When autumn leaves burst into color in New England, busloads of tourists, known as "leaf peepers," arrive for fall foliage tours. If you live in an area where fall foliage tours are popular, you and your children will especially enjoy the children's picture book "Peepers," by noted children’s author Eve Bunting. Vibrant paintings by James Ransome depict the beauty of a New England village in the fall, with its covered bridges, fields full of pumpkins, and red and orange tinted trees.
"Peepers" - The Story
Brothers Jim and Andy call the busloads of tourists that come on their dad’s tours “Leaf Peepers.” The boys don’t like helping their dad run Fred’s Full Color Tours every weekend in the fall. Jim and Andy think the Peepers are silly. Despite getting scolded for their antics, the boys continue to make fun of the Leaf Peepers and their joy in the fall foliage as they tour their picturesque community. However, over time, the boys begin to appreciate the beauties of nature and, as Andy says, begin “seeing it now the way the Peepers would see it.”
"Peepers" - Why I Recommend It
I liked this children's picture book for several reasons. We lived in New England years ago and the beauty of the illustrations of the fall season really appealed to me. In addition, I enjoyed the story. It is always interesting to read and discuss a book in which different people view the same thing and have completely different reactions, until something changes. In this case, being around the Peepers and seeing and hearing how they responded helped the boys to become more aware of their own environment. The boys’ reactions are true to life, as is their growing appreciation for what they have been looking at, but not really seeing, all along. (Harcourt, Inc., 2001. ISBN: 0152602976)
