When Fall Comes: Connecting with Nature as the Days Grow Shorter

by Aimée M. Bissonette, Erin Hourigan (Illustrator)

From the author and illustrator of When Winter Comes —which received a Publisher’s Weekly starred review—this beautifully illustrated, poetic children’s picture book celebrates the joy of families being out in nature in the fall season, and discovering wildlife busily preparing for the winter months ahead.

Next up in the When Seasons Come series, this gorgeous picture book captures the joy of a family enjoying the outdoors in fall as they explore a broad range of ecosystems, filled with diverse animal habitats, after the summer crowds have left the trails.  In this season, as the wildlife they discover along the way adapts and gets ready for the winter months ahead, the family also busily prepares for the seasonal change.

In autumn, as the air grows crisper and the days grow shorter, the family forages for mushrooms in the woods as chipmunks stash seeds in underground burrows, and red squirrels gather pinecones. As badgers dig new dens and bears look for the perfect spot to sleep away the winter, the family prepares their home for winter.

There is so much to discover and so much to do, as silver-red salmon fight their way up rushing streams, returning to places they were born, and mud flats fill with feeding shorebirds migrating for the winter, and aspen leaves change from green to gold.

This beautifully illustrated book will inspire families to get out and explore during the autumnal season. When Fall Comes is part of the When Seasons Come series that includes When Summer Comes and When Winter Comes board and picture books.

Genres: Nature, Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Animals, Science, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 29, 2023

About the author

Aimée Bissonette was born the sixth of seven children. She grew up with her suitcase never fully unpacked - her family moved many times and she attended 8 different schools before graduating from high school. Aimée earned her Bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and her Law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School. She has worked as an occupational therapist, teacher, lawyer, and small business owner. In addition to her books for children, Aimée has published a book for K-12 teachers and administrators on the legal issues associated with technology in the schools. She lives with her husband, family, and dogs in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Star Gater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published: 09/05/23

Thank you NetGalley and Sasquatch Books, Little Bigfoot for accepting my request to read and review When Fall Comes.

Hit! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and want a coffee table version. I love how the author pointed out people and animals work getting ready for each season. I was humbly reminded there is more to fall than pumpkin festivals, sweaters, and cozy socks.

The illustrations were muted but the palette is spot on for the season.

It's beautiful and a reminder with season changes comes clean ups and migrations.

Absolutely would gift this.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Fall Comes: Connecting with Nature as the Days Grow Shorter is part of a series about the season with Winter and Summer. This is a story that shares the changes and preparations that are made as the days grow shorter, by many animals including humans. The family in the book are outside going for a walk and noticing all the changes. The family is foraging for mushrooms in the woods, the birds change on the mudflats, silver-red salmon fight their way up rushing streams, returning to their birthplaces, they see chipmunks stash seeds in underground burrows, badgers dig new dens and bears search for the perfect spot to hibernate. All of these changes are highlighted by the beautiful illustrations by Erin Hourigan. They are detailed and the muted colours are perfect for this season. This is a wonderful book to teach children about how animals change and adapt to the seasons. After reading this book, we went outside to look around at what changes we could see. The kids pointed out the trees and flowers that were changing colours and dying off until the spring. This is a great book for primary classrooms learning about the seasons.

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing adventurous book with lot to enjoy about autumn while knowing the fact that it is same in our humans and animals both to do so.
Here is one family which is on outing and experiencing the scenic aura of autumn while understanding how not just themselves but even animals and not wrong to say that all part of nature that it gives life prepares for season to live in and the one further to come.

Season is the most amazing thing that nature prepare for us all to live with, and change is the only consistent thing in this world. There depicted very well for how a small squirrel prepares for winter while working hard in autumn. Same way we humans also prepares for winter but that is more dominantly in the areas where winter comes harsh.

Illustrations were too good.to savour.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, When Fall Comes, by Aimee M. Bissonette, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is about what people and animals do to get ready for fall. Foraging for food and looking for shelter. I enjoyed this sweet book and love the illustrations.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful words covering a variety of animals and beautiful illustrations.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

When Fall Comes: Connecting with Nature as the Days Grow Shorter by Aimée M. Bissonette and Erin Hourigan is a gorgeous picture book that captures the joy of a family enjoying the outdoors in fall. The book takes us on a journey through various ecosystems, showcasing diverse animal habitats that come alive after the summer crowds have left the trails. As the wildlife adapts and prepares for the winter months ahead, the family also busily gets ready for the seasonal change.

In this delightful book, the air grows crisper and the days grow shorter, signaling the arrival of autumn. The family embarks on adventures such as foraging for mushrooms in the woods, while chipmunks stash seeds in underground burrows and red squirrels gather pinecones. Badgers dig new dens and bears search for the perfect spot to hibernate, mirroring the family’s preparations for winter in their own home.

Amidst this backdrop, readers are introduced to the wonders of nature during fall. Silver-red salmon fight their way up rushing streams, returning to their birthplaces, while mud flats fill with feeding shorebirds migrating for the winter. The vibrant illustrations perfectly depict the changing colors of aspen leaves, from green to gold.

When Fall Comes not only celebrates the beauty of autumn but also inspires families to explore and connect with nature during this season. It is a part of the When Seasons Come series, which includes When Summer Comes and When Winter Comes board and picture books.

In my opinion, this book was a sweet little gem. It explores themes of foraging for food, animals seeking shelter, and preparing for the Fall/Winter season. The illustrations are soft and beautifully depict the colors of fall. I believe it would make a great addition to any young person’s first library.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I've seen no sign of Spring yet, but I think I can safely say this will be a wonderful set when the whole year-long parade of seasons is complete. Fall/autumn brings changes in the entire world, we're told, as colours change in the trees and for the deer, rabbit and so on. We gather firewood, batten down the hatches and get ready for darker nights and shorter days, and the animals turn to thoughts of hibernation or migration, if necessary. All of nature seeks a thicker coat. I don't know that the text fully convinced me here that we're just like the critters around us in the wonderful place of this series, because for all the protesting about us chopping wood, gathering driftwood and so on, we're still gallivanting off on marches through the trees, sitting on the breezy beach, and so on. But for portraying the inevitable change of the seasons, this is wonderful, leaving young readers resting most assured that nature knows what it's doing and that all the animals will be around for us to see again once more. It is the place these books take place in that remains the wonder – the art doing humans, especially faces, slightly too cartoonishly in contrast to the brilliantly presented landscape and wildlife dioramas. For a wonderful look at a wonderful corner of the world, these are very pleasant pages indeed – a strong four stars once more.

[Rachel Kokes · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Fall Comes: Connecting with Nature as the Days Grow Shorter is a children’s picture book written by Aimee M. Bissonette, and illustrated by Erin Hourigan.

Summary: This book shows the ways people and animals get ready for fall.

My Thoughts: I liked this book. The warm and beautiful illustrations really set the scene for fall, and I like how the book encourages exploration of all the things fall has to offer.

It’s an inviting story, and would be especially good to read to small children as the seasons change to prepare them for what’s to come, and spark their imaginations.

I don’t know that I would buy it as it is pretty specific to a time of year, but overall I enjoyed it and could see myself checking it out from the library each fall.

I would like to thank Sasquatch Books for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learn how the animals and a family are getting ready for the cooler season of autumn in the mountains. Simply and beautifully done.
The illustrations by Erin Hourigan are delightful, fun, imaginative, colorful, and the animals are so very well done.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or teacher or your public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Sasquatch Books/Little Bigfoot via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Alanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely picture book showing how a family readies their home in fall, and how the animals around us do the same. It also shows some of the outdoor activities the family does during this time, and how they engage with nature during this changing season. I really enjoyed both the story and the illustrations. They provide opportunities for questions and the illustrations are detailed enough children will have lots to look at and discover.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

[Librarian Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got me excited for the fall! I have not read the Winter and Summer titles in this series, but now I am going to. The illustrations are lovely, full page colorful spreads showing gorgeous landscapes and an intergenerational family doing their favorite outdoor fall activities. A lot of the text and illustration shows animals making their seasonal migrations or preparing for the winter to come. I would read this for storytime as the season changes and it would be a great addition to a bookshelf at home as well!

#WhenFallComes #NetGalley

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When fall comes, there are a lot of things that the people need to do, as well as things that busy animals need to do too. Foraging for food, getting homes ready, and changing coats for the colder weather ahead. Fall is a getting ready time.

I loved that this family seemed to live next to a forest, and are very outdoorsy. Add this to your collection if you have the Winter and Summer versions.

[Megan Bey · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Fall Comes, is a beautiful illustrated book that details changes that happen in the fall. The illustrations really paint the picture with details as you learn about how the animals prepare for fall. Great educational book about the season change.

Thank you, Netgalley and Sasquatch Books, for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lexi Rachelle Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated book teaching kids about all the fall changes. I loved how many different animals it talked about and what they do to prepare for the coming winter. My son really enjoyed this book and spent a good amount of time looking at the pictures.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC to review.

[Alison Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Sasquatch books for this eARC!

Well, now I need this whole series. This is such a beautiful read, with so many connections between human behavior and animal behavior in the natural world during the fall season. The author gives us many specific ways that animals behave in fall, and I know that this will spark my kiddos’ curiosity and lead to more fun and research. Love it!

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quiet, gentle book about observing all the wonders of this busy season. There is much to do to prepare for the long winter, and we can learn a lot by watching the animals. A lovely book that encourages the reader to venture outdoors.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sasquatch Books for sharing.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief summary: Young readers will read how humans, wildlife, and nature prepare in the fall for the winter months ahead. Some will harvest and stock up on food, others will build places to sleep, while others will migrate to warmer weather.

Comments: This season series would be an excellent choice to have in any library. I'm looking forward to seeing When Spring Comes.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations of a multi-generational family enjoying nature together during the autumn. I'm not sure, but it feels very Pacific Northwest to me, and I loved that it included the ocean/beach as part of the exploration as I so often think of autumn as woodsy but, of course, it happens at the beach, too.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favorite picture book about my favorite season. This beautifully illustrated, peaceful book invites readers to take a deep breath and snuggle into a comfy couch, to walk in the woods, and to live harmoniously with the creatures around us.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuation of a series for children that prompts them to consider what changes as the seasons change. What is different for people and what is different for animals? The illustrations are autumnal and inviting and the text is easy to read aloud or together. A great season book.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple book about how people and animals prepare for winter. This one seems to be an easy non-fiction disguised as a story book.

Not recommended for storytime as it would be quite boring as a read aloud. Better used as an instructional book about autumn.

[Sachi Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book illustrating the changes that occur in the fall. Lovely illustrations. Excellent resource for families and educators.

[Steph]

Turn/Level: 1/3

Fall

Nice overview of how both animals and humans need to get ready for winter, so they do things in fall.

[Kerrific Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful images in this story about everything fall. Perfect for those wanting to learn more about how wildlife and homesteaders prepare for winter.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

the illustrations make me think of a lot of books I read as a kid, but the last sentence loses some rhythm

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way fall in nature is shown!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated. Gentle descriptions of autumn in nature.
No significant plot.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short board book with lovely picture…great for the new season!