddlers
Preschool
Kindergarten Preparatory
Summer Camp
Back-Up Care
After School Program
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- We have over 30 years of experience in early childhood education.
- Our staff is certified in CPR, First Aid, and AED emergency response.
- We maintain small class sizes for personalized attention and care.
- Our playground spans 10,000 square feet with age-appropriate play areas.
- We are a family-owned center with a strong community reputation.
Associations and certifications
- Grow NJ Kids
What people say
Exceptional care
Nurtured and loved
Special place
Kind and compassionate
Positive environment
Services
Infant Care
Our infant care program supports the development of children from 0 to 18 months in a warm, nurturing environment. Certified caregivers focus on building trust and security through personalized routines and sensory-rich activities. Parents appreciate the attentive care and regular communication about their child's progress.
Preschool
Our preschool program prepares children aged 3 to 4 for academic success through play-based learning and structured activities. The curriculum includes literacy, math, and social skills, fostering curiosity and independence. Small class sizes ensure individualized attention and a supportive atmosphere.
After School Program
Designed for children in kindergarten through 5th grade, our after-school program offers homework help, age-appropriate activities, and a nutritious snack. Busing is available through local schools, and the schedule accommodates working families with extended hours until 6:30 PM.
Summer Camp
Our summer camp provides a fun, engaging environment for children during school breaks. Activities include outdoor play, arts and crafts, and themed events, all supervised by experienced staff. The program maintains the same safety standards and small group sizes as our regular offerings.
Back-Up Care
Back-up care is available for children up to age 13 when regular childcare arrangements are unavailable. This flexible service ensures peace of mind for unexpected schedule changes, with access to the same secure facilities and qualified staff as our full-time programs.
People
Vanessa Carey
Center Director
Vanessa Carey, Center Director, has over 29 years of experience in early childhood education. Certified in child development and CPR, she leads a team dedicated to creating a nurturing environment for children and families.
Dan Carey
Business Director
Dan Carey, Business Director, brings over 25 years of experience in early childhood education and holds a B.S. in Engineering. He ensures operational excellence and compliance with safety standards.
Rini Abraham
Assistant Director
Rini Abraham, Assistant Director, supports daily operations and staff training. With expertise in early childhood development, she contributes to maintaining high educational and safety standards across all programs.
Questions
What accreditation does Apples and Books hold?
We are a Grow NJ Kids 3-Star Accredited center, reflecting our commitment to high-quality early childhood education and care.
What age groups do you serve?
We serve children from infancy through 5th grade, with programs tailored to each developmental stage.
Are your staff members certified?
All staff are certified in CPR, First Aid, and AED emergency response, with ongoing professional development.
What safety measures are in place?
Classrooms and playgrounds have security cameras monitored by administrative staff to ensure a safe environment.
Do you offer flexible schedules?
Yes, we provide full-time, part-time, and customized schedules to meet family needs.
Is there a summer program available?
Our summer camp offers engaging activities for children, maintaining the same safety and educational standards as our regular programs.
Reviews (5)
Ronak Shah
Dec 25, 2020
Report
Apple and books learning center is great. With this COVID-19 the admin and teachers are working nice to take care of kids. They keep school nice and clean. Great Job ABLC family.....
Maria Rebelo
Nov 25, 2020
Report
Apples and Books is great! The Admin and Staff are very professional, kind, understanding, very loving and extremely clean! My boys love it! A 5 star learning center.
Jessica Fu
Jan 27, 2019
Report
My kid went to this daycare and we left because we moved out of the state few months ago. The principal and teachers are very nice, kind and experienced. My daughter was happy there and each day she came home with new things and new words. Ive heard a lot of drama from other day cares through my other mom friends, but this one gave me none. My daughter told me many times that she miss the teachers and friends from ABLC even now. Highly recommended.
Joy Z.
Nov 14, 2018
Report
We've done lots of research about the daycares in Bridgewater, Hillsborough and Branchburg and finally found Apples and Books Learning Center. Our kid is very happy here and loves his teachers so much! His teachers are far beyond our expectation--they treat kids as their own! And the food they provide are yummy and nutritious--my kid gained weight in just two weeks! The owners are so nice and experienced. They are on-site every day--this is very helpful!
Honestly, this is the best daycare in the area!
Honestly, this is the best daycare in the area!
W. W.
Aug 16, 2017
Report
Previously I sent my little one to a school where the facility looked fantastic, the program looked attractive, and teachers looked nice at the beginning but after a while we noticed the teachers there were lousy. As we all know, teachers in fact are the most important factor for a daycare center. So we started searching for new schools and later transferred to Apples and Books Learning Center. After staying here for a couple of months, we should say we finally found a good daycare. The teachers here are beyond my expectation. They are amazing! In the old school, during lunch time, the teachers
