Fall is my favorite reading season. The air turns crisp, the leaves put on their show, and storytime somehow feels cozier, like the books know it is sweater weather too. If you are looking for fresh picks for your autumn reading basket, here are seven picture books my family returns to this time of year. Four celebrate the season itself, and three are sweetly spooky for Halloween week, fun first and not too scary for little readers.
Cozy fall favorites
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn, written and illustrated by Kenard Pak
A young girl takes a walk through her town and the woods, saying hello to the trees, the birds, and the breeze as each one explains how it is getting ready for autumn. It is gentle, beautiful, and a lovely way to help kids notice the small signs of the season changing right outside their own door.
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke
Fletcher the little fox is worried. His favorite tree is losing its leaves, and nothing he tries can save them. When the last leaf falls, Fletcher feels hopeless, until the next morning brings a sparkling surprise. This is a tender story about change, perfect for any child who finds new seasons, or any change, a little hard.
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
Leaf Man is made of leaves, and the wind can blow him anywhere. He drifts over fields, forests, and rivers, meeting leaf animals along the way. The artwork is built from real leaves in every autumn color, and it practically begs kids to go outside afterward and build a leaf character of their own.
The Very Last Leaf by Stef Wade, illustrated by Jennifer Davison
Lance Cottonwood is the best and brightest leaf on the tree, a star at photosynthesis and color changing. But his final exam is the one thing he dreads, letting go and falling. This funny, encouraging story speaks right to anxious and perfectionist little hearts, and it even includes real leaf facts at the back.
Sweetly spooky for Halloween week
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
A kind witch keeps losing her hat, her bow, and her wand to the wind, and a helpful dog, bird, and frog keep finding them, each in exchange for a ride. It rhymes, it bounces, and when a hungry dragon shows up, friendship saves the day. If your house reads one Halloween book every year, this is the one.
Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago
Gustavo can walk through walls, make things fly, and glow in the dark. Making friends, though, feels impossible, because he is so shy the other monsters cannot even see him. With the Day of the Dead coming, he finds a brave way to share the thing he loves most, his violin music. Sweet, funny, and full of color.
Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown
Jasper Rabbit loves the carrots in Crackenhopper Field, until he becomes sure the carrots are following him home. This one is spooky in the silliest way, told like a tiny Twilight Zone episode for kids, and the ending gets a laugh every time. A great pick for kids who want a little shiver with their giggle.
One from my own shelf
If your little reader loves animals in every season, my Wild and Wonderful Alphabet Kingdom pairs a bouncy animal poem with every letter, from Oliver the Octopus to Lola the Llama. You can find it, and Daisy the French bulldog’s adventure in Cutie Tootie Tater Tornado, on my Books page.
What are your family reading this fall? I am always looking for new favorites to add to the basket.
Happy fall reading,
Cher
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