Fall Is for Beginnings : A Picture Book

Fall Is for Beginnings is another excellent picture book about young Ravi, who first appeared as the narrator of Newbery Honoree Rajani LaRocca’s Summer Is for Cousins. While this follow-up checks all of the boxes for a lively back-to-school book, addressing the fun and fears that children navigate in autumn, it is also a relatable story about navigating friendship that can be useful all year long. On the first day of school, Ravi excitedly greets his best friend Joe, but is a bit flummoxed when a new girl, Ellie, plops beside him and announces, “I just know we’re going to be best friends.” Rajani LaRocca’s art conveys the tremendous energy and confusion of the start of the school year, giving young readers plenty of relatable, often-comic situations to enjoy on each spread. Ravi’s classroom, 201, is in a new part of the school, and he notes, “Sometimes we get a little lost.” A hallway scene is full of drama: A girl laments her spilt milk while a custodian calmly cleans up; another student runs around the corner; a child waves at the office staff. Meanwhile, Ellie runs through, dragging Joe and Ravi and shouting, “201 is definitely that way!” Their teacher Mrs. Murdock explains they will make paper trees and add leaves throughout the year “to mark all the new things we do.” As the trio tries out different things, such as new musical instruments and adding a third member to their game of Deep Space Explorers, Ravi decides that “having three explorers is way more challenging than two.” At a Halloween party, which Ravi attends dressed as ice cream, Joe as a cone, and Ellie as sprinkles, Ravi finally has enough, shouting at Ellie, “You’re NOT my best friend.” Ellie is devastated, and Ravi gradually starts to feel guilty about his harsh words. LaRocca’s portrayal of this drama is compellingly believable, and Alwar’s rollicking art conveys the shifting feelings along the way. While earlier scenes are full of action, a classroom scene in which Ellie has moved to a back seat is a full-stop moment in time. Everyone else in the classroom fades to simple, red outlines, while Ravi worriedly gazes back at Ellie, who glowers at her assignment, steadfastly ignoring him. Later, at home, Ravi’s older sister uses a fitting family analogy to help Ravi realize the value of Ellie’s friendship, and how the changing dynamic among the trio presents exciting new opportunities. Ravi, Ellie and Joe are likable characters that young readers can readily identify with, and Fall Is for Beginnings is chock-full of humor, heart and soul.