First Day of Autumn + Book Review

It all happens in its time. No better time to receive a beautiful autumn book than on the year's first autumn day! Due to the delay I mentioned yesterday, I didn't receive this book earlier, but now is the best time for it.

The Fantastic Gifts of Fall is the first in the Seasons series. The author, Dandi Daley Mackall, did a great job, and so did the illustrator, Katherine Blackmore. The whole series is intended for children age 4 to 8, and for this reason the text is rhymed and written in rhythm that makes the whole book sound like a poem. This is exactly what crossed my mind as I was reading it. As a child I knew some children's poems for autumn, but this one is written from a Christian perspective. I honestly never thought there are so many Bible verses that actually "fit" the fall season. For each activity illustrated and mentioned in the book there is a verse that goes with it. Such a great reminded that indeed, fall is a blessing too. 

As does the Winter book, the Fall book focuses on some specific activities and elements for this season. The crispy air, playing in the leaves, the "V" of the geese, picking pumpkins, apples, pears, and other autumn specific fruit, enjoying the crisp air, going on a hayride and horseback riding, and the season's culmination - Thanksgiving. Actually, the whole book (and this goes for every book in the series) is like a list of everyday simple things that are blessings and reasons for children to say "Thank You, God, for autumn." This book also ends with the promise of another season, winter. 

What I mentioned regarding the Wonderful Gifts of Winter illustrations goes for this one, too. They are so beautiful! For this book specifically, they are so rich in color, they so easily capture the beauty of this season. The illustrator did a fantastic job It actually felt comfortable turning the page as they once again created a homey feeling as I remembered my childhood. 

Again, this one ends with a Parent Connection section which provides a Bible reference, some questions for discussion and an autumn craft focusing on thanks giving. 

B&H Publishing Group, the children's section, provided this book for review. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.