Books to Read... To Get in the Mood for Fall

It is still hot here in Provo, but September is almost here and it is time to get in the mood for fall. I’m thinking about woodland animals, falling leaves, and cozy topics. Here are some books to get you and your kids in that autumn mood.

Acorn Was a Little Wild

Written by Jen Arena
Illustrated by Jessica Gibson
New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book.

This little acorn is anxious to get off the tree and have some adventures. Not long after he falls off the tree, a squirrel buries him in the ground and he has no choice but to wait in the dark. As he waits, some exciting changes happen and he begins to grow into a beautiful oak tree.

A Very Big Fall
By Emmy Kastner
Boston: Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2022. Picture Book.

Being a leaf is great when the weather is good and the view is beautiful. But as the weather starts to change, these different leaves have to adjust to the cold air. The squirrels help them learn about the changes to come.

Woodland Dreams
Written by Karen Jameson
Illustrated by Marc Boutavant
San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2020. Picture Book.

A little girl and her dog are walking home through the woods. On their walk they are saying goodnight to all of the different woodland animals. Finally, they arrive at their own cabin and are ready to have sweet woodland dreams.

The Belonging Tree
Written by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Illustrated by Kristine A Lombardi
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2020. Picture Book.

A little squirrel’s parents want to have the tree all to themselves. Squirrel doesn’t feel right about excluding the chipmunks, blue jays, and beavers. He convinces them to welcome all of the new woodland creatures to their tree.

If You Go Down to the Woods Today
Written by Rachel Piercey
Illustrated by Freya Hartas
New York : Magic Cat Publishing, 2021. Picture Book.

Cute woodsy poems with whimsical illustrations. There are even activities on every other page where you look to find different animals on the page. So much to find, learn and explore in this book.

The Leaf Thief
Written by Alice Hemming
Illustrated by Nicola Slater
Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2021. Picture Book.

Squirrel loves living in the forest and seeing all the colorful autumn leaves. As time goes on he realizes that there are less and less leaves. This makes him start to wonder who is stealing all of the leaves?

Comments

Funny Farm by Mark Teague 2009

There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester 2008

J Fiction 328 pages I almost didn't finish this book. I got to Chapter 4, and was just about ready to quit (a kind of slow story about a girl, name of Piper McCloud, who discovers she can fly, parents freak out, she becomes a social outcast, yadda, yadda) but suddenly, right there in Chapter 4, the story takes a sharp turn and becomes really interesting . Piper finds herself in the company of others like her, but not "fliers", and under the care and authority of Dr. Hellion. I won't even tell you any more. Read this book. Forester does a great job of keeping you wondering who's the good guy and who's the bad? Piper is a likeable, strong, endearing character that girl readers will enjoy. But don't NOT give it to boys! The main male character is an extremely intelligent young man who is one of the ones you wonder about . . . good or bad? This is a good one, well worth your time.

Review: Super Boba Cafe

Super Boba Café By Nidhi Chanani New York: Amulet Books, 2023. Comics. 215 pages. 14-year-old Aria is excited to spend her summer in San Francisco getting quality time with her Nainai. She loves helping at her grandmother's Super Boba Café. But she can't help but notice that her grandmother is acting strange and secretive. She refuses to let Aria into the kitchen at all and she disappears at the same time each night without telling Aria where she goes. Meanwhile, Aria is eager to drum up more business for Super Boba Café. She gets a major windfall when the shop cat, Bao, surprises them by having kittens, and Aria realizes this is a major social media opportunity. She knows this will help Nainai's shop, but she is apprehensive to get back on social media after a terrible cyberbullying experience she had back home. As the shop starts to get busier, Nainai is more and more anxious about her secret project. This prompts Aria to investigate with help from her Nainai's neighb...

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