Little Elliot, Fall Friends
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Little Elliot, Fall Friends, is the fourth Little Elliot book by author-illustrator Mike Curato. Here the little polka-dot elephant and his best friend, Mouse, take a bus from their home in the city (which appears to be New York) for a vacation in the country, where they see "the bright autumn leaves," smell the fresh air, and end up having a fall feast with some farm animals. It's a sweet, seasonal celebration of friends, new and old.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
LITTLE ELLIOT, FALL FRIENDS follows Elliot the elephant and his best friend, Mouse, as they vacation from the city to the country in autumn. They come by bus and enjoy the fall colors and fresh air. They get separated while playing hide-and-seek, when Elliot hides in the cornfield and Mouse never finds him. But Mouse lures him to the farmhouse by putting a sweet-smelling apple pie on the windowsill, and they're reunited. Then the two enjoy a fall feast with their new friends: the farm's horse, cow, pig, dog, and chicken.
Is It Any Good?
This warm and gentle story celebrates both fall and friendship and continues the adventures of Elliot and Mouse. Little Elliot, Fall Friends shows kids a lot about the season, including its yellow, red, and orange colors and the produce harvested at this time: apples, corn, pumpkins. At the center, as always, is our two heroes' loving, caring relationship. And this time they meet new animal friends, too, and spend a cozy night sleeping on the hay in their barn.
Author-illustrator Mike Curato's art is spectacular, contrasting the bustling, noisy, dirty city with the vast, peaceful country landscape, and capturing the intimate, changing emotions of Elliot and Mouse.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how fall looks in Little Elliot, Fall Friends. How do you know the season has changed from summer? What looks different? What feels different? What fall foods do you enjoy?
Do you live in the city or the country? How are they different?
Mouse figures out a way to get Elliot to come find him. What could a friend do to find you if you were missing?
Book Details
- Author: Mike Curato
- Illustrator: Mike Curato
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Science and Nature
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
- Publication date: September 6, 2017
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: September 6, 2017
Our Editors Recommend
-
Little Elliot, Big Fun
Friendship soothes fears in charming amusement park tale.
-
Miss Maple's Seeds
Lyrical fantasy celebrates the magic of seeds and seasons.
-
Tap the Magic Tree
Simple, interactive story about the changing seasons.
For kids who love picture books and animal tales
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate