Reward for Raking by Laura Purdie Salas & Illus by Mercé López

Reward for raking: 

A crispy crowd of loud crunch 

when you jump in me.

--From Lion of the Sky: Haiku for all Seasons

Lawrence in the Fall by Matthew Farina & Illus by Doug Salati

Happy fall!

This is a sweet little book about a young fox and his father exploring the woods and noticing things.

I had fun gathering leaves for this picture. And I liked this little leaf with the rebellious green patch. 

Why are anthropomorphisized (clearly not a real word) foxes so charming? 

A badger teacher! 

Students had to bring in their collections, but Lawrence, had no collection to bring in. Isn't he adorably worried here? 

His father reassured him that he knew just where to find a collection for Lawrence. 

In the morning, they set off into the woods. 

"There is no better place to find what you need than the woods," Papa explained. 

I am not quite sure if he is being specific or general here, but I believe this in a general way. The woods are always good for what you need. 

Spiders eat their collection of flies. Not what Lawrence was hoping for. 

After looking for several collectibles and not finding one just right, a storm starts. 

In all the running and pell-melling, Lawrence gets separated from his dad. 

He calls and calls for his dad, but the only response is a leaf falling on his head. 

Eventually he finds his dad. 

And he shows his dad how trees drop leaves to him when he calls. 

With a new collection of leaves, they head home to their hobbit hole. That door in the hillside--so cute!

Everyone loves Lawrence's collection. 

So he takes his classmates exploring and they collect their own leaves!

The end papers are leaf identification pages. 

I love this book. Mostly because I just love nature, but also the springboard it gives little ones to go out and collect leaves. I plan on reading this book and then taking my students out to the woods to make their own collection of leaves. I might pair it with Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert and have them make little leaf men from the leaves they collect. For older students, I might pair it with field guides and have students identify some of the leaves they bring in. 

More excuses to get kids outside? Yes please! 

The Gold Leaf by Kirsten Hall & Illus by Matthew Forsythe

This book was one I have been wanting to look at for a year or so now, but haven't got my hands on it until I was up in Alaska this summer. 

Interestingly, I always assumed this was a fall book because that is when leaves are gold. BUT it isn't! I am still going to pretend it is a fall book because it is about leaves. 

Winter

Spring! 

Jungle green, laurel green, moss green, mint green, pine green, avocado green, and, of course, sap green. 

So much green! 

A squirrel saw something non-green

A golden leaf. Which does not look golden in this picture. But it is. 

Suddenly everyone wanted the golden leaf.

A bird got to it first.

Then a chipmunk stole it away. 

Then a mousie caught it up...

(Don't you just love the colored backgrounds here?)

Finally, the leaf was in tatters on the ground. 

Finally, the golden bits of leaf floated away on the wind. 

Lost because of greed

I love this fall picture!

Winter wonderland

When spring came around again, the golden leaf was there again. 

But this time, they understood how to leave it alone and so everyone could enjoy it.

Now It's Fall by Lois Lenski

Now it's fall--time for another Lois Lenski seasonal book! 

Sweet little leaves floating in the breeze.

And swirling in the wind

We hope fall brings some rain. We have never been so dry up here in Northern New York. Creeks that typically run all summer have dust in the bottom of them. 

Apples

Nutty nuts

School

Pumpkins that turn...

....into jack-o-lanterns!

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Just the nicest time of all!