Fall Is Not Easy [Hardcover]

Marty Kelley (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

Fall is a tough time of year for a lot of us. Kids have to go back to school, teachers and football players have to go back to work, and parents have to look for new places to hide holiday presents. But perhaps fall is hardest of all on trees. After all, they have to change their entire appearance every year! This book is the rhyming story of a tree's humorous struggles to change its colours for fall. And it's a perfect introduction to the seasons for young children.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ages 3^-5. A tree complains that the other seasons are simple (winter, bare branches; spring, new leaves; summer, basking in the sun) but that fall presents problems: "Green leaves turn colors, / But mine all look strange." Indeed they do, as the tree tries out more designs than a fashion model: rainbow, yellow smiley face, red-and-white stripes, purple-on-yellow polka dots, black-on-white cow hide, and a fair representation of a hamburger with lettuce. The simplicity of concept is realized through accessible artwork and a rhyming text that flows along as clear and unassuming as the watercolor illustrations. Although the same tree appears centered on every page, each picture is different, either because of the subtle changes through the seasons or the blatantly obvious color changes that reflect a good understanding of a young child's sense of humor. Librarians complain that there are never enough simple picture books on autumn, trees, and leaves to fill teachers' requests. This book will help fill that need, but remember to keep a copy for preschool story hour. Carolyn Phelan

Review

Accessible artwork and a rhyming text that flows along as clear and unassuming as the watercolor illustrations. -- Booklist

In visual humor that will elicit shrieks of laughter, the tree bursts into one inappropriate image after another. -- The Bloomsbury Review

The author has used the tree to teach young readers about the seasons, and also about differences and tolerance. -- Children's Literature magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 30 pages
• Publisher: Zino Pr Childrens Books (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559332344
• ISBN-13: 978-1559332347
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #683,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An all time favorite with 4 year olds, October 30, 2004

By 

Susanne Black "teacher" (Buffalo, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fall Is Not Easy (Hardcover)

I taught 4 year olds for 8 years. I can't remember when I first bought this book but it became an instant favorite. The children will ask to have it read to them many times a day and laugh hystericaly after each reading. By the end of October I was ready to put this book away but my class was not. My copy is getting worn out! This book is an all time favorite with 4 year olds.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for preschool age kids!, February 24, 2002

By 

Bonnie Widerman (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fall Is Not Easy (Hardcover)

A simple concept (a tree going through the four seasons), straightforward and minimilistic writing, and relatively simple illustrations add up to one marvelously funny book! When I leafed through it, the rhyming text and interesting premise (that a tree could try out different colors and patterns of leaves) made me laugh. But when I read it to my daughter's preschool class, the kids roared with laughter each time I turned the page to show them another of this little tree's crazy variations. They loved it, and I bet most other 4-year-olds will, too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of My Favorites!, October 7, 2006

By 

Sandi G. (McHenry, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fall Is Not Easy (Hardcover)

I have read this book to hundreds of children and adults. I have shared it with my own kids and have read it to children in my first grade class as well as to children in the Storytimes that I have done at the library. I have also highlighted it when doing literature presentations for other teachers. The reaction is always the same. The audience is quiet at first and possibly thinking, "Hmmm. Not very interesting." But then as the tree begins her struggles (I like to think of her as a girl!) there is side-splitting laughter that increases as each page turns. As soon as the book is over a chorus of, "Read it again!" begins and of course, I do! This book is a gem and sharing it each year is one of my favorite things about fall!