Animals in Fall

PreS-Gr 2—These season-themed books can stand alone, although beginning researchers could draw comparisons with similar volumes in the publisher's "Welcome, Spring!" series. Animals is among the stronger choices, offering examples of winter preparations. Volumes on visits to an apple orchard and a pumpkin patch combine simple words and appropriate photos. Pumpkins also feature prominently in Halloween, which downplays scary aspects of the holiday. Thanksgiving highlights football, parades, and gratitude plus turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Weather adds little to material presented in other series titles. Each volume includes an activity, usually a craft project. Trees encourages readers to create a leaf journal, and Apple Harvest instructs how to make an "apple pizza." Most projects are accompanied by a helpful illustration, and a couple mention the need for adult help.