Autumn-y Books for Primary Readers

(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 Illustrated by Daniel Duncan. Seven days before his friend Stick Bug's birthday, effusive Beetle can wait no longer to bestow his gift. "I already have your present, because that's just the kind of friend I am. Always thinking of everyone else." Stick Bug, who is tall, thin, and soberly dressed compared to Beetle, graciously accepts his present, which turns out to be an enormous purple puffy coat. "'It does look...warm,' said Stick Bug. 'And purple is your favorite color. Thank you, Beetle.'" The situation deteriorates from there. Beetle drags his friend all over town, calling extra attention to the outlandish coat wherever they go while Stick Bug tries in vain to blend in with his surroundings. The digital art depicts a friendly town in autumn, complete with a library staffed by a snail; a skate park; the Puffy Coat Boutique; and many details to observe about the insects' daily lives and acquaintances. The understated humor in the text pairs well with the visual jokes in the pictures, calling attention to the differences between Beetle and Stick Bug and creating the ideal setting for them to learn a little bit more about how to be true to oneself while also being a true friend.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(2) PS Illustrated by Samara Hardy. "Let's help Amara find her pumpkins!" suggests the offstage narrator as our young, brown-skinned, overalls-wearing protagonist searches her farm. Brief, declarative answers to the refrain "Is that a pumpkin?" help listeners discern the similarities and differences between pumpkins and the other produce (including potentially unfamiliar persimmons, okra, kumquats, etc.): "That's a persimmon. A persimmon is orange, but it has a smooth, waxy skin and no ribs." Finally, Amara finds her pumpkins...just in time for an autumn potluck. The repetition in Brown-Wood's engaging, informative text reinforces comprehension, while Hardy's digital illustrations, featuring hand-painted ink and watercolor textures for added depth, provide a festive atmosphere with their vibrant autumnal hues. A recipe for molasses pumpkin bread is appended.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) 1-3 Fox & Rabbit series. Illustrated by Gergely Dudás. In their second volume, Fox and Rabbit return for five new loosely connected adventures as summer turns to fall. Flush with their lemonade-stand earnings from the previous book, they start by treating themselves and their friends to ice cream. This leads to a bubble-gum blowing contest (and an unfortunately necessary trip to the hairdresser for Fox), a playground adventure, a corn-maze escape, and an idyllic afternoon carving pumpkins. The brightly colored comic-panel art develops and helps clarify details and plot points in the story, and its soft, round lines give the characters and settings an endearing, huggable quality. Fox and Rabbit carry the tales, but other animal friends repeatedly show up--ever-hungry Sparrow, new friend Owl with the wonderful imagination, and Turtle, who tends to miss everything due to chronic tardiness--adding gentle tension and humor. The stories lightly touch on worries such as being embarrassed or feeling left out, but all the characters are innately sympathetic and kind to one another, making for a comforting graphic novel for younger readers.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(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

(2) PS Illustrated by Richard Jones. A chilly wind blows into the den where Small Bear and Mama live. It's time to hibernate. Small Bear requests stories before slumber, but Mama tells her that there's work to be done--with "no dilly, no dally." Small Bear gathers spruce sprigs for a "soft, warm" sleep spot; takes a bath in the stream; and collects acorns. But, much like human children, and despite an admirable determination, Small Bear cannot resist tantalizing distractions. "The forest was full of food and adventure," and Small Bear is eager to experience it all. McGinty tells the story with a pleasing rhythm and economy: "Sun was setting, wind was biting, winter knocking, and she had to save time for stories." The repetition of particular phrases, including the satisfying "no dilly, no dally" refrain, will hook young listeners. The smudgy, soft-focus illustrations bring to life this forest in autumn, with walnut and copper hues dominating. And Jones depicts an endearing protagonist in curious Small Bear, who leaps through the forest, exploring in wonder. Readers turn the book for one dynamic vertically oriented spread, in which Small Bear climbs a tall tree. "Ahh! She could climb forever." The snug ending, which makes this one a fitting bedtime book, reveals that Small Bear succeeded in leaving time for stories: as Mama and cub cuddle, snow falling, Mama recounts the events of Small Bear's day.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson

(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

(1) PS Opening on a morning scene of autumnal domestic bliss, a large, bathrobe-clad bear holding a steaming mug looks out the window at falling leaves. "Sweaters ON!" the bear declares to a roomful of ­pajama-­wearing cubs, and the story takes off. Wrangling seven small bears into sweaters is no easy feat, and the gloriously chaotic effort goes on for several pages, punctuated by brief, lively speech bubbles (the book's only text, and all it needs). Phelan's (You Are My Friend, rev. 11/19; Turtle Walk, rev. 1/21) soft, colorful art, created with pencil, ink, and watercolor, amplifies the coziness of all the bears and their clothing. The littlest cub, who is perhaps the most enthusiastic, manages to unravel its green sweater completely. Finally, six bear cubs are dressed; the littlest one is stuffed into a large stocking cap that the large bear has been knitting; and out everyone goes into...the night. The humor of the ending is just right, as is the large bear's last directive--"Pajamas ON!"--leading to the story's natural evolution into a bedtime book. This tribute to the realities of parenting small children (and bears) revels in the humor and joy that can be found when the ­best-laid plans go awry.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(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

(2) K-3 In preparation for Cat County's Great Pumpkin Contest, cat Mimi produces one giant pumpkin, while cat Clara grows many beautiful little ones. Ultimately, this mellow autumn tale's straightforward text conveys that kindness and teamwork yield the best fruit of all. Playful pastel-toned, mixed-media illustrations reward viewers with literary and feline references ("I Want My Cat Back"; "The Power of Meow").

Reviewer: Katie Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(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

(2) PS In Green (rev. 3/12), author-illustrator Seeger paired a color concept book with an ecological theme, following it some years later with Blue (rev. 9/18), which similarly united a consideration of color with one of emotion. Now she turns to red--sixteen shades of it, from "dark red" to "just red"--to tell the story of a lost fox. The painterly acrylic images and strategic die-cuts immerse viewers in the fox's world and trials, from it trailing the pack to becoming lost to enduring hunger, injury, and capture, until its eventual return to its family. Hues range from the "light red" of sunrise to the "blood red" of an injured paw to the "rage red" of being trapped in a cage. The season is autumn, which allows Seeger the full riot of shades of reds, but the story is an anytime one, the fox a stand-in for anyone going through trouble on the way to security.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(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

(2) PS In early spring, a farmer (pictured as a Border Collie bearing a passing resemblance to Wolff's Miss Bindergarten) plants a pumpkin patch. Determined to protect and nurture the crop, the farmer enlists the help of curious onlookers: "You want to help a pumpkin grow?" One by one, a crow, rabbit, goose, and goat join in the endeavor, until in the autumn there are plentiful pumpkins to harvest, make pies from (one pie for each animal), and turn into jack-o'-lanterns. "Now we have made our pumpkins...GLOW!" With a jaunty, rhyming text; lush, expressive, acrylic gouache illustrations; a theme celebrating growing things and the spirit of cooperation--and the added bonus of a little mouse to find on every spread.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021