After 12 years of parenthood (including with a current 2-year-old), I still rate this as one of my very favorite board books to read to toddlers. The story is gentle and straightforward, with crisply drawn illustrations friendly enough to appeal to little ones but realistic enough to impress discerning grown-ups. The shiny red-and-green apples in the wicker basket look good enough to eat. The old apple trees are gnarled and leaning. The big, fat turkey has gorgeously detailed feathers and a red and blue wattle. And the girl's excitement for their family tradition shines through every page.Younger toddlers will enjoy being asked to point things out on each page (where are the ducks? Do you see the ghost?) Older ones will enjoy imagining themselves on the farm: which pumpkin would you choose? Would you eat an apple right away, or wait until you get home? Which Halloween costume would you choose?That's why I love this book - despite its simplicity, it is a masterpiece on so many levels. In that regard, it's similar to "I am a Bunny" by Richard Scarry, another of my favorites. It evokes joy, nostalgia, beauty, and family bonds. My only regret is that I can't justify reading it quite so often in the winter, spring, and summer as I do in the fall - but I like it so much that I'll get it off the bookshelf at any time of year!