Autumnblings [Hardcover]

Douglas Florian (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 2003 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

What do you like
about autumn?

Flying kites?
Apple picking?
Trick or treat?
Frisbee flicking?

What do you not like
about autumn?

Back to school?
Winds that gust?
Bare trees?
Rains that rust?

This collection of poems and paintings welcomes fall with all the crisp energy of a joyful tumbling run. A companion volume to the highly praised Winter Eyes and Summersaults, Autumnblings proves once again that Douglas Florian is a poet for all seasons.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-Florian again displays his significant skill at wordplay in this companion to Winter Eyes (1999) and Summersaults (2002, both Greenwillow). Using simple rhyme schemes; invented words such as "autumnatically," "owlphabet," "fallicopters" (maple seeds); and descriptive spellings ("hi-bear-nation," "industree"), he demonstrates that reading and writing can be lots of fun. His poems call to mind all manner of things autumnal-falling leaves, cool days, ripe apples, frost-and of the feelings that go with them ("-autumn leaves/Leave me in awe"). The childlike style of the various-sized watercolor and colored-pencil paintings (in fall colors, of course) mirrors the creative style of the age group most inclined to read the poetry. A natural for use in classrooms and library programs, and accessible to newly independent readers, these poems will delight youngsters.
Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 2. In his third collection of seasonal poetry, Florian presents a winsome series of poems about fall, with the punning theme of the title carried throughout. Using rhyme, meter, and those puns to good effect, as well as changes in fonts and type, he adds to the sense of movement and joy in the poetry. School, holidays, playtime, and observation all figure here: A "Tree-tice" (treatise) on arithmetics combines leaves and counting; "Geese Piece" answers the question it poses by its placement in the vee formation of Canada goose migration. The watercolor-and-colored-pencil art is best at its simplest: a single red-purple apple on golden ground; a flame-colored leaf and bough reminiscent of Japanese brush painting. Pull this out with Steven Schnur's Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic (1999) and Cynthia Rylant's In November (2000). GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books; 1 edition (August 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060092785
• ISBN-13: 978-0060092788
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #524,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Douglas Florian is the creator of many acclaimed picture books including Dinothesaurus, which received starred reviews in four major publications, Comet, Stars, The Moon and Mars, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year and Horn Book Fanfare List selection; Bow Wow Meow Meow, winner of the Gryphon Award and a Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year; and Lizards, Frogs and Polliwogs, a Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book. He lives with his family in New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A children's poet for all seasons, March 21, 2005

By 

Luan Gaines "luansos" (Dana Point, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Autumnblings (Hardcover)

Complementing Winter Eyes and Summersaults, Autumnblings is another of Florian's delightful poetic romps through the season, a series of silly poems accompanied by the usual quirky and humorous illustrations the author does so well.

"Maple seeds in fall turn brown,

then they fall off and all fall down-

like fallicopters to the ground."

Florian is a personal favorite because his lively poetry and images stimulate young minds and plant the seeds of reading enjoyment. Learning is a positive experience in every book this author/illustrator contributes to young minds, a consistent energy that is engaging and fanciful, to be shared or read aloud.

"The temperature falls

Degree by degree.

It falls through the air

And lands upon me."

Luan Gaines/2005.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful, Whimsical Book of Poetry for Children, August 8, 2005

By 

CanadianMother (Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Autumnblings (Hardcover)

My 6-year old daughter and I love this book, which is filled with delightful poems and colourful paintings about autumn. The author uses a lot of plays on words which are quite amusing, and his poems really capture the images and feelings of autumn. If you like the fall season you will love this book. I would recommend it especially for kindergarden teachers.

5.0 out of 5 stars seasonal poetry, June 5, 2011

By 

mama beast (bay ridge brooklyn) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Autumnblings (Hardcover)

Douglas Florian is a poet for all seasons. This book is a collection of poems about atumn. Florian's work can be whimsical and funny, but always entertaining and "spot on" about fall season. Great for families and children of all ages.