It’s the first day of my FAVORITE season, fall! As much as I like Halloween, I like to decorate for and celebrate fall first, and I also love reading picture books about this beautiful time of year. Adults, don’t worry: I’ve got a post with recommendations for novels coming soon. Here are 10 of my favorite fall picture books to check out:
Sophie’s Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller
I checked this book out for my kids a couple years ago and IMMEDIATELY bought it, something I never do (minimalist problems). This story about a little girl who gets a squash from the farmer’s market and turns it into a pet is hilarious and heartwarming at the same time. We read it year-round, but it’s perfect for autumn.
Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White
This is a classic about a woman who hates pumpkins because she ate too many as a child when her family was poor. Of course, when a huge pumpkin gets smashed in her yard and spreads seeds everywhere in her yard, she can’t ignore the gourds growing all over the place. I love the message about making the most of an unpleasant situation and serving others in the process.
Leaves by David Ezra Stein
The adorable illustrations make this simple book about a bear confused by the falling leaves special. It’s a great way to show little kids how seasons change, but the colors are also vibrant and beautiful.
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
If Kenard Pak’s name is on a book, you can bet I will check it out. This one has stunning illustrations and follows a little girl with a red scarf who walks through nature saying hello to every animal and plant she sees. They all answer her and explain how they’re changing for the fall season. If you like this one, check out his book Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter.
Yellow Time by Lauren Stringer
Can you tell I’m enamored with beautiful illustrations yet? I just checked this book out last week and loved the story about kids and animals who celebrate autumn in different ways. The book also has pictures in varying shades of yellow and orange and has a vintage feel to it that I love.
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost (illustrated by Vivian Mineker)
Who doesn’t think of Robert Frost poems during the fall? I often have “Nothing Gold Can Stay” running through my head when the leaves change color. This brand-new picture book has gorgeous illustrations that bring new meaning to “The Road Not Taken” and help kids understand the poetry. I may be buying this one for our collection.
Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins
This book features beautiful photographs of autumn leaves from 13 different trees. I actually learned a lot from this book and was fascinated by all the facts it includes. If you have really small children, you can skip over the detail and just let them look at the pictures. I think it would be fun to bring leaves from your own neighborhood in and compare them to the ones in the book.
Storm by Sam Usher
I love Sam Usher’s series of weather-themed books, and this one is set in autumn. A little boy and his grandfather look outside at the windy day and decide it’s the perfect time to fly a kite. They search through the house for it and finally find it and have an adventure flying it together. It’s a really simple story, but I love the relationship between the boy and his grandfather.
Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson
Technically this book is about all seasons, but books about trees often make me think of autumn — and falling leaves is a natural time to talk to your kids about why the weather and trees are changing. I love the interactive nature of this story. You shake the book, tap pages, and even “blow” the leaves off the tree. It’s fun to read aloud.
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
At first glance, this book just looks like a collection of leaf photographs — but when you look closer, you see that the leaves are cleverly arranged to look like different animals, vegetables, insects, plants, and even trees. This is a quick read, but you’ll love seeing how creatively the leaves come together.
I’m always on the lookout for new fall books, and I have several on hold at the library I can’t wait to read. What are your favorites?
