Amazon Autumn Stories Category:  Children Publisher: Sea Change Publications ISBN-10:  0968293867 Type: Fiction Pages: 32 Copyright: October 29, 2010 ISBN-13: 9780968293867 Captivating and irresistible! These two little stories about the coming of winter are told in language simple enough for young children to understand and interesting enough to engage older children. This enchanting new picture book includes two little stories about animals preparing for the coming of winter. In the first story, Little Blue Feather Is Surprised, Nutkin, the squirrel, stores his acorns in a hollowed out pumpkin with Little Blue Feather’s help. In the second story, Little Blue Feather and the Rabbits, Little Blue Feather and his rabbit friends go for a walk together and discuss the upcoming winter season. One of the rabbits sings a song to Little Blue Feather as he rests in the grass – “Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, we must all get fat and furry, not a moment to be lost, I can hear bold Jackie Frost.” Both stories are illustrated with photos of the author’s needle felted and sewn sculptures. The text is easy to read and flows along smoothly. When asked what inspired her to write the book, Marty said, “I was taking photos of all of my little needle-felted animals, when I realized I had two stories that just seemed to create themselves as I took the photos. The second story was also inspired by a song I’ve been singing for the last 27 years - first to and with my children, then recorded on my children’s music CD, Brighten the Day – songs to celebrate the seasons, and then in my baby and parent music classes.”  Excerpt Little Blue Feather Is Surprised Once upon a time on a fall day, Little Blue Feather was sitting by a pumpkin. He was thinking about the changing weathering, wondering if the woodland creatures had harvested enough food for the winter. ... Little Blue Feather and the Rabbits "We're going for a walk. Do you want to come?" asked Little Brown. “Sure. Can we walk over to the meadow where there’s some very sweet green grass?” “Good idea, Grey Ears. You both need to get fat and furry and that grass is just the thing. Winter is coming soon. I know because Jackie Frost was here last night. I saw his ice sparkles in the grass this morning, " said Little Blue Feather.

Midwest Book Review
Midwest Book Review, Feb. 2011:
"Autumn Stories is a set of two photo-illustrated stories, Little Blue Feather is Surprised, and Little Blue Feather and the Rabbits. The stories are enhanced by photos of needle felted and sewn sculptures created by the author. The first story tells how Nutkin the squirrel prepares for winter by storing his acorns in a hollowed out pumpkin. Little Blue Feather is a tiny elf no bigger than Nutkin the Squirrel.

"In the second story, Little Blue Feather meets rabbits by putting clover in his lap to entice them, sitting very still. Little Blue Feather and Grey Ears encourage all the rabbit friends to eat lots of sweet grass to get fat because Jackie Frost has turned the leaves red, and snow and winter will soon come.

Autumn Stories is a charming set of autumn tales with delicate characters pictured in soft, pretty felts and fabrics. Part of the author's inspiration for the second story comes from a song she has recorded, Brighten the Day - songs to celebrate the seasons."




Green and Gold
“I love the vivid colors of the pictures as contrasted to the softness of the figures in them. It almost feels three-dimensional. I also love the way the simple story draws the young child into a world of fantasy that is actually based on pure, real, joyful emotion and sharing. My nine-year-old son enjoyed it, so it’s not just for tiny children.”
Kelly Green, A Matter of Conscience