Whether or not teaching about the change of seasons is in your curriculum, cozying up with a fall-themed read is one of our favorite ways to ring in the season. Here are 27 of our favorite fall books for kids.
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1. Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert (Pre-K-1)
We have favorite Lois Ehlert titles (or several) for every season, and this is a top choice for fall. Read it and imagine the billowy, gusty journey of Leaf Man, and then collect and press fall leaves for students’ own creations.
2. Hungry Bunny by Claudia Rueda (Pre-K-1)
Bunny picks red, juicy apples in the fall so his mother can make apple pie. The bunny’s requests for “help” will delight your youngest listeners. After reading, invite students to act out the story or turn it into a puppet show.
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3. Leaves by David Ezra Stein (Pre-K-1)
If you aren’t expecting them, autumn’s changes can be surprising! This sparse but eloquent story tells about a bear cub’s first fall.
4. Autumn Leaves Fall From the Trees! by Lisa Bell (Pre-K-1)
Introduce plenty of fall vocabulary with this catchy song book. Bonus: The song and a lesson plan are available for free download.
5. Little Elliot, Fall Friends by Mike Curato (Pre-K-1)
Elliot and Mouse head out of the big city for a fall adventure in the country. This is a fun addition to the series for students who enjoy these sweet characters.
6. Apple Picking Day! by Candice Ransom (Pre-K-1)
This story of a family’s day spent picking apples together is a nice seasonal choice for new readers, or a fun rhyming read aloud option.
7. The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry (Pre-K–2)
We love this story of unexpected friendship between a tough scarecrow and a baby crow who needs his help.
8. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak (Pre-K-2)
A young girl walks through the woods and her town, noticing signs that a new season is on its way. This one is perfect for inspiring “Hello Autumn” bulletin boards, art and writing projects, or a walk of your own.
9. Awesome Autumn by Bruce Goldstone (Pre-K-2)
From temperature changes, falling leaves, animal migration, and hibernation, to fall foods, sports, and crafts, this nonfiction title covers everything autumnal!
10. Hello Autumn! by Shelley Rotner (Pre-K-2)
Gorgeous images and poetic text capture many small details of fall. This read aloud could double as a coffee table book! We love all the photos of diverse kids enjoying the season.
11. In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes (Pre-K-2)
Kevin Henkes’ way with words is a treat every time. Careful observations highlight the temporary nature of the autumn season.
12. Yellow Time by Lauren Stringer (Pre-K-2)
“Yellow time comes before white time. Every time.” Share this title as an example of how to pinpoint one particular seasonal event and describe it in detail.
13. Hello, Fall! by Deborah Diesen (Pre-K-2)
A girl and her grandfather spend the day together celebrating fall. Plenty of playful descriptive language makes this a fun conversation starter.
14. Chirp! by Jamie Swenson (Pre-K–2)
A sweet story about a chipmunk searching for a friend that you can use to reinforce conversations about community in your own classroom.
15. The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming (Pre-K–3)
We love the vibrant, retro illustrations in this story about a squirrel determined to find out what’s happened to his missing leaf.
16. Sweep by Louise Greig (Pre-K–3)
After a bad day, can you sweep your emotions away? That’s the analogy drawn in this cozy fall book for kids.
17. Applesauce Day by Lisa Amstutz (Pre-K-3)
A young girl and her family pick apples and make applesauce at Grandma’s house, a family tradition that’s spanned generations. Told in the first person and with plenty of details, this would make a sweet seasonal mentor text for personal narrative writing.
18. Hiking Day by Anne Rockwell (Pre-K-3)
From the team that supplied Apples and Pumpkins, this story chronicles a family’s fall hike. Rich but manageable descriptions make this another useful choice for encouraging students’ own fall personal narrative writing.
19. Fall Walk by Virginia Brimhall Snow (Pre-K-3)
Identifying trees and leaves is extra fascinating in the fall, as this fact-filled story of a girl’s walk in the woods with her grandmother shows.
20. Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper (Pre-K-3)
This classic and cozy friendship tale has a permanent spot in our autumn book display. Squirrel, Duck ,and Cat always make pumpkin soup together the exact same way until Duck wonders what it would be like to change their routine.
21. The Very Last Leaf by Stef Wade (K–3)
This story about a leaf who is afraid to fall to the ground is a great conversation starter for talking about fears your students might have, too.
22. Leif and the Fall by Allison Sweet Grant (K–3)
This is another story about a leaf that’s afraid to fall (good to compare with The Very Last Leaf, above!) Also pairs well with STEM lessons because Leif ends up testing many methods to help ease his fall to the ground.
23. Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant (K-4)
This imaginative personification of a scarecrow is another seasonal bookshelf staple with wide appeal. It provides plenty of inspiration for writing and art projects.
24. The Apple Orchard Riddle by Margaret McNamara (1-3)
This fall field trip-themed story from the pair that created How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? is the perfect introduction to an exploration of apples.
25. Full of Fall by April Pulley Sayre (1-5)
This careful poetic study of autumn examines the season via photos from unique perspectives. It’s sparse enough to share with younger students, but the robust, precise language is perfect to explore with older readers, too.
26. Autumnblings by Douglas Florian (1-5)
This classic collection of poems offers so many lovely snapshots of fall – study just one, or enjoy them all!
27. Hello, Harvest Moon by Ralph Fletcher (1-5)
Fall days are full of magic, but what about when the sun sets? The lyrical, vivid prose portrays an autumn night in this versatile reading or writing mentor text.
What are your favorite fall books for kids? Share your thoughts in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, the best pumpkin books and Thanksgiving books.
