A Is for Autumn

July 11, 2011
Vivid photography brings the autumn season to life in an alphabet book with thoughtful descriptions of nature, changing weather, and leisure activities. One colorful spread pairs images of frosted grass, leaves, and broken ice in a pond: "F is for Frost, when dew freezes and water turns to ice." In a scene of urban daily life, a family of three walks down a tree-lined block of brownstone buildings, while nods to special fall events include a picture of Halloween trick-or-treaters and a boy anticipating Thanksgiving dinner. Despite a not-so-seasonal "X" entry ("X is for train crossing"), Maass delivers a vibrant tribute to autumn. Ages 3â6.

October 1, 2011

PreS-K-This is a straightforward abcedary with an autumn theme. Gorgeous color photographs are accompanied by a single sentence for each letter. The descriptions for the items are so brief that they don't always provide sufficient context, and many of the choices are related to autumn only by the setting of the photos. "I is for Ice Cream, which is delicious in any season" is something of a stretch, even if the kids are wearing warm garments and standing in front of fall trees. Additional odd choices include "N" for "Neighborhood." A pretty book, but not a necessary one.-Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2011
Preschool-G Photojournalist Maass creates an alphabet book of crisp, colorful photos, transporting viewers outdoors to enjoy the varied sights of fall: frost on fallen leaves, soccer players running, children dressed for trick-or-treat, bushel baskets of squashes, a family strolling down a leaf-strewn city sidewalk, a scarecrow in a pumpkin patch. When it comes to every alphabet book's acid-test letters, Q Is for Quilt is a natural; X Is for Train Crossing works visually, if not verbally; and Z Is for Zipper provides a satisfying, childlike conclusion to the season and the book. Although not every featured word relates directly to autumn, many of the large, clear photos bring the season into focus so sharply that viewers practically hear the sounds and smell the scents of the season as well. Librarians and teachers looking for fall read-aloud choices will want to consider this visually pleasing picture book, which offers plenty of openings for discussion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)