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The season of autumn (also called “Fall”) officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere on a date known as the Autumnal Equinox. On this day the hours of sunlight equal the hours of nighttime, and we all head into a time of cooler days.
The books on this list honor this season of fall and all the themes that it includes:
Kids love to celebrate these themes, like apple picking, hay rides, piles of fallen leaves, pumpkins, costumes, migrating birds, fall festivals and more. These activities feature prominently in the books I’ve selected to be read and enjoyed during this fun time of year.
Book format, fiction or non-fiction, and suggested age ranges included to help narrow your selections!
Happy reading!
~ Sarah
Apples
Picture Book. Non-Fiction. Ages 3-8.
Written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons. New, updated edition published 2020.
Apples are a true harbinger of the autumn season. The apples ripen as fall arrives and that means apple picking, apple cider, apple butter, and applesauce! I try to include at least one Gail Gibbons book in my booklists – and thankfully she has this delightful book about apples that makes perfect sense to read during autumn. Always a hit with kids! A great choice for your home library.
These links will take you to the new and updated edition of this book.
Corgiville Fair
Picture Book. Fiction. Ages 3-8.
Written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor. Published 1971.
Every child’s reading experience deserves at least one book by Tasha Tudor. Corgiville Fair is one of her most fun books. It’s a story that appeals to many children. To expand the fun from the book go and see what you can learn about “corgis” (a breed of dog).
“Tasha Tudor is among the most prolific and revered illustrators of all time. She has written, illustrated, or been the subject of more than ninety books during a career that has spanned nearly three quarters of a century.” ~ Bookshop.org
Country Fair
Picture Book. Fiction (with history content). Ages 3-8.
Based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s chapter book Farmer Boy. Illustrated by Jody Wheeler. Published 1998. Part of the “My First Little House” series.
Nice picture book historical fiction featuring a boy character (Almanzo) who visits the country fair with his family. Almanzo has grown a very special pumpkin and he can’t wait to see what the judges think. An excellent intro to all that the Little House chapter books offer to kids and families. Part of the “My Little House” series of picture books. With illustrations inspired by Garth Williams’ illustrations for the story’s source material, the chapter book Farmer Boy. Pair this book with a visit to your own county fair.
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
Picture Book. Fiction (with science content). Ages 3-8.
Written by Julia Rawlinson. Illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke. Published 1947.
Fletcher is a much-loved children’s book character. There are multiple books about Fletcher and they have great longevity for families. Read the Fletcher books aloud to younger children, and as kids grow older they will start reading the stories by themselves. In Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, the little fox is quite worried about the leaves that are falling. It’s touching to go on this adventure with him as he discovers all will be well. Learn more about the Fletcher books at author Julia Rawlinson’s website. To purchase Fletcher books, go here for my Fletcher Booklist complete with links to buy from Bookshop or Amazon.
Read my feature article about Fletcher and the Falling Leaves here!
Note: This book was previously published with the title The Fox and the Falling Leaves.
Follow the Flyway: The Marvel of Bird Migration
Picture Book with End Material. Non-Fiction. Ages 3-12.
Written by Sarah Nelson. Illustrated by Maya Hanisch. Published 2023 by Barefoot Books.
Follow the Flyway is non-fiction children’s literature at it’s very best. This engaging STEM book connects children to the birds they see in their world every day, answering the question of where do the birds go when the weather turns cold. I like to pair books about bird migration with the film Fly Away Home. It’s a movie about a young girl and bird migration, loosely based on a true story. The film was directed by Carroll Ballard – his work is always luminous and guarantees a brilliant film experience with gorgeous cinematography.
“Recommended as a lyrical read-aloud and an informational text” – School Library Journal, starred review
“In this blow-by-blow accounting of seasonal migration, uplifting lines track a dozen avian species along a ‘blue and ancient flyway’” – Publishers Weekly
The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
Picture Book. Fiction. Ages 2-8.
Written and illustrated by Peter Spier. First published in 1961 by Doubleday & Company. Multiple reprints available.
This story was first published in 1961. Then, fifty years later, author/illustrator Peter Spier revisited the story and added vibrant color to the original black-and-white illustrations. The book is frankly pure reading and visual fun!
A Caldecott Honor Book.
“Spier’s finely detailed, action-packed New England autumn vistas are almost startlingly beautiful.” — The New York Times
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
Picture Book. Non-Fiction (with geography content). Ages 3-11.
Written and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman. Published 1996 by Dragonfly Books.
Imagine wanting apple pie except the grocery store or the food market is closed. What can one do?! This book offers an answer with a thrilling journey around the world to find all the ingredients! Get out your atlases, your maps, and your globe, and get ready for adventure (along with some great geography and map learning)!
A FIAR (Five-In-A-Row) Book
“Libraries should consider purchasing multiple copies since every preschool and primary-grade teacher in town will want a copy to read.” — (starred) Booklist.
I Like the Wind
Picture Book with End Material. Non-Fiction. Ages 3-9.
Written by Sarah Nelson. Illustrated by Rachel Oldfield. Published 2021 by Barefoot Books.
Fabulous non-fiction book about the wind. Full of rhymes, making it an excellent pick for little ones and emerging readers. Rich with fun facts in the end material (more difficult reading provided at the end of the book; end material stretches a book’s value).
Included in the four-book “I Like the Weather” series on the weather for little ones and emerging readers (includes Wind, Rain, Sun, and Snow). Same author as Follow the Flyway (also included on this book list).
Ox-Cart Man
Picture Book. Fiction (with history content). Ages 3-10.
Written by Donald Hall. Illustrated by Barbara Cooney. Published 1979.
A perennial favorite and absolute classic. Featured on so many reading lists. Meet a New England farmer from a bygone era and travel with him as he packs his wagon for market and comes back home again. Luminous illustrations by Barbara Cooney. Beautiful addition to any home library.
Caldecott Medal Winner (1980)
“Like a pastoral symphony translated into picture book format, the stunning combination of text and illustrations recreates the mood of 19th-century rural New England.” ~ The Horn Book
The Pumpkin Book
Picture Book. Non-Fiction. Ages 4-9.
Written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons. Published 1999 by Holiday House.
Pumpkins are the quintessential symbol of the fall season! Children love them! Whether it’s pumpkin pie or carving a pumpkin for a Jack-o-Lantern, there are so many fun facts to learn about this endearing and tasty member of the squash family. It’s also very easy to pick up a pumpkin and share it with your kids in one way or another, creating wonderful memories and learning at the same time.
“Gail Gibbons has created a non-fiction picture book genre all her own. Her wonderful books turn non-fiction learning into adventure, exploration, and pure fun. She’s so prolific in her writing that you’re sure to find one of her books for every science topic your children encounter in the wide world around them.” ~ Sarah Galbraith Laucks, Beehive Books and Art
The Very Busy Spider
Picture Book. Also Available in Board Book Format. Fiction (with science content). Ages 1-6.
Written and illustrated by Eric Carle. Published 1985.
This book features a very original tactile element that is excellent for children’s fine motor skills and sensory development. In addition to the fun story and Eric Carle’s trademark illustrations (which appeal so well to little ones) – I recommend this book as a must for home libraries because of that tactile component.
“A beautifully executed work for the very young that satisfies the needs of both visually handicapped and sighted children without losing its artistic integrity.”
—The Horn Book, starred review
Where Is Baby’s Pumpkin?
Board Book Lift-a-Flap (Tactile). Fiction (with holiday content). Ages 1-4.
Written and illustrated by Karen Katz. Published 2006.
Like The Very Busy Spider, this board book by Karen Katz also gives your little ones a fun tactile element to grow the skills of their little fingers. Expertly written with rhyming text and repetition … join your kids on an adventure to find out where or where the baby’s pumpkin has gone!
Read my feature article about What Is Baby’s Pumpkin? here!
“Karen Katz has written and illustrated more than fifty picture books and novelty books … After graduating from the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, she attended the Yale Graduate School of Art and Architecture where she became interested in folk art, Indian miniatures, Shaker art, and Mexican art. Her book, Counting Kisses, was named one of the 100 Greatest Books for Kids by Scholastic Parent & Child.” ~ Bookshop.org
Notes
- Book images used are courtesy of Bookshop.
- View more booklists just like this one at the Beehive Books and Art page on Bookshop.org!
Life – A Book To Touch the Soul