Fall Is for Beginnings

3.8

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Author(s)

Rajani LaRocca

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Abhi Alwar

Publisher

Abrams Books for Young Readers

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

August 05, 2025

ISBN

978-1419777400

Buy This Book

From Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca and critically acclaimed illustrator Abhi Alwar, an authentic celebration of friendship and finding your place in this back-to-school picture book and follow up to Summer Is for Cousins

Ravi can’t wait for the start of the new school year! Fall is for cool weather, new school supplies, and spending time with his best friend, Joe. But when a new girl named Ellie joins their class, Ravi and Joe’s duo suddenly becomes a trio.

Ravi’s not so sure about Ellie—she plays her horn too loud in music lessons and gets them lost on the way to class. Worst of all, she keeps saying she’s Joe and Ravi’s best friend.

All these big changes are challenging for Ravi, but with time (and a little help from his wise older sister) he realizes that fall is the perfect time to begin a new friendship.

From the award-winning team behind Summer Is for Cousins, this heartwarming picture book all about back-to-school fun celebrates the (sometimes complicated) joy of making new friends.

Editor review

1 review

Navigating difficult friendships

July 13, 2025 (Updated: June 29, 2026)

Overall rating

3.8

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

3.0

Ravi and Joe have been friends for a long time, and now that school has started, they are prepared for another new year of eating lunch together, especially since they are in the same class! They have Mrs. Murdock, and manage to sit together in her class. Strangely, an exuberant new student introduces herself and sits by Ravi as well. Ellie quickly insinuates herself into their relationship, claiming that she will be Ravi's best friend. Ellie often gets the two in trouble, and is a rather loud person who challenges Ravi, who ends up doing many new things because she is always pushing for new experiences. Joe is more amenable to this, even trying her beet salad, but Ellie's presence just wears on Ravi. When Joe and Ravi go as ice cream and a cone for the class Halloween party, Ellie dresses up as sprinkles "because we're best friends". This is too much for Ravi, who tells Ellie forcefully that she is NOT his best friend. Ellie slinks off, her feelings hurt, and Ravi starts to feel badly about the way he has treated her. Eventually, Ravi confides in his sister about how tired he was of Ellie, but how he didn't mean to hurt her feelings. Anita tells Ravi that she wasn't thrilled when HE showed up, either, but in the end, it was a good thing. Ravi and Joe apologize to Ellie and include her in all of their activities, and Ravi is proud that he is able to do new things.

Good Points

Friendship trios can be difficult to manage, but it's also hard to be a new student. Ellie's enthusiasm to befriend others is somewhat commendable, but Ravi's reluctance to include her in his activities with Joe is also completely understandable. It doesn't help that the two have very different personalities, and that Ellie's rambunctious nature would challenge the most understanding of youngsters. Joe doesn't seem to mind as much, but Ravi is much quieter.

The artwork is fresh and innovative, and the characters are drawn with broad strokes, and there's a lot going on in the backgrounds. A lot of orange is used on the pages, making this feel very autumnal.

Books are a great way to help young readers navigate difficult relationships. I can see this being a great choice for a class read aloud when there are friendship issues boiling over into classroom time. Keep this on hand along with Sarah's Big Friends, Jenkins' Tyler and Badger, Ness' The Hat of Great Importance, Elliott's Boar and Hedgehog, and Firth's Hector and Hummingbird for those times when friends get to be annoying!