At our house, we read A LOT of children's books, and we want to share some of our favorites with you! In this post, we've included our favorite fall board books and picture books. Feel free to skim the list and see if any appeal to your family. We hope you enjoy!
Board Books
Touch and Feel Fall
Illustrated By: Scott Barker
Publisher: Scholastic (2019, 2022)
Recommended Ages: 0+
Book Description: Explore the magical textures of fall in this adorable touch-and-feel-book, perfect for little hands.
Why We Love It
Interesting textures
Introduces the youngest readers to many common fall objects
Small size makes it easy for young ones to hold and is also very portable
Autumn in the Forest
Written By: Rusty Finch
Illustrated By: Katya Longhi
Publisher: Cottage Door Press (2019)
Recommended Ages: 1+
Book Description: Explore autumn in the forest with this lively, interactive Lift-a-Flap Surprise board book! Little ones will love learning all about fall fun in the forest while following an adorable little chipmunk busy collecting walnuts, acorns, and buckeyes in preparation for winter. The pumpkins are growing, the trees are full of apples, and pears are ready for gathering. Nuts of all kinds have covered the forest floor. And one little chipmunk is snug in its burrow. What a wonderful day to be a chipmunk in the forest! A perfect way to celebrate the season with your toddler!
Why We Love It
Short but informative story
Engaging flaps
Teaches kids many telltale signs of autumn
Autumn Leaves Fall
Written By: Amber Hendricks
Illustrated By: Gavin Scott
Publisher: Amicus Ink (2022)
Recommended Ages: 0+
Book Description: Fuzzy squirrels, sly foxes, and little bunnies romp through the forest as the trees' leaves change from summery greens to amber fall colors and finally to the bare branches of early winter.
Why We Love It
Minimal repetitive rhyming text
Cute characters and illustrations
Shows the youngest readers seasonal changes in a very simple, easy-to-digest format
Leaves
By: David Ezra Stein
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons (2007)
Recommended Ages: 1+
Book Description: Bear is surprised when the leaves start falling off the trees, but when he tries to reattach them, it doesn't work. Eventually, he gets sleepy, and burrows into the fallen leaves for a long nap. When he wakes up, it's spring-and there are suddenly brand-new leaves all around, seeming to welcome him.
Why We Love It
Simple cute story and illustrations
Bear can experience the wonder of autumn for the first time alongside the reader!
Duck & Goose Find A Pumpkin
By: Tad Hills
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books (2009)
Recommended Ages: 0+
Book Description: Duck & Goose look everywhere for a pumpkin--in the apple tree, in the leaf pile, inside a hollow log.... Where will they find one?
Why We Love It
Simple short text
Bright colorful illustrations
Classic Duck & Goose personalities
Teaches kids where pumpkins grow
Picture Books
Hello, Fall!
Written By: Deborah Diesen
Illustrated By: Lucy Fleming
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux (2018)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description: Fall is here! Colorful leaves whisper to each other. Geese honk as they flock across the sky. Pumpkins listen patiently from their patch. The season announces itself in all sorts of ways―if you stop to say hello! A grandfather and his granddaughter welcome fall in this sweet, whimsical story about finding beauty and wonder in every moment.
Why We Love It
Charming descriptive text
Gorgeous illustrations; very soft yet colorful
Perfect book for welcoming the fall season
It's Fall!
By: Renee Kurilla
Publisher: Little, Brown and Co. (2023)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description:
Colors bursting, shadows tall.
There’s lots to celebrate—it’s fall!
Break out your fuzzy socks and cozy scarves! Bring on the doughnuts, cider, and pies! It’s time for corn mazes, trick-or-treating, and all the Thanksgiving food you can eat.… It’s fall!
Why We Love It:
Charming rhyming text
Beautiful illustrations with a simple fall color palette
Works as a back-to-school, fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving book!
The Scarecrow
Written By: Beth Ferry
Illustrated By: The Fan Brothers
Publisher: HarperCollins (2019)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description: All the animals know not to mess with old Scarecrow. But when a small, scared crow falls from midair, Scarecrow does the strangest thing...he saves the tiny baby crow. Soon a loving bond grows between the two unlikely friends. But is it strong enough to weather the changing of the seasons?
Why We Love It:
Beautiful rhyming text
Gorgeous textural illustrations
Great message about the power of friendship and helping others
Can be read in any season!
Bear Feels Sick
Written By: Karma Wilson
Illustrated By: Jane Chapman
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (2007, 2017)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description: Sweet Bear isn’t feeling well at all. He is achy, sneezy, wheezy, and just plain sick! He’s in no shape to go outside to play. So Mole, Hare, Mouse, and the rest of the gang try to make Bear feel as comfortable as possible in his cave. Bear starts to get better—but as soon as Bear is well, all of his friends get sick!
Why We Love It:
Rollicking rhyming text
Beautiful illustrations
Loveable characters
Great message about friendship and giving back
Bear Feels Scared is another great book in this series that we often read in the fall!
The Golden Acorn
By: Katy Hudson
Publisher: Capstone Editions (2019)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description: Whoosh! Squirrel takes off at full speed through the autumn leaves. But slam on the brakes, because this year The Golden Nut Hunt race is a team event. Squirrel reluctantly enlists her friends and is not impressed. Will Squirrel's competitive spirit take over or will she learn how to be a team player?
Why We Love It:
Gorgeous illustrations
Loveable characters
Great message about friendship and being a good sport
Apples and Pumpkins
Written By: Anne Rockwell
Illustrated By: Lizzy Rockwell
Publisher: Aladdin (1989)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description: A little girl goes with her parents to a farm where they pick apples and pumpkins. Back home, she helps to carve a grinning jack-o'-lantern face on the big orange pumpkin (which guards their doorstep on Halloween night) and goes trick-or-treating with the neighborhood ghosts and goblins.
Why We Love It:
Short simple story with classic illustrations
Hits the major highlights of the fall season
Introduces Halloween at the end without being scary
The Busy Little Squirrel
By: Nancy Tafuri
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (2007)
Recommended Ages: 1+
Book Description: The leaves have started to fall. The air is cold. Squirrel needs to get ready for winter. He cannot nibble with the mice. He does not have time to hop with the frogs or run with the dogs. Will this busy little squirrel ever slow down?
Why We Love It:
Short, repetitive text that's easy for kids to remember and read along
Simple, bold illustrations that feature lots of critters for kids to find
Both of my kids loved this book around age 2!
Fall Mixed Up
Written By: Bob Raczka
Illustrated By: Chad Cameron
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (2011)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: Fall is all mixed up in this silly book from Bob Raczka! Can you find his mistakes in the words and pictures?
Why We Love It:
Clever concept for a picture book
Keeps kids engaged looking for the mistakes in the text and illustrations
Pick A Circle, Gather Squares
A Fall Harvest of Shapes
Written By: Felicia Sanzari Chernesky
Illustrated By: Susan Swan
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co. (2013)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: Fall is here, with all its wonderful visual delights―not just colors, but shapes! This clever concept book follows a family on a trip to a pumpkin patch and invites children to pick out shapes from the seasonal scenery―apple bushel circles, square hay bales, diamond kites in the autumn sky!
Why We Love It:
The text had me at "Apple crisp October day." 😊
Cool collage-style illustrations
Keeps kids engaged looking for different shapes on each spread
In the Middle of Fall
Written By: Kevin Henkes
Illustrated By: Laura Dronzek
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (2017)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description: Watch the world transform when fall comes! In the middle of fall, it takes only one gust of wind to turn the whole world yellow and red and orange. Caldecott Medalist and New York Times-bestselling author Kevin Henkes’s memorable text introduces basic concepts of language and the unique beauty of the fall season. Laura Dronzek’s expressive paintings illuminate pumpkins, apples, falling leaves, busy squirrels, and the transformation from colorful autumn to frosty winter.
Why We Love It:
Simple text that highlights many of the changes seen during the fall season
Simple but striking illustrations
Great introduction to fall for young readers
Little Critter Fall Storybook Favorites
By: Mercer Mayer
Publisher: HarperCollins (2015)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description: Join this classic character as he attends a fall festival, visits the firehouse, locates a lost dinosaur bone, and so much more. Fans of Little Critter's signature charm will love these seven autumn adventures.
Why We Love It:
Classic Little Critter collection with seven stories AND stickers!
Many of the stories can be read year-round, but we particularly love The Fall Festival in the fall; another favorite in our household is The Lost Dinosaur Bone!
Bella's Fall Coat
Written By: Lynn Plourde
Illustrated By: Susan Gal
Publisher: Disney Hyperion (2016)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: Bella loves the sights and sounds of fall--the crinkle-crackle of fallen leaves, the crunch of crisp, red apples, the honking and flapping of migrating geese. She wants the season to last forever. She also wants her fall coat--the one her Grams made especially for her--to last forever. But the coat is worn-out and too small. . . .
With a snip and a whir, Grams makes sure Bella will be warm when the first snowflakes fall. And Bella finds a perfect use for her old favorite coat -- on the first snowman of the season.
Why We Love It:
Relatable story for kids who've outgrown a treasured clothing item
Sweet story about a girl and her grandmother that grew on me each time we read it
Captures the essence of the autumn outdoors with vibrant artwork, fun sounds, and descriptive language
The Leaf Thief
Written By: Alice Hemming
Illustrated By: Nicola Slater
Publisher: Sourcebooks (2020, 2021)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: Squirrel loves counting the leaves on his tree―red leaves, gold leaves, orange, and more. But hold on! One of his leaves is missing! On a quest to find the missing leaf, Squirrel teams up with his good friend Bird to discover who the leaf thief could be among their forest friends.
Why We Love It:
Funny dialogue!
Great ending!
Teaches kids about seasonal changes
Tidy
By: Emily Gravett
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (2016)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: Pete the badger likes everything to be neat and tidy at all times, but what starts as the collecting of one fallen leaf escalates quickly and ends with the complete destruction of the forest. Will Pete realize the error of his ways and reverse his tidying habit?
Why We Love It:
Creative, funny story
Excellent rhyming text and pacing
Fitting ending!
Great messages about being reasonable and saving the environment
Too Many Pumpkins
Written By: Linda White
Illustrated By: Megan Lloyd
Publisher: Holiday House (1996)
Recommended Ages: 4+
Book Description: Rebecca Estelle has hated pumpkins ever since she was a girl when pumpkins were often the only food her family had. When an enormous pumpkin falls off a truck and smashes in her yard, she shovels dirt over the pieces and forgets about them. But those slimy pumpkin smithereens sprout up in autumn, and Rebecca Estelle finds a sea of pumpkins in her garden.
A heartwarming classic for more than twenty years, this story shows what happens when one thrifty gardener figures out how to make other people happy with the squash she can't stomach.
Why We Love It:
Interesting story
Well-written (I particularly liked the "until..." cliffhangers used throughout.)
Great for older kids (4-8) or kids with longer attention spans
Love the ending!
A Fall Ball For All
Written By: Jamie A. Swenson
Illustrated By: Chiara Fedele
Publisher: Millbrook Press (2018)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: On the verge of winter, the autumn wind issues an invitation: "Come one, come all to the annual windfall ball!" Join all the animals in this beautifully illustrated rhyming picture book as they gather for the autumn wind's harvest in preparation for the long winter.
Why We Love It:
Clever angle for an autumn book
Exceptional rhyming text
Lovely illustrations
My favorite fall book that I've discovered this year!
Dozens of Doughnuts
Written By: Carrie Finison
Illustrated By: Brianne Farley
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons (2020)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: LouAnn is a bear who decides to make and eat one dozen doughnuts before going to sleep for the winter. Just as she sits down to eat, however, her doorbell rings. A friend has come to visit and would like to share in LouAnn’s feast. LouAnn happily shares her doughnuts; however, one by one, more guests arrive, and each one expects her to share. LouAnn grows frustrated as she makes batch after batch of doughnuts, only to give them all away to her friends. Eventually, LouAnn runs out of ingredients…and patience. In a fit of rage, she scares away her friends and sulks in her den, hungry and alone, until…DING DONG! Who is at LouAnn’s door this time, and what surprise might they have in store?
Why We Love It:
Adorable characters and illustrations
Rhyming text (and the unexpected interruptions) are executed perfectly
Teaches kids about counting, sharing, and being a good friend
Neat endpapers!
*Warning: Reading this book might make you want to eat a dozen doughnuts!
Bear Has a Story to Tell
Written By: Philip C. Stead
Illustrated By: Erin E. Stead
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (2012)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: It was almost winter and Bear was getting sleepy. But first, Bear had a story to tell...
Bear found his friend Mouse, but Mouse was busy gathering seeds and didn't have time to listen to a story. Then Bear saw his friend Duck, but Duck was getting ready to fly south. What about his friend Toad? He was busy looking for a warm place to sleep. By the time Bear was through helping his friends get ready for winter, would anyone still be awake to hear his story?
Why We Love It:
Simple story about kindness and friendship
Perfect for reading in late fall
Love how the ending circles back to the beginning!
We sincerely hope that you enjoy these books as much as we have! To receive monthly book recommendations, sign-up for my newsletter at the bottom of this page. Otherwise, if you have any fall book recommendations for us, please type them in the comments below. We are ALWAYS looking for fun new books to read! 😊
Happy reading from our family to yours!