Opening The Leaf Thief  by Alice Hemming, illustrated by Nicola Slater, feels a lot like leaping into a giant pile of autumn leaves—the crisp scent of earth rising up, the tickle of brittle edges brushing your cheeks, and the whoosh of colors swirling around you. This New York Times bestselling autumn picture book for children is as fun as it is thoughtful. As I turned the first page, I couldn’t help but think of Remmy from my own book Remmy’s Sticky Situation. Just like Remmy blamed his friends when his cotton candy mysteriously disappeared, Squirrel is quick to point a paw at his forest neighbors when one of his precious leaves goes missing. Both stories carry a playful reminder that sometimes what we fear isn’t really the fault of others—it’s simply change at work.

​When I first walked into the Starke County Public Library for their Beyond the Book event, I could feel the buzz in the air. Laughter, the shuffle of little feet, the hum of conversations—all signs that something special was happening. Over 450 people showed up (with 200 at the Bluey program alone!), and you could tell from the start it was going to be one of those memory-making kind of days.

I didn’t do any reading this time, but I had fun sharing my stories in other ways! For example, I asked kids if they knew what happened when you put cotton candy in water or if they’d ever tried making a sailboat out of scraps found around the house. I also gave away The Wonder of Under-themed sailboat kits and Remmy’s Sticky Situation “dumpster dinner” treat bags. 

Welcome to the Pumpkin Patch
The other day, I stepped outside and caught the very first whisper of fall—damp bark drifting through the air, apples ripening in the backyard, and that cozy, can’t-quite-name-it feeling. That same autumn wonder wrapped around me when I opened Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle.

This isn’t just a story—it’s an invitation to a world where friendship and forgiveness bloom among pumpkins and falling leaves. Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle by Laura Sassi is autumn tucked neatly between two covers. With lilting rhymes, swoon-worthy illustrations, and a message as sweet as pumpkin pie, it’s the kind of book you’ll want to curl up with again and again.

Keep reading for all the cozy details—and yes, there’s a giveaway too. Because really, what’s fall without a little surprise?