One of the nonfiction books we selected at the library this week is Chris Arvetis’s Why Do Leaves Change Color, a Just Ask book and Weekly Reader selection. The book is a cute story about some animals noticing the changing of the season, and figuring out why the leaves change color. Though most of the animals—such as the mouse and the worm—do not know why the leaves change color, the wise squirrel, who lives in the trees, seems to understand, and he or she takes time to explain to the rest of the animals.

Admittedly, some of the book is a bit boring; a description of photosynthesis, for example, might lose some readers (as it did my daughter). But most of it is fairly engaging and interesting. Most kids are very interested in the changing of the season and why leaves change color, and the book can definitely answer some questions kids have. The woodland animal characters also help bring the story to life, and what child doesn’t love an animal story? Overall it’s an enjoyable and helpful story, though I wouldn’t use it alone when kids ask about changing seasons.

The animals color pictures in the book, which presents a great opportunity to color leaves with children—either with rubbings or by coloring paper leaves in stages. Using oil pastels is particularly pretty for a project like this, as are watercolor paints.

Here are a few other leaf projects you can do with children:

Collect leaves and make a leaf collage by gluing them on paper. Let kids explore the leaves’ texture; identify them together with the help of a book or the computer if you like.

String the leaves together on some yarn and make a garland or a necklace. We put these around our pumpkins for a fun decorative touch.

Make piles of leaves to jump in, of course! Fall isn’t fall without one of these piles for jumping.

Teach kids how to rake. Use a toddler rake if necessary.

Trace leaves on paper and make your own. Use oil pastels on newspaper for a particularly striking look. Make leaf people. Use sticks for bodies and leaves for clothing and hair, or arrange the leaves on paper in different designs for a piece of abstract art.

Draw the changing colors of the leaves on the sidewalk with various colors of chalk, from green to brown.