Is this a Halloween book or just a Fall book?

It's a general Fall book. While it features 'candy corn cars,' it focuses more on the season—acorns, apples, and autumn colors—than on Halloween specifically.

How many pages are in the book?

It is a standard 26-page board book, with one letter per page, making it a quick 5-minute read.

Are the pages thin or thick?

These are thick, sturdy board book pages designed to withstand toddlers who haven't quite mastered 'gentle hands' yet.

Does it have a rhyming scheme?

No, it is a straightforward alphabet book using descriptive sentences for each letter rather than a rhyming poem.

The ABCs of Fall – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The ABCs of Fall

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2024Juvenile Fiction

90%

WISE Score

Whimsical cats in candy corn cars and bears in blue coats make this more than just another 'A is for Apple' seasonal board book.

The ABCs of Fall

book

2024, Juvenile Fiction

90%

WISE Score

Whimsical cats in candy corn cars and bears in blue coats make this more than just another 'A is for Apple' seasonal board book.

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Where to Read

Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased. Screenwise is a Bookshop.org affiliate and an Amazon Associate, so if you buy a book through one of our links, we may earn a commission. Bookshop.org purchases also support independent bookstores.

Screenwise Verdict

Jill Howarth brings a specific, charming vibe to the board book world that makes The ABCs of Fall a cut above the bargain-bin seasonal stuff. It’s exactly what you want for a cozy October ritual: sturdy, sweet, and just weird enough to keep you from losing your mind on the tenth re-read.

While many ABC books feel like a chore, the 'cats in candy corn cars' energy here actually rewards the parent who has to read it every night before bed. It’s a high-quality addition to a seasonal book rotation that helps build vocabulary without feeling like a flashcard session.

Age Fit

Perfect for the 0-4 age bracket. It's simple enough for a baby to look at but has enough whimsical detail to keep a preschooler engaged during a seasonal read-aloud.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It’s a cozy, gentle exploration of autumn themes with zero snark or chaos. The tone is perfectly calibrated for the toddler and preschool set.

Imaginative

Jill Howarth moves beyond standard 'A is for Apple' tropes with more creative pairings like cats driving candy corn cars, which sparks more curiosity than a literalist board book.

Safe

100

Standard board book construction with entirely age-appropriate, G-rated content. No hidden scares or mature themes.

Enriching

Excellent for building the 'language comprehension' strand of the Reading Rope through seasonal vocabulary and visual literacy practice.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Retro-modern art style by Jill Howarth that looks like a high-end boutique card rather than generic clip art.
Seasonal vocabulary that goes deeper than the basics, introducing words like acorns and autumnal animal behaviors.
Sturdy board construction that survives the 'everything in the mouth' phase of early literacy.
Visual search potential with enough detail on each page to keep a three-year-old hunting for ants or hidden details.

Conversation Starters

"Which animal's outfit would you want to wear on a cold day?"
"Can you find all the ants hiding on the apple page?"
"What things in this book have we seen outside in our yard this week?"
"If you could drive a candy corn car, where would you go?"

Deep Dive

Beyond the Alphabet

When we talk about the Reading Rope, we often get stuck on decoding—the 'A says ah' part of the process. But The ABCs of Fall is a great example of building the other half: language comprehension. By pairing letters with specific seasonal imagery (like those bears in boots), you're helping a kid build background knowledge about the world.

Jill Howarth's illustration style is the real draw here. It has a mid-century modern flair that feels timeless but fresh. It’s the kind of book that looks as good on a nursery shelf as it does in a kid's hands.

Why Whimsy Matters

Most board books are boring because they are too literal. A is for Apple. B is for Ball. By the time a kid is three, they've seen that a thousand times. Adding elements of play—like animals wearing human clothes or driving vegetable-shaped cars—actually engages a kid's imagination more effectively. It forces them to look closer and ask questions, which is exactly the kind of 'active' reading we want to see even at the board book stage.

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