A Wonderleaf question
Why do leaves change color in fall?
a real page from the book
Leaves change color in fall because trees stop replacing chlorophyll when days grow shorter and nights cool down. As the green fades, other pigments already in the leaf can be seen, so yellow and orange appear. Some leaves also make new red pigment before they fall.
Weather helps decide how bright the season looks. Sunny days can build more red, cool nights slow the loss of color, and enough rain keeps leaves from drying too early. That is why one fall can glow while another looks duller.
Wonder words
- chlorophyll
- carotenoids
- pigment
- sugar
Try it out
Hold a green leaf and a fallen leaf near a window, then compare which colors you can spot in each.
Read the whole picture book
Watercolour scenes, straight answers, about three minutes cover to cover.
Open the picture bookOne more wonder: Why is space so dark?
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