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Peepers
It's fall again, and time for Jim and Andy to help their dad run Fred's Fall Color Tours. The tourists they shuttle around are "Leaf Peepers"--and, boy, do those Peepers love to ooh and aah about the dumbest things. Leaves, trees, pumpkins. Bo-o-ring.
But this yerar, even as they poke fun at the Peepers, Jim and Andy can't help but notice how the leaves floating in the river look like a brilliantly colored island, and how the spiky tree branches seem to sweep the clouds across the night sky.
Maybe the Peepers aren't so silly after all.
But this yerar, even as they poke fun at the Peepers, Jim and Andy can't help but notice how the leaves floating in the river look like a brilliantly colored island, and how the spiky tree branches seem to sweep the clouds across the night sky.
Maybe the Peepers aren't so silly after all.
- GenresPicture BooksFiction
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2001
22 people want to read
About the author
Eve Bunting
307 books406 followersAlso known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 19, 2020
When autumn brings brilliant colors to the trees of their New England village, Jim and Andy are pressed into service helping their father with his weekend tour-bus operation, ferrying tourists who have come to see the fall foliage around the neighborhood. The boys make fun of the 'Peepers' - so named because they have come to 'peep' at the leaves - but eventually they realize that the natural beauty around them is every bit as awe-inspiring as these visitors believe. Perhaps the Peepers are on to something after all...
'Leaf Peeping' is a colloquial term used in the United States for tourism based around the fall foliage to be found in northern areas of the country - New England and the Upper Midwest, primarily - where the fall colors are most dramatic, most beautiful. It's interesting to note that a similar tradition of touring areas of autumn beauty also exists in Japan, where it is called momijigari ("red leaf hunting"). As someone who has lived in areas that receive large tourist numbers, I could sympathize with Jim and Andy's feelings, in the story here. It can become irritating when everyday tasks are made more difficult because of gawking crowds. I used to have to cross through Time Square every week, on my way to the library to do research, and it always felt like passing through purgatory in order to enter heaven. Fortunately for the boys here, their own tourist mecca is far more beautiful than the glitzy Times Square.
Although sympathetic to her main characters, Eve Bunting resists the urge to make the tourists in Peepers into some kind of villains. If anything, the narrative here demonstrates that their perspective as outsiders, the fact that they 'ooh and ah' at everything, teaches the boys an important lesson about valuing what is all around them. As someone who has always loved the fall colors, and who wants one day to visit Maine's Acadia National Park in autumn, I'll no doubt be a 'peeper' myself one day, although hopefully not an obnoxious one. Bunting is a master at this kind of narrative, in which alternative perspectives are explored, and I appreciated the lessons imparted here, both about learning to see the beauty around us, and about having compassion and understanding of outsiders and/or visitors, even when they annoy us a bit. These are things we could all benefit from! I also appreciated James Ransome's lovely artwork, which captures the wonder of a true New England autumn. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for autumn tales, or for stories about tourism and/or being open to the perspectives of others.
'Leaf Peeping' is a colloquial term used in the United States for tourism based around the fall foliage to be found in northern areas of the country - New England and the Upper Midwest, primarily - where the fall colors are most dramatic, most beautiful. It's interesting to note that a similar tradition of touring areas of autumn beauty also exists in Japan, where it is called momijigari ("red leaf hunting"). As someone who has lived in areas that receive large tourist numbers, I could sympathize with Jim and Andy's feelings, in the story here. It can become irritating when everyday tasks are made more difficult because of gawking crowds. I used to have to cross through Time Square every week, on my way to the library to do research, and it always felt like passing through purgatory in order to enter heaven. Fortunately for the boys here, their own tourist mecca is far more beautiful than the glitzy Times Square.
Although sympathetic to her main characters, Eve Bunting resists the urge to make the tourists in Peepers into some kind of villains. If anything, the narrative here demonstrates that their perspective as outsiders, the fact that they 'ooh and ah' at everything, teaches the boys an important lesson about valuing what is all around them. As someone who has always loved the fall colors, and who wants one day to visit Maine's Acadia National Park in autumn, I'll no doubt be a 'peeper' myself one day, although hopefully not an obnoxious one. Bunting is a master at this kind of narrative, in which alternative perspectives are explored, and I appreciated the lessons imparted here, both about learning to see the beauty around us, and about having compassion and understanding of outsiders and/or visitors, even when they annoy us a bit. These are things we could all benefit from! I also appreciated James Ransome's lovely artwork, which captures the wonder of a true New England autumn. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for autumn tales, or for stories about tourism and/or being open to the perspectives of others.
November 5, 2025
My kids and I really enjoyed this seasonal read by the prolific Eve Bunting. A great way to talk about how it seems to come naturally to make fun of those who are different than us or who see things differently from us. The progression and subtle character development was really well written and I valued the conversation I could have with my kids about the boys’ feelings of embarrassment at the end. Boys shouldn’t be ashamed to acknowledge beauty. None of us should be.
October 25, 2010
It's fall again, & time for Jim and Andy to help their dad run Fred's Fall Color Tours. The tourists they shuttle around are "Leaf Peepers"--and, boy, do those Peepers love to ooh & aah about the dumbest things. Leaves, trees, pumpkins. Bo-o-ring.
But this year, even as they poke fun at the Peepers, Jim & Andy can't help but notice how the leaves floating in the river look like a brilliantly colored island, & how the spiky tree branches seem to sweep the clouds across the night sky.
Maybe the Peepers aren't so silly after all. (Goodreads summary)
Peepers by Eve Bunting is illustrated by James Ransome with paintings done in acrylics on paper. The illustrations are full of fall colors & pull you into the story with a tall pumpkin on the title page & a two page spread of a covered bridge on the publishing data page.
Peppers tells the tale of how the boys eventually come to see the beauty that they have made fun of the Leaf Peepers for constantly exclaiming over. Ransome's illustrations perfectly match the story and make this a great selection featuring Fall colors & the appreciation of nature and the seasons. For ages 6 to 8, Fall & nature stories, and readers moving towards chapter books.
But this year, even as they poke fun at the Peepers, Jim & Andy can't help but notice how the leaves floating in the river look like a brilliantly colored island, & how the spiky tree branches seem to sweep the clouds across the night sky.
Maybe the Peepers aren't so silly after all. (Goodreads summary)
Peepers by Eve Bunting is illustrated by James Ransome with paintings done in acrylics on paper. The illustrations are full of fall colors & pull you into the story with a tall pumpkin on the title page & a two page spread of a covered bridge on the publishing data page.
Peppers tells the tale of how the boys eventually come to see the beauty that they have made fun of the Leaf Peepers for constantly exclaiming over. Ransome's illustrations perfectly match the story and make this a great selection featuring Fall colors & the appreciation of nature and the seasons. For ages 6 to 8, Fall & nature stories, and readers moving towards chapter books.
January 19, 2018
Rather an odd book, actually. I couldn't quite figure out the target audience. The two main boys seemed very much like sullen middle-schoolers, snarking under their breath while having to help with the family business. Yet it's a picture book - a little young for kids who'd be relating to that attitude. Yes, the boys do eventually see that they live in a very beautiful area. But since they never apologize, it felt to me more like something younger kids (i.e. the picture book age group) would emulate instead of learn from. And do we really need more snarky preteens?
The pictures are gorgeous, though. Very rich fall colors, with some interesting angles and views of the scenery (I loved the upside down picture looking in the water).
Personally, the book made me a little homesick. I grew up mid-Atlantic East coast. Not New England falls, but I still got to experience a lot of really gorgeous falls. It's been about 10 years since I've had a "Fall" to speak of though. The pictures were very richly colored, as I said, and it made me think of fall back home.
The pictures are gorgeous, though. Very rich fall colors, with some interesting angles and views of the scenery (I loved the upside down picture looking in the water).
Personally, the book made me a little homesick. I grew up mid-Atlantic East coast. Not New England falls, but I still got to experience a lot of really gorgeous falls. It's been about 10 years since I've had a "Fall" to speak of though. The pictures were very richly colored, as I said, and it made me think of fall back home.
September 15, 2019
This would be a nice book to read at storytime in preschool. Two brothers in New England help their dad with his Fall tourism business, and finally come to appreciate ( a little!) the beauty that is all around them.
December 30, 2015
I loved the illustrations. Beautiful New England fall scenes. I liked the two mischievous little boys...it was an interesting take on the usual "oh isn't fall so pretty" story.
August 21, 2023
I'd definitely recommend that you reserve reading of this particular book until children are eight or older, because the topic is a certain cynical, worldly wise attitude that the main character (the boys, Jim and Andy) are trying on for size.
Their father's "Fall Color Tours" are a family business. I'd recommend this book not only for older children but especially for kids whose lives are touched by the family biz. Making one's peace with that isn't the most comfortable thing in the world.
SUMMING UP
I'm used to spot-on, spare words in children's books by Eve Bunting, but I believe she's really outdone herself with the writing in this particular book. So I'm shelving "Peepers" under WRITING as well as FICTION. And, of course, my rating here is FIVE STARS.
Also, thanks for the excellent illustrations by James Ransome; they're just realistic enough.
Their father's "Fall Color Tours" are a family business. I'd recommend this book not only for older children but especially for kids whose lives are touched by the family biz. Making one's peace with that isn't the most comfortable thing in the world.
SUMMING UP
I'm used to spot-on, spare words in children's books by Eve Bunting, but I believe she's really outdone herself with the writing in this particular book. So I'm shelving "Peepers" under WRITING as well as FICTION. And, of course, my rating here is FIVE STARS.
Also, thanks for the excellent illustrations by James Ransome; they're just realistic enough.
July 15, 2022
There were parts of this book that made me cringe. Certain behaviors that I’ve seen children/pre-teens have that are unkind and disrespectful. This book showcases some of those behaviors which was not fun to see and at the end the boys only semi saw the error of their ways. So, not a super big fan of that.
June 25, 2020
I really didn't care for the boys' attitudes throughout the book.
September 25, 2011
This is a good book for the New England region, where there is an entire tourist season devoted to the colorful fall foliage. The two boys in the story are a bit irritating and disrespectful throughout the story, but by the end they come to understand the draw for the tourists, even if they never admit it or feel a need to apologize for the rude behavior.
Read
December 21, 2010Eve Bunting's World of Stories - unit 6
Theme Library
Theme Library
February 23, 2016
While helping their dad run Fred's Fall Color Tours in New England, Jim and Andy think the tourists are pretty silly; then one night the boys experience something that makes them change their minds.
May 1, 2020
Tie to a lesson on fall, the New England states, and/or seeing things from a different perspective.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews