This book, Fall Leaves Change Colors, is a step one reader but I learn things about leaves that I did not know. I was surprised at the vocabulary that was used for such young readers. The book is well written and well illustrated with photography. I learn what makes leaves change color.
The book is organized from the beginning of fall to winter. It discusses the process of trees absorbing the carbon dioxide from the air and how leaves have chlorophyll. This chlorophyll helps the leaves take in light from the summer sun. The part of the book that was news to me was that the trees’ roots take up water from the ground and the water moves into the leaves. Then using the light from the sun the green leaves can turn the water and carbon dioxide in to sugar. This sugar moves from the leaves to the different parts of the trees. This sugar is their food. All this time I thought it was water. As I continued to read there were more “aha” moments.
There were many great photographs to show what they were describing. The book also included inserts called, “Take a Closer Look.” This provided the reader a close-up look at what they were talking about at different times. They also provided glossary at the end of the book to help the children or their parents to have a place to double check what words mean.
I was impressed with the amount of information that this early reader shared. The scientific vocabulary was impressive. ( )

In this level one Scholastic Science Reader children learn of the exciting changes which occur during the fall. Breathtaking photography help to bring nature to life while minimal and enlarged text make it perfect for a emerging reader. A particularly neat aspect of this book is that it often sounds out words in parenthesis next to a word which may be challenging for a child, for example Autumn (aw-tuhm). Highly recommend for any kindergarten through 3rd grade classroom. ( )

I really enjoyed reading this book. We are starting to talk about Fall and leaves so I thought it would be appropriate. I love how it talks about the leaves and why they change color. It is very detailed how it happens. My favorite part of the book is when they talk about a change happening, there is a picture that says "take a closer look" and it is a zoomed in photo of the change taking place. It's nice for kids to see this up close.