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Hocus Pocus, It's Fall!

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Leaves on trees
are green and bright
Abracadabra!
What a Sight!
 
Eleven gatefolds open to re-create the excitement and surprise of fall’s arrival, revealing what happens when the leaves turn. Fall is a season of transition: apples are picked, and animals prepare for winter. Summer days are coming to an end, and there's a hint of winter in the air. Hocus Pocus, It’s Fall! celebrates the magic of that in-between time.

24 pages, Hardcover

First published August 16, 2016

1 person is currently reading
195 people want to read

About the author

Anne Sibley O'Brien

69 books48 followers

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5 stars
172 (29%)
4 stars
261 (45%)
3 stars
123 (21%)
2 stars
19 (3%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
Profile Image for Calista.
5,434 reviews31.3k followers
October 30, 2019
The charm of this story is the artwork. It is an impressionistic view of fall. It works smartly. There is a page with a summer scene and then the right side will open up completely and inside is a scene transformed into fall with splotches of color that dazzle the eye. The book is tender and brings up all kinds of emotions for me.

It is a celebration of fall and it brings that energy of color and change into the book beautifully. It is fantastic. I love this book for the artwork. It’s a beginning book so there is a line of text per page with a rhyme.

The nephew loves lift-the-flaps and this was no exception. He had fun with this book and he thought it was fun to read. He gave it 4 stars.
Profile Image for Abigail.
8,036 reviews266 followers
November 15, 2019
With a rhyming text, plenty of magical words - Hocus Pocus, Abracadabra, Higgledy Piggledy, and so on - fold-out pages, and bright, colorful artwork, this autumn picture-book is a pleasure to peruse! Each two page spread here features something - a flock of birds, a pile of fruit - that is revealed in a transformed state - a flying formation, a delicious pie - when the pages are lifted...

Although quite simple, I found that I enjoyed Hocus Pocus, It's Fall! quite a bit. Author Anne Sibley O'Brien doesn't really do anything new with her text, other than to include the aforementioned magical words, in describing the changes one sees in the fall, but the narrative still offers an appealing celebration of the season. The artwork from illustrator Susan Gal is lovely, really capturing the vibrant colors and scenes of autumn. Recommended to anyone looking for more interactive picture-books about the fall.
Profile Image for Jennybeast.
4,361 reviews18 followers
November 16, 2016
Very clever idea -- magic words, then a revealing opening flap -- combines with really lovely images chronicling the transformations as summer gives way to fall and fall slides into winter. The text is solid too, and I love collections of idiosyncratic words, so all the different magical nonsense terms make me happy.
Profile Image for Robin.
1,075 reviews70 followers
September 23, 2018
Love the illustrations - bright, soft, textured -
which are "charcoal on paper and digital collage"

and the "magical" gatefolds -- kids on the dock at the lake turn to kids waiting for the school bus,
green leaves turn to orange and brown,
frisky chipmunks fall asleep

good for toddler storytime
Profile Image for Brittany.
2,662 reviews4 followers
April 18, 2017
Better than the book about Spring, but still the fold out pages are irritating.
Profile Image for Tasha.
4,165 reviews138 followers
September 30, 2016
The second seasonal book by this author and illustrator duo welcomes autumn. A series of hinged pages open to reveal the magic of this season. Right before each gatefold is opened, there is a magical word that punctuates the book, “Open Sesame” and “Shazam!” As each page opens a moment in fall is revealed from the cloud-filled milkweed to changing leaf colors to pumpkins becoming jack-o-lanterns. It is all a dazzling magical show of seasonal change and joy.

O’Brien captures classic autumn moments in this book that all children will relate to. There are apples, pumpkins, and animals preparing for the approaching winter. School buses arrive, cranberries are harvested, and leaves blanket the ground. It is all captured with a smile and a nod, no fear or worry at the changing seasons here, just a pleasure in the wonder of nature around us.

Gal’s illustrations share that same delight in the transformation of fall. She shows parts of autumn that are not mentioned in the text, making it all the more fun to explore the illustrations. Children will enjoy the many small details in the images as well as opening the pages to reveal the magic inside. This is very intelligently designed.

A delightfully warm and magical look at autumn and the pleasures of the season. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
Profile Image for Meredith.
364 reviews43 followers
October 5, 2016
What a splendid Autumn book! I saw this in the book drop as I was checking books in while at work. I might have to pick this up for my nephews whom love colorful books and books that have pages that fold out. When we read together they really enjoy not only listening but "helping" by opening up fun extra pages with folds.

A very colorful book with beautiful illustrations that really capture the spirit of the fall season. The changing of the leaves, he different birds, animals and plate life that comes out to play when the season changes are all included in this book. With great vocabulary that accompanies these gorgeous fall scenes, there will be great delight in reading this with the little ones and explaining the autumn season and it's changes.
Profile Image for Christine Turner.
3,560 reviews51 followers
Read
November 30, 2016
Leaves on trees
are green and bright
Abracadabra!
What a Sight!

Eleven gatefolds open to re-create the excitement and surprise of fall's arrival, revealing what happens when the leaves turn. Fall is a season of transition: apples are picked, and animals prepare for winter. Summer days are coming to an end, and there's a hint of winter in the air. Hocus Pocus, It's Fall! celebrates the magic of that in-between time.

Great storytime book.

I like the illustrations, but I would have liked them better if they were just slightly brighter. The colors blend together, which makes it difficult for children to see the details in a storytime setting.
Profile Image for Roben .
3,083 reviews18 followers
August 28, 2016
A book to help celebrate the arrival of fall! Beautiful illustrations and I love the different words that are used to denote the changes from summer to fall - Abracadabra, Higgledy Piggledy, etc. While the fold out pages are always challenging for libraries, this is a lovely book that could be used to show the changes fall brings - especially in the Northern parts of the USA. One picture, for example, shows cranberry bogs. We don't have those in Texas - but it could spark some interesting discussions.
Profile Image for Kerrikoala.
479 reviews
November 19, 2016
I'm glad I got this (library book) when it was new, because I can just imagine what kind of shape the flap pages are going to be in later.

This wasn't what I was expecting, based on the cover. (Yes, I know--don't judge a book by it's cover.) I thought this was going to be about a chipmunk named Hocus Pocus. Instead, it was a rhyming book about fall that used various magic words. But it was cute, and there were chipmunks and squirrels in it, so I wasn't completely disappointed. The colors used for the illustrations were really nice, too.
Profile Image for Amanda.
1,242 reviews20 followers
October 14, 2018
3.5 With such a fun, magical theme, this book is sure to get kids into the fall spirit. The simple, rhyming sentences leave the beautiful, full-page illustrations to play the leading role. Readers will love examining the fold-out pages throughout the book that demonstrate the fall season in action. The warm colors and dynamic movement of the animals and kids in the book will have readers wanting to go outside and explore!
Profile Image for Katie Lawrence.
1,832 reviews43 followers
August 17, 2016
Susan Gall's illustrations really are magnificent. The format of these books make them challenging in a library setting, but as a gift they really are a lovely introduction to different seasons. I have used Abracadabra It's Spring as a read aloud with kids and they loved saying the different magic words and seeing how the pictures transformed.
Profile Image for Katie.
518 reviews12 followers
December 23, 2016
Just beautiful, with poetic text. the pages read a description, then one side opens to further the illustrations and add to the description. The story is all about the changes of fall, and how it seems magical. Children will love studying the illustrations, seeing the details and the overall pictures, as well as the fun phrases included in the text. A definite seasonal read!
Profile Image for Amanda.
3,883 reviews43 followers
August 30, 2016
Think this would be great for our Storytelling Collection. Love how the bi-folds (not sure if that is the proper term) enriched the story, but the story wasn't absolutely dependent on them. Stunning art and the warm collage style works perfectly to enhance the telling. Terrific book.
Profile Image for Jenn Swanson.
1,280 reviews8 followers
September 15, 2016
This book is extremely simple. Perfect for a quick storytime. It is the illustrations that are the best thing about this book though. They are vibrant and colorful and overall eye-catching. Would recommend.
Profile Image for Alexandria.
864 reviews19 followers
May 14, 2017
This book is an adorable read exploring the beauty and fun of autumn. It uses fun "magic phrases" and flip-out pages to give a sense of surprise to the story that will keep young readers interested and is beautifully illustrated in a way that will keep older readers' attention too!
Profile Image for Jana.
2,601 reviews47 followers
September 27, 2017
With beautiful illustrations rendered in charcoal and digital collage and fun rhyming text on folded over pages, this book is a wonderful celebration of the fall season for young readers. This book would be a terrific addition to a seasonal collection for primary age children.
Profile Image for Katie.
1,287 reviews11 followers
September 24, 2018
Beautiful illustrations!
Despite the simple language, this book wouldn't be great for toddlers because of the abstract art.
712 reviews11 followers
November 20, 2018
This series is very sweet. Love the illustrations. I read this to a preschool, and had the kids shout out the magic word, and then I opened the flap. They loved it!
Profile Image for Peacegal.
11.7k reviews102 followers
October 2, 2019
Delightful illustrations capture the fun and mood of the fall season.
Profile Image for Earl.
4,109 reviews42 followers
August 16, 2016
Lift the flaps reveal spring surprises in this vibrantly illustrated book. I like it even more than Abracadabra, It's Spring! but then again fall is my favorite season.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews

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