Full of Fall by April Pulley Sayre
April Pulley Sayre’s Full of Fall is a beautiful collection of photographs to portray the fall season. The simple text has a subtle rhythm and rhyme. Students will enjoy both listening to this text as a read-aloud and studying the images in detail. The photographs follow the timeline of fall from the end of summer in September to the first snowfall at the end of the book. The author includes notes at the end of the book to explain the scientific processes that leaves go through.
Discussion Questions
p. 2-3 The first day of fall is September 22nd. The text says, “Green goodbye.” Why do you think the text says this? What colors do you think of for fall?
p. 12-13 This photo looks like it was taken while laying under the tree. Imagine laying under this tree. What would you hear? What else would you see? How would it feel?
p. 19 Why do you think these leaves are floating in the air?
p. 22-23 The leaves on the ground are dying up. How could those leaves get cleaned up? Tell us about a time you may have helped cleaned up leaves.
p. 30-31 Compare this photograph of a forest to the photograph of a forest at the beginning of the book. What differences do you notice?
p. 34-35 What season comes after fall? What signs of winter do we see in this photo? What is surprising about this picture? The author explains that this kind of tree loses it’s leaves in the spring rather than the fall.
Post-Reading Activity
After reading, have each student choose one photo as their favorite. Then ask them to describe the photo. This can be done in writing or in conversation.
We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger, illustrated by Miki Sakamoto
We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger is an adorable book about three children going on a leaf collecting adventure. Just like in the classic book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, the children come to obstacles they can’t go over or under. The surprise at the end that sends them home is good for a giggle. Miki Sakamoto’s illustrations are simple and perfectly compliment the text.
Discussion Questions
before reading The title of this book is We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt. Have you ever read a book with a similar title? What happened in that book. What do you think these 3 friends will see and do on their leaf hunt?
p. 2-3 The friends just climbed a mountain. The author included some sound words – did you hear them? Why do you think those are the sounds for climbing a mountain.
p. 8-9 How are the friends feeling about going through the forest? How can you tell? Have you ever walked through a dark forest? What could be scary in a dark forest?
p. 16-17 These leaves are in a big pile for jumping in. Have you ever jumped into a pile of leaves? Was it fun? Why or why not? How do you think the leaves got into a pile for jumping?
p. 20-21 The friends are putting on life jackets. Why are life jackets important when you are getting in a boat?
p. 25 The friends found a skunk behind the bush. Why are they running away from the skunk?
Post-Reading Activity
After reading, provide students with images to represent each step of the hunt - mountain, forest, waterfall, and lake. Ask students to sequence the images. Add on a writing piece by asking students to write a sentence or label each step.
Apple Countdown by Joan Holub, illustrated by Jan Smith
I remember trips to the apple farm being a favorite growing up, and this book definitely captures all of the fun! Apple Countdown by Joan Holub follows a class of 19 students and 1 teacher on a field trip counting down from 20, all the way to 1. Along the way there is some helpful information, like the best way to pick an apple, a little bit of science – showing apple trees in all 4 seasons, and even some math! Students in your class will have just as much fun listening to the book and looking at the pictures as the characters do on their field trip.
Discussion Questions
before reading Look at the cover of the book. What do you see? What do you think this story will be about?
19 The class is on the bus headed to a field trip. Have you ever been on a field trip? Where did you go and what did you do there? Where do you think these kids are going?
17 What are some things they think they may see on their field trip. Do these help you guess where they are going?
12 & 11 Applebee farm has apples and bees! Why would bees be an important part of an apple farm? These pages also show different types of apples. What is your favorite kind of apple?
3 They made apple pies from some apples. What are your favorite ways to eat apples?
1 Throughout the book there have been clues that Lee was going to lose his tooth. Why do you think his tooth finally fell out?
Post-Reading Activity
After reading, ask students to draw or write about an apple tree in different seasons.
Fall Leaves Fall! by Zoe Hall, illustrated by Shari Halpern
Two brothers anxiously await their favorite season – FALL! Fall Leaves Fall is a simple story about many things you can do in the fall. The brothers catch leaves and collect leaves, they rake leaves and jump into the pile. The illustrations are bright and simple in the most perfect way.
Discussion Questions
p. 1 The text says, “How do we know when fall is coming?” What are some ways we know the season is changing from summer to fall?
p. 6-7 Compare the illustrations on pages 2 and 3 to the illustrations on these pages. What has changed? What has stayed the same?
p. 19 Look at the squirrels. What are they doing? Why are they doing that?
p. 22-23 Have you ever helped rake leaves? Is it a hard job? How else can you get leaves off of the ground?
p. 30-31 The brothers are very excited about their leaf pile What do you think they will do next? Have you ever done that before?
p. 34-35 What season is coming next? What clues do you see in the illustrations?
Post-Reading Activity
After reading, brainstorm different activities for fall as well as activities you would not do in fall.
By the Light of the Harvest Moon by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Mark Jones
By the Light of the Harvest Moon by Harriet Ziefert is a fun book about ‘leaf people’ who have a party to celebrate the first day of autumn. The story begins with farmers finishing up the day and heading to bed. The bright moon shines down as the wind blows and the leaf people emerge. They bob for apples and have a pumpkin stacking contest before enjoying fall desserts like pumpkin pie. The illustrations by Mark Jones are beautifully detailed and reflect the glorious colors of the season.
Discussion Questions
p. 5-6 The text says the farmer is ‘weary’. What do you think ‘weary’ means?
p. 6-7 The leaf people are decorating a table. What does this remind you of? Has your family ever decorated a table for a big party? Who is this party for?
p. 19 The leaf children are doing lots of fall activities like bopping for apples and pumpkin stacking. What are your favorite fall activities?
p. 22-23 Surprise! They are having a dessert party! What dessert do you see on the table? Which would you like to try?
p. 30-31 What does it mean when it is the fall equinox? The first day of fall is September 22nd.
p. 34-35 Compare the trees in this photo to the trees in the beginning of the book. What has happened? What clue did the leaf people leave behind?
Post-Reading Activity
After reading, students can create a poem about fall. A five senses poem or an acrostic poem using the word harvest would be great!
If you are looking for these discussion questions and activities ready-to-print and use please check them out in either my Fall Vocabulary Unit or my Fall Read-Alouds resource in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. If you chose to read any of these books with your students I'd love to hear about it! You can e-mail me at TeachingEternity@gmail.com, or connect with me on Instagram, @TeachingEternity.
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