Fall Is Not Easy (Hardcover)

by Marty Kelley (Author) "Winter is easy..." (more)

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

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Zino Press Children's 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: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #465,996 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 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)

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.

1 of 1 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

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book!, October 23, 2001

By	sarah brown (st. charles, mo United States) - See all my reviews

This book is a great book to show the changing of the seasons.. it has great illustrations... the pictures of the fall trees are very funny! My four year old loves this book!