Humpty's Great Fall

by Amy Moore, Josh Cleland (illustrator)

Humpty is ready for a great fall!

One crisp autumn day, Humpty Dumpty is relaxing on his wall, when he realizes he’s forgotten to do something. But what could it be? As he makes his way around the neighborhood, Humpty finds his friends all enjoying the beautiful fall weather—and he starts to get some clues. Can Humpty figure out what he’s missing…before he falls off the wall? Join Humpty and his nursery rhyme pals as they discover the joys of the fall season.

Genres: Picture Books, Autumn, Childrens, Humor, Nursery Rhymes, Storytime, Ebooks

40 pages, Hardcover

Published August 5, 2025

Reviews

[Matal “The Mischling Princess” Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of fairy tale retellings, but most of them are for YA or adult readers as novels. This creative retelling, “Humpty's Great Fall,” however, is geared specifically for children in a picture book. And kids are going to love it!

Written by Amy Moore, this book offers young children (and adults!) an unexpected twist to the famous Humpty Dumpty tale. Using a play on words and incorporating a myriad of other fairy tale heroes and heroines (e.g., Bo Peep, Little Miss Muffet, and etc.), this picture book steadily builds children’s anticipation using the critically placed repeat sentences:

“…Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great…”

Children know the story, but they will be delighted at how a somewhat sad, lonesome tale turns into joy and friendship, with this book ensuring (with the help of the above sentences) that kids **almost** guessed it right. Humpty’s Dumpty really did have a great fall—just not the “fall” that they’ll expect!

This picture book was illustrated by Josh Cleland, who did a superb job. I especially like his vivid use of color throughout the book. Kids (and adults!) are going to love this book. Moore deserves an A+++ for her vivid imagination.

I received an ARC of “Humpty's Great Fall,” by Amy Moore from NetGalley and Two Lions in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Humpty's Great Fall" by Amy Moore is a brilliant and heartwarming retelling that takes the classic nursery rhyme we all know and love and gives it a fresh, captivating twist. Moore's storytelling is engaging, rich with emotion, and filled with a perfect balance of humor and heart. She reimagines Humpty Dumpty's fall with depth, transforming it into a powerful story of resilience, hope and recovery. It's an incredibly creative interpretation that resonates with both young readers and adults alike.

What truly elevates this book is the vibrant and breathtaking illustrations by Josh Cleland. His art perfectly complements Moore's storytelling, with bold colors and dynamic designs that bring each page to life. Cleland's illustrations are a visual feast, adding layers of emotion and energy to every scene, making this book a true joy to experience. His ability to convey the mood of the story through his art is truly exceptional and adds a magical dimension to this reimagined tale.

Together, Moore and Cleland have created something special. It is not just a retelling, but an enriching, beautifully crafted journey of redemption and second chances. A must-have for any children's bookshelf!

My NetGalley review

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

This is a great book combining the themes of autumn and nursery rhymes. The book shows not only the character of Humpty Dumpty but also others like little Miss Muffet and the spider. I love the illustrations so much.

Would definitely recommend this book to educators and parents!

[Taleah Ushendibaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all of the colors in this book and the cool spin on the humpty dumpty nursing rhyme. I also liked that it brought in other nursing rhyme characters. Thank you netgalley and two lions for a copy of this story for my honest review.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

Adorable with a great sense of humor.

Humpty Dumpty tries to rest on the wall, but he keeps thinking of things he must do to prepare for autumn. Join him as he bakes apples treats, sips cider, rakes leaves, and enjoys the season with his friends.

An excellent story. This was so much fun to read. Very well written with great suspense between pages. It was also really fun to see other nursery rhyme characters like Little Miss Muffet, the cat and her fiddle, and Jack and Jill.

Sweet illustrations. I loved the energy and humor of them.

Fun, engaging, and humorous. A perfect read aloud to celebrate the autumn season.

[haya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really cute and I loved how it incorporated all the little nursery rhymes into the story as well! It definitely made me miss the autumn season and I think it is the perfect children’s story to keep them guessing on what may come next in the story. It’s engaging and fun and most important of all it’s silly which makes it perfect reading material for children to enjoy!

[Talicia Ajruloski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me **giggle**. Humpty Dumpty reminds me of....well, me. Humpty Dumpty might have ADHD. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall!! Beautifully illustrated, with lots of fall colors, and characters set the tone of cozy autumn day. It's fast paced, and fun.

[Shireen Hakim · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all can relate to Humpty in this picture book, getting distracted from what we're supposed to do. Humpty Dumpty is sitting on a wall, and then he has adventures with his other famous nursery rhyme friends like the Cat and the fiddle. He does end up having a great fall- autumn that is. This book is hilarious, clever and sure to be a classic kid's book.
It's also a lovely ode to the viral meme.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a digital review copy. I plan to buy a copy when it's published.

[Hallpassreader Carrie Prock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. I loved that each new section started with the Humpty Dumpty rhyme but then changed what happened after. I appreciated that after each time it restarted Humpty’s rhyme the picture changed and had the fall items in it. I feel like that made the whole book one story. The one critique I would have is that each time it restarts Humpty rhyme I feel like the next thing that is different than the regular rhyme should’ve connected somehow instead of being completely a restarted sentence.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Humpty's Great Fall by Amy Moore

I recently recently had the pleasure of reviewing Humpty's Great Fall by Amy Moore, and it was a really delightful read. The story follows Humpty Dumpty one crisp autumn day as he lounges on his wall, only to suddenly realize he’s forgotten something important. As he wanders through his neighborhood, he encounters various friends from nursery rhymes, all soaking up the lovely fall weather. Through these encounters, Humpty starts piecing together what he might have overlooked — all before the potential of taking a tumble off his wall!

What really caught my eye first was the book’s cover — it’s absolutely charming and perfectly captures the cozy, colorful essence of fall. Inside, the illustrations continue to impress with their warm, inviting style that really complements the simple and sweet storyline. As someone who adores autumn, I found this book to be a perfect little celebration of the season. It’s straightforward but heartwarming, making it an ideal addition to any child’s seasonal library or a classroom collection.

Overall, Humpty's Great Fall earns four stars from me. It’s a delightful read that combines nostalgia with the joys of fall in a way that young readers will easily enjoy. If you’re looking for a gentle, charming story to share during autumn, this one definitely fits the bill!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Joey-Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Two Lions and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

An absolutely wonderful play on words, a change of the nursery story that we all grew up reading and singing. This was so much fun to read and constantly seeing his fall was the season, I enjoyed it so very much.

I loved the inclusion of so many other nursery characters throughout this story, I loved seeing the illustrations of each one, plus seeing what was happening within the story on each page. The illustrations really added so much extra to what we were reading.

I loved how much Humpty was enjoying his fall and as he saw his friends, it made him remember to do the same, from getting food, to sweeping up leaves, to getting cozy and warm. I really enjoyed it all, whist knowing what he was supposed to do, he didn’t and it made it very funny to read.

This is a great book for children, they’ll have so much fun reading it with you, they’ll be giggling, especially if they know the nursery story, it a great fall read and will entertain for a long time. A very funny well written story with some funny egg jokes within also.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humpty's Great Fall is a great alternative to his usual fall which delight children and bring a nostalgic filled experience to any adult.

Humpty's Great Fall is about Humpty who keeps remembering all the things he has forgotten, like warm clothes or how hungry his is. This leads him on several adventures to solve his problem where he finds other nursery rhyme characters along the way. The story is repetitive, which will allow for children to engage in active reading. The story will become familiar very quickly, which will help the child to guess the next part of the story.

The illustrations are really pretty. They're draw in a more traditional way and is a nice break from more recently used AI images for children's books. The pictures feel like they have texture and warmth, and each page looks like it could be a image to hang on the wall.

The story also features a few words and sentences in red font, which would be an excellent way for early readers to engage with the book.

[Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like how the creators of this book decided to breathe new life into a classic lullaby! I also enjoyed how the author added a lot of surprise and excitement to this story. They really keep the reader guessing from beginning to end. One notable way the author did this was with a clear pattern. Every activity was set up the same, and it allowed readers to catch on a little bit, but still be engaged and caught off guard (in a good way). The author also made Humpty's story genuinely fun and joyful, rather than sad and hopeless like the original story. Lastly, I want to give credit where credit is due to the illustrator. The drawings showed a lot of life and emotion, mainly through color. The illustrator did a spectacular job of taking autumn's color palette and allowing it to shine through on every page. This keeps the pictures on-brand with the writing/idea, which is awesome.
Bravo!

[coala · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fun Fall Adventure with a Fresh Twist on Humpty Dumpty

In Humpty's Great Fall, Amy Moore reimagines the classic nursery rhyme character in a delightful autumn adventure. Humpty Dumpty is relaxing on his wall when he realizes he's forgotten something important, sparking a journey through his neighborhood to figure it out. With vibrant illustrations by Josh Cleland, the book brings a fresh twist to the traditional story, highlighting themes of curiosity, friendship, and the joys of fall. The charming narrative and lively artwork make this a perfect read for children ages 4-8, while the playful storyline will appeal to both young readers and adults alike. Moore’s clever take on Humpty's tale adds a new layer of fun and warmth to a beloved character, making it an enjoyable seasonal read for families.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new twist is added to the famous nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty in Amy Moore's Humpty's Great Fall. Including characters from fairy tales such as Bo Peep, Little Miss Muffet, The Cat and the Fiddle, and Jack and Jill in a play on words. As children read the book, they will hear and see the all-too-familiar words,

“…Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great…”



It's beautifully illustrated, with lots of autumn colors, and the characters set the mood for a cozy autumn day. Colorful and captivating, Cleland's illustrations capture the reader's attention. Both the words and the pictures will keep children entertained as they follow Humpty's day. In addition to sitting on a wall, Humpty Dumpty has many adventures with his fairy tale friends.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review will be live on my blog - donnasbookblog on 5 August 2025 - publication day!

I thought that Humpty's Great Fall was a fun read with a great twist on the normal story!

It was well written, held my daughter's attention throughout and she liked guessing what was coming next. The story was easy to follow and understand, and it was an enjoyable read.

I thought that the illustrations were cute and worked well with the story and it was a nice touch to see so many other characters from well loved nursery rhymes in the book too.

It is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon - highly recommended!

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorably clever take on our favorite tumbling egg! Humpty Dumpty keeps forgetting all of the important autumn tasks he has to do, like switching out his wardrobe for cooler weather and picking apples. When he rests after each task, he goes back to relax on the top of the wall — but does he ever fall like we expect?

Along with his fabled friends, Humpty Dumpty brings the magic of fall to life. The illustrations are wonderful, with hilarious expressions that made me laugh out loud (and really want a slice of apple pie!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelly Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humpty's Great Fall, written by Amy Moore and illustrated by Josh Cleland is a delightful book based on the well-loved children's poem.
Moore provides multiple cliff hangers as Humpty jumps off the wall to take part in a variety of fall activities, such as raking leaves, picking apples, and baking. Moore's prose is brilliantly accompanied by Cleland's bright and heartwarming illustrations. Keep an eye out for what the bluebird is up to; he is delightful throughout the book, as are other popular characters from children's literature.
The ending is sweet, and as the title suggests, Humpty eventually has a 'great fall'.
This is the ideal book for families to read together, perhaps by a fire, with a warm drink and some apple pie.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #HumptysGreatFall.

[Amanda O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story book was very cute!! I loved the twist to the classic Humpty Dumpty tale, and that other figures from classic fairytales are featured too. It takes us on a journey with Humpty as he takes part in his favorite fall activities, ultimately ending his perfect fall day with his friends.

The illustrations are very well designed and the style made the story even more cozy and cute. I also loved Humpty’s bird side kick during every scene. I throughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to parents and children who want to get into the cozy fall mood! :)

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun letter of praise to autumn, starring an eggy Humpty Dumpty who just won't get his mind round to falling off a wall, and so makes friends, harvests apples, bakes treats for a party, and so on instead. Good job he also stooks up all the leaves that had fallen from the trees, just in case he does actually manage to have a sudden moment of rapid descent. It's silly, it's pretty well done, visually, and it nicely borrows characters from kindergarten rhymes and stories – it's perfectly inoffensive stuff. Unless you're British, of course, when witnessing Humpty rolling around the streets with a jug of cider in his hand will give entirely a different impression...

[Jessie (Saffity) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adorable book knows how to keep the kids hanging. Starting the first two lines of the well known nursery rhyme, but then changing to finish a task not yet completed. My daughter (5) started to ask if he was really going to fall this time. She enjoyed seeing fall things that are starting to become family traditions. Her brother (2) was interested in the pictures and listened for a bit, but he wanted to turn the pages faster than I could read. This is a fun twist on the nursery rhyme that is great for getting in the mood for fall and all the fun things that season has to offer. We read this e-book through NetGalley.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun retelling of the Humpty Dumpty tale. As an adult, and especially as a parent, I’ve noticed that a lot of nursery rhymes are dark, including the traditional Humpty Dumpty rhyme. Like, he had a great fall and no one could put him back together again ?! How said and crushing, pun intended.

This children’s book is light-hearted and witty and a great way to share the rhyme with a happy ending. It’s entertaining for parents who get the wordplay and change.

When they ask for the real version, you may have to walk on eggshells and say Humpty didn’t enjoy his fall.

My thanks to Goodreads and Amazon Publishing for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[starlightandcobwebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this rendition of the classic children’s nursery tale Humpty Dumpty. It was so much fun seeing it told in a different way than the original. Seeing Humpty experience the season of Fall throughout the story instead of falling off the wall was so clever and cute. The rhyming was fun and the illustrations were beautifully done. I hope this author does more classic nursery tales with a twist as I would buy them in a heartbeat for my kids. Thank you to @netgalley and @twolions for the arc.

[M J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humpty’s Great Fall is the perfect book to get you and your kids in the mood to have a great fall… er, autumn! There are so many fun fall activities packed into this story and fun character friends to enjoy them with. The illustrations are perfect, the style and the colors make you feel like you are smelling the crisp fall air and having that cozy feeling that only fall can bring. This is a picture book to enjoy at the start of fall year after year as your family makes their autumn bucket list!

#humptysgreatfall #netgalley

[Kaitlyn Bieszk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely cute spin off book about Humpty Dumpty and everything he does in Fall. This would be a great book to read to students or children at the start of Fall to show them all the of the things you can do. The story even brings in other fairy tale characters such as Bo-Peep and Miss Muffet. The illustrations are very eye catching and bring the story to life. I will be purchasing a hard copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Two Lions for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ollie Skyba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bright and cheerful book, though a bit overwhelming for young readers with its abundance of details and plot twists. The illustrations are lively, but the storytelling might feel a bit too packed for the intended age group.
However, I absolutely loved the clever wordplay—did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall as in a big tumble, or was it actually a wonderful autumn season? A fun twist on a classic tale!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Valerie Benitez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! Absolutely adorable! The illustrations were done so well. This story of Humpty Dumpty is about all the things he has to do before his fall. It’s very entertaining and short. It’s for all kids learning to read a bit more. I loved how this story had other nursery rhyme characters. It is even funny that every time the nursery rhyme begins, it is interrupted by something important Humpty has to do first.

Kids will absolutely love this especially for fall!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

[Lizette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommend-O-Meter: Yes!

The moment I saw this title I screeched. I am OBSESSED with the punniness of it all! And I think the story lived up to it. We get to see many classic fall activities with the help of Humpty himself, plus a lovely cast of other nursery rhyme characters. The art was great, too! I loved seeing the little details, especially in the other characters’ outfits.

Overall, a fun little story that uses familiar characters to introduce kids to fall!

[I received an ARC of this book from the publisher on NetGalley. This does not in any way affect the contents of my review.]

[Reading Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are a fall loving family and everything fall grabs at our hearts. This was a super fun twist on a classic rhyme. We get to follow Humpty through his neighborhood. He is trying to figure out what he has forgotten. Humpty sees his friends having fun with Fall. They are baking, gathering apples and enjoying fun in the leaves. Will Humpty join in the fun and remember what he has forgotten? Vibrant illustrations had to this adorable story. Perfect for sharing with your fall family. Enjoy this fall adventure together!

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun twist on the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme. We meet some of his friends including Cat, Bo-Peep and her sheep, Mouse, Miss Muffet, Jack and Jill. After adventures, the story ends with a big party for everyone, including all manner of treats: pies, muffins, hot chocolate, and donuts. Would be fun to share in a library program or classroom, followed by a Fall Festival party or welcoming winter celebration.

Themes: fall, nursery rhymes, humor, friendship
Ages: K-3rd grade (shorten for younger crowds)
Pub year: 2025