Product Description

You've got to feel sorry for your average tree. It's got a lot to worry about: squirrels, thunderstorms, kids building forts. Oh, yes, and then there's that pesky business about changing colors for the fall...

Main character in Fall Is Not Easy is a tree that has its share of troubles with its fall colors. No matter what pattern its leaves change into--a smiley face, a a spotted cow, an "Eat at Joe's" sign--nothing seems to work out quite right. How will the tree solve its seasonal dilemma? Leave it to Marty Kelley, author/illustrator of Summer Stinks and The Rules to come up with the perfect solution.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #325733 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 32 pages

From Booklist
Ages 3^-5. A tree complains that the other seasons are simple (winter, bare branches; spring, new leaves; summer, basking in the sun) but that fall presents problems: "Green leaves turn colors, / But mine all look strange." Indeed they do, as the tree tries out more designs than a fashion model: rainbow, yellow smiley face, red-and-white stripes, purple-on-yellow polka dots, black-on-white cow hide, and a fair representation of a hamburger with lettuce. The simplicity of concept is realized through accessible artwork and a rhyming text that flows along as clear and unassuming as the watercolor illustrations. Although the same tree appears centered on every page, each picture is different, either because of the subtle changes through the seasons or the blatantly obvious color changes that reflect a good understanding of a young child's sense of humor. Librarians complain that there are never enough simple picture books on autumn, trees, and leaves to fill teachers' requests. This book will help fill that need, but remember to keep a copy for preschool story hour. Carolyn Phelan

Review
Accessible artwork and a rhyming text that flows along as clear and unassuming as the watercolor illustrations. -- Booklist

In visual humor that will elicit shrieks of laughter, the tree bursts into one inappropriate image after another. -- The Bloomsbury Review

The author has used the tree to teach young readers about the seasons, and also about differences and tolerance. -- Children's Literature magazine

About the Author
Marty Kelley lives in new Boston, New Hampshire, with his wife Kerri and their children, Alex and Victoria. In his spare time, Marty teaches second grade and makes visits to other schools to talk about his books.

Customer Reviews

An all time favorite with 4 year olds
I taught 4 year olds for 8 years. I can't remember when I first bought this book but it became an instant favorite. The children will ask to have it read to them many times a day and laugh hystericaly after each reading. By the end of October I was ready to put this book away but my class was not. My copy is getting worn out! This book is an all time favorite with 4 year olds.

Great for preschool age kids!
A simple concept (a tree going through the four seasons), straightforward and minimilistic writing, and relatively simple illustrations add up to one marvelously funny book! When I leafed through it, the rhyming text and interesting premise (that a tree could try out different colors and patterns of leaves) made me laugh. But when I read it to my daughter's preschool class, the kids roared with laughter each time I turned the page to show them another of this little tree's crazy variations. They loved it, and I bet most other 4-year-olds will, too.

This is a great book!
This book is a great book to show the changing of the seasons.. it has great illustrations... the pictures of the fall trees are very funny! My four year old loves this book!