Autumn-y Picture Books and Nonfiction

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Talitha Shipman. A little city girl sets off with her family for a day in the country: they pick apples then head to Grandma's, where they make applesauce, learn about this generations-old family tradition, and share a delicious meal together. Pleasant if bland illustrations with soft colors and soft edges accompany a warmhearted and informative text. The book includes an applesauce recipe and facts about apples.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) PS Illustrated by Alessandra Psacharopulo. Serviceable rhyming text accurately and cheerfully describes signs that the Jewish New Year is approaching, in terms of both season (late summer/early fall) and traditions (eating apples and honey, blowing the shofar, gathering for meals). Simple, bright illustrations with plenty of apt autumn colors show a diverse Jewish community enjoying the holiday.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(2) PS After shapes (Perfect Square) and colors (Red), Hall turns to a season: autumn. Invented adjectives (beautifall, plentifall, wistfall, etc.) form the titles of short verses, narrated by an oak tree, that take readers through the season. Spreads include many animals, all of which are described further in back matter. Hall's exuberant style, with bright colors and crisp, digitally rendered shapes, is engaging.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(1) PS Illustrated by Laura Dronzek. This companion to When Spring Comes is a quietly joyful paean to autumn and to the changeability of the seasons. Lush acrylic paintings in vivid autumnal colors foreground "frisky" gray squirrels; nodding, browned sunflower heads; plump orange pumpkins; and shiny red apples that look "like ornaments." The text is brief but lyrical, pitched perfectly to preschoolers.

Reviewer: Megan Dowd Lambert | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(3) PS Illustrated by E. B. Goodale. While Lula and her dad rake leaves, Daddy playfully claims he sees Lula's imaginary friend, Akaraka. Lula maintains that because Aka is made-up, she can't help them rake, but that she might like to join them for some chocolate pudding at lunch. The spirited story of an imagination supported pairs nicely with Goodale's vibrant illustrations in acrylic ink and watercolor.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(1) K-3 In the night sky, Little Star and her mother bake a mooncake, the sweet treat associated with the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. As the Big Mooncake hangs to cool, the girl's hunger overcomes her. It's all mesmerizing: Little Star's astral home; her outsized sense of mischief; the dwindling, nibbled-upon cake as a stand-in for the waning moon; and Lin's pleasing, soothing text, perfect for reading aloud to little moon-watchers on Earth.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(3) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Observing Fall series. Each small volume gives kindergartners a level-appropriate amount of information about its title autumn-related topic. Well-chosen stock photos are paired with simple sentences that reinforce what readers may already know ("Apples grow on trees") and provide new tidbits or details related to farming in the fall season ("Pumpkins can be blue too!"). Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Observing Fall titles: I Eat Apples in Fall, I Pick Fall Pumpkins, and I watch Fall Harvests.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Pearl Law. Ah-ma (grandma) tells her granddaughters the story of Chang'e, the Spirit and Lady in the Moon, as the family gathers to give thanks and celebrate home and family. Digital illustrations utilize vibrant colors and precise line work to bring both the realistic and folktale settings to life. Back matter includes an author's note about the Mid-Autumn Festival and a mooncake recipe.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) PS Illustrated by Susan Gal. From the creators of Abracadabra, It's Spring! comes an homage to another season. Simple rhyming text incorporating magic words leads to gatefolds revealing fall's transformations: "Chipmunks dig / their burrows deep. / Sim sala bim! / They're fast asleep." Illustrated with richly colored charcoal and digital-collage art, this is a perfect choice for autumn storytimes.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(1) PS "Hello, late summer morning," says a young girl in a red scarf. She greets the trees, animals, thunder, etc., and each answers her ("Hello! Now that the cool winds have come, we love how our branches sway in the sun"). The friendly conversation is illustrated with digitally enhanced watercolor and pencil art; the pictures reveal inviting details not mentioned in the text.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2016

(3) K-3 Through clear prose and gorgeous, full-color pictures, Rotner captures and celebrates the vibrant changes of fall in this photo-essay. The text describes plant and animal behavior, weather changes, and human customs (including brief mentions of Halloween and Thanksgiving). As usual, Rotner's splendid photographs, featuring a diverse group of children, are delightful. Brief "Autumn Facts" are appended.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) PS The rabbit from Bunny Slopes is back; this time, Bunny loses a scarf (a red ribbon bookmark) while picking apples. Readers help by retrieving the scarf and then tilting, rocking, and turning the book to get Bunny home. The interactive element and gently humorous text again combine for an enjoyable read; Rueda's red-tinted charcoal and digital illustrations create a cozy, autumnal feel.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) K-3 A companion to Raindrops Roll and Best in Snow, this title showcases the beauty of autumn leaves. Simple poetry and magnificent photographs, both close-ups and wide shots, follow the progression of deciduous leaves turning gold, red, and orange; to falling leaves; to decomposition as winter arrives. Short paragraphs at the back explain the botanical science behind the changes. Reading list.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(3) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Observing Fall series. This small volume gives kindergartners a level-appropriate amount of information about autumn weather. Well-chosen stock photos are paired with simple sentences that reinforce what readers may already know about autumn ("The temperature drops. The air is cooler") and provide potentially new tidbits or details about the season ("Days are shorter in the fall"). Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Observing Fall series. This small volume gives kindergartners a level-appropriate amount of information about animals "getting ready for winter." Well-chosen stock photos are paired with simple sentences that reinforce what readers may already know about autumn ("Geese fly south for the winter") and provide potentially new tidbits or details about animals in the season ("Some animals adapt in the fall... Brown snowshoe hare turn white"). Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Observing Fall series. This small square volume gives kindergartners a level-appropriate amount of information about autumn leaves. Well-chosen stock photos are paired with simple sentences that reinforce what readers may already know about autumn ("Leaves change color in the fall") and provide potentially new tidbits or details about leaves ("Leaves have stems. Leaves have veins"). Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Chiara Fedele. Swenson's cheery rhyming couplets introduce the concept of a windfall in this festive (and educational) seasonal book. After attending the "windfall ball" ("A swirling night of celebration, / windy, joyful jubilation"), the forest animals are well-stocked with food for winter. Fedele's watercolor, colored-pencil, and tempera forest scenes feature soft smudges and warm, autumn-evoking colors. Appended with further information and an author's note.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter