Lawrence in the Fall

by Matthew Farina, Doug Salati (Illustrator)

Overview

An Ezra Jack Keats Writer and Illustrator Award Honoree! This "subtly powerful story of agency and independence" (Publisher's Weekly) features beautiful illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Doug Salati.

When Lawrence Fox's teacher announces that students will be presenting things they collect at show-and-tell, Lawrence panics. All of his classmates have impressive collections: coins, combs, marbles…but Lawrence doesn’t have anything to share.

Luckily, Papa knows where to find something magical: the deep, dark woods. Lawrence is scared at first, but as he grows more comfortable, he starts to recognize the uniqueness of the forest and its creatures. Here, amid the towering trees and their array of colorful leaves, Lawrence just may find a splendid, one-of-a-kind collection of his own.

With gentle storytelling by Matthew Farina and sensitively rendered illustrations by Doug Salati, this heartfelt story celebrates individuality and the power of nature to inspire us.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781484780589
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	04/09/2019
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	509,559
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Matthew Farina is a painter and writer based in New York City. His reviews and essays have appeared in the Brooklyn Rail, Hyperallergic, ArtCritical, and elsewhere. Matthew received a BFA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts. Lawrence in the Fall is his first book. Find Matthew online at matthewfarina.com.

Doug Salati is the creator of Hot Dog, which received the Randolph Caldecott Medal and Ezra Jack Keats Award. He received his MFA from the School of Visual Arts and was a 2015 Sendak Fellow. Doug lives and works in New York City and invites you to visit him online at dougsalati.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 03/11/2019

“When Lawrence saw the chalkboard, he froze,” writes debut picture book author Farina, a terrific opening line that ushers readers into a subtly powerful story of agency and independence. The board’s message hardly seems ominous at first: “Bring in something you collect to show the class!” Unlike his classmates, however—the pig amasses playing cards; the duck, silk ribbons—Lawrence doesn’t collect anything. Papa’s solution is a foray into the forest (“There is no better place to find what you need than the woods,” he says). But the trek quickly goes south: the rugged landscape overwhelms the little fox, the weather turns, and suddenly, he’s all alone in the rain, no Papa in sight. Then Lawrence notices that his shouting voice shakes loose brilliant autumn leaves, and when a relieved Papa finds him in a clearing, Lawrence is well on his way to becoming a connoisseur of fall foliage. Salati (In a Small Kingdom) builds the visual arc and emotional landscape of the story with soft pencil lines, muted browns and blues, and sensitive characterizations, lingering just enough on anxious moments that Lawrence’s newfound confidence feels like a big reward. And the final image is a wonderful parting gift: Lawrence leads his peers on a leaf-finding expedition of their own. Ages 3–5. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

2020 Ezra Jack Keats Writer Award Honoree
2020 Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Award Honoree

* "A subtly powerful story of agency and independence."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Readers will want to head out to discover a collection of their own."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

04/01/2019

PreS-Gr 1—When Lawrence the fox cub finds out that he needs to bring in a collection for show-and-tell in school, he is devastated, as he doesn't have anything to share. With the help of his papa, Lawrence visits the forest in search of something special. After a failed attempt to gather stones and getting separated from his dad in the rain, Lawrence comes across a tree shedding its leaves. Inspired by its magnificently colored foliage, the little fox finds his collection and, with some help from his papa, gathers an assortment of leaves for his class presentation. Once he shares his discovery in school, the entire class wants to gather leaves as well. Salati's cartoonish digitally colored pencil illustrations portray anthropomorphized animals (though only grown-up animals are depicted clothed). His spreads wonderfully capture the bond between Lawrence and his dad, the majesty of the autumnal forest, and the charming array of fallen leaves. VERDICT This delightful seasonal story will inspire its young audience to do some leaf collecting of their own.—Yelena Voysey, formerly at Pickering Educational Library, Boston University

School Library Journal

2019-01-28

What's a fox kit to do when show and tell is all about collections and he doesn't have one?

Poor Lawrence freezes when his teacher makes the announcement. His animal classmates are giddy with excitement and quickly chime in with what they will bring: playing cards, coins, ribbons, combs (the sheep's collection!), and marbles. The fox's body language, sad face, and silence say it all when they ask him what he will bring. At home, Papa consoles Lawrence and tells him he knows a place to find a collection. The next day, the two set off into the forest. But their first few attempts fail, then it begins to rain, and then Lawrence and his papa become separated. But while the small fox is without his papa, he is not alone. His whispered and hallooed comments get replies from the trees, which shower him with leaves. Lawrence is fascinated by their many colors and shapes—it's the perfect collection for show and tell…and to share among his equally fascinated classmates. Salati's illustrations, drawn with pencil and colored digitally, have a soft, textured look. The animals are thin and angular, walking on two legs (though only adults sport clothing), and the colors are muted, but the characters express clear emotion. Rear endpapers show labeled outlines of the leaves of 14 trees.

Readers will want to head out to discover a collection of their own. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews