Wonderfall

The cover of Wonderfall and two spreads from inside: squirrels under an oak tree, and a family at an autumn market beneath the same tree

This beautiful and informative picture book follows a single tree through the fall season, from the end of summer to winter’s first snowfall. A great read-aloud for home and the classroom.

Wonderfall follows a single tree through the changing of the seasons. People, animals, and vehicles pass in front of the tree, celebrating holidays, playing in its leaves, and getting ready for winter. Fifteen combined words (thankful + fall = thankFALL, plentiful + fall = plentiFALL) underscore the themes and concepts of the season, while the main attraction—the beautiful tree—drops acorns, loses leaves, and provides food and a home for a pair of scurrying squirrels. Two full spreads at the back of the book offer additional information about the animals featured in the book, as well as the science behind squirrels, acorns, and saplings.

selected reviews

“The spare text knits a tapestry of gentle, joyous scenes. … Hall’s digital artwork employs a bold palette on white and soft- to deep-blue backgrounds, accentuating the text’s warmly affectionate tone. … A haunting journey through autumn and a lovely triumph.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“… In a bit of seasonal punning, the title of each free-verse poem substitutes the word fall for the suffix -ful. … Hall’s crisp, graphic digital collages provide plenty to talk about, and the puns add another layer of interest.” — Publishers Weekly

resources

Wonderfall activity sheets Link: Wonderfall activity sheets

purchase links:

local bookseller : barnes & noble : amazon

Greenwillow Books, 2016, 40 pages,
hardcover 978-0-06238-298-6,
paperback 978-1-3382-4600-1