The Secret of Fall
Each season has its own qualities that set it apart. Winter, with its stark-white crust of snow, turns even a mundane scene into a sparkling fairyland. Spring, along with her many shades of green, brings a promise of new beginnings. Summer gifts us with long, lazy days of endless blue skies and the scent of freshly mown grass. But fall has a magic, a secret, all its own. It offers a kaleidoscope of textures, smells, and colors.
But what’s behind those glorious colors we see among the treetops and upon the leaf-covered ground? Are leaves more than what they seem?
Through engaging text and charming artwork, young readers are invited to explore how and why leaves change color. And perhaps, after fall’s secret is revealed, we learn something about ourselves and our own distinct beauty.
Back matter delves into the science behind photosynthesis.
KIRKUS Reviews
Some secrets must be widely shared.
Can you keep a secret? Leaves can. They keep a marvelous secret that explains the glorious colors they display in the fall. How does this phenomenon occur? What happens to leaves’ usual green, and where does it go? Bursting with leafy images and autumnal hues, this charming, easily comprehensible book describes how, as “sunlight decreases and temperatures cool, changes happen in the trees.” Some of the language in this title, geared to young readers and written simply and in an inviting, conversational tone, is as robust as the beautiful shades we see in autumn: “a splash of orange,” “a burst of yellow,” “a rush of red,” “a blast of brown.” Every color word is presented in that particular hue, in boldfaced capital letters. As the prose carefully notes, these colors were “hidden underneath all along.” The backmatter provides a longer, more comprehensive account of photosynthesis and the process by which leaves undergo their remarkable metamorphosis in fall and show off their stunning, vibrant glory. Popping with color, the enticing, collagelike illustrations feature a group of playful, curious, racially diverse children frolicking outdoors and marveling at the seasonal changes.
Don’t keep this lovely book a secret: Display it widely and hand it to inquisitive young readers this fall.
Midwest Book Reviews
John Coy’s The Secret of Fall reaches ages 4-8 with a warm seasonal survey illustrated with bright drawings by Kristen Adam. Coy’s focus on the sights, sounds, smells, and feel that makes fall stand out from any other season encourages youngsters to explore and better understand the outdoors. It also holds STEM-centered educational information on the science of photosynthesis, introducing this topic for young learners.