Fall Pumpkins

November 1, 2011

K-Gr 2-In a series of books that describe all things about fall, Rustad provides a lively vehicle for extending readers' vocabulary. All of the books have a concluding activity to make or do. Animals presents an interesting experiment to explain the word "blubber," the fatty layer that ocean animals have, while Pumpkins delivers an easy-to-mix recipe for roasting pumpkin seeds. Leaves is outstanding for explaining the process of photosynthesis and chlorophyll in simple terms; Weather, for its clear description of seasons and the word "equinox." Apples is not so successful in elucidating how an apple seed grows into a tree, creating more questions than are answered. Harvest offers little new information about planting or reaping, and the directions for making a corn-husk doll are sketchy. Colorful illustrations fill the spreads with active, cartoonlike boys and girls surrounded by the green, brown, and orange hues of autumn. Select among the titles for topics of interest.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

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