Autumn Picture book recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Mrs. Ferraris may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. The Retired School Librarian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. All of these titles can be found in my Amazon Storefront under Autumn Picture Books — https://amzn.to/4m9XIve .)
❗This cumulative list grows over time, with the newest books always appearing at the top.❗
Night of the Deer
by Mary Morel (Author), Mira Miroslavova (Illustrator)
Summary: Arabella is riding in the pickup truck with her parents on their way to school when the family spots a buck and a doe in the woods. Her parents share with her the belief that deer walk among them.
On the way home that day, the girl called out to a pair of deer, inviting them to the school’s harvest dance that evening. Two strangers appeared and danced the night away. Only Arabella knew who they were.
Comments: This story is beautifully told and wonderfully illustrated, capturing the magic of autumn. It would make a superb read-aloud.
Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Twelve Days of Autumn
by Sherri Maret (Author), Thomas Hilley (Illustrator)
Summary: This picture book follows the style of the traditional “Twelve Days of Christmas,” featuring animals preparing for autumn.
Comments: This would be a cute counting and autumn read-aloud.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
This is part of a season series. For more information about that series, please see the author’s Amazon page.
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
The Slightly Spooky Tale of Fox and Mole
by Cecilia Heikkila (Author), Polly Lawson (Translator)
Summary: Mole visits Fox’s house each day at 6 pm to eat cookies and jam while Fox tells a story about a scary raccoon. Mole’s forgetfulness and messiness get the better of Fox, who slowly transforms into a monster.
Comments: This is such a wonderful read-aloud with the hint of autumn spookiness.
Illustrations were created using a combination of watercolor, gouache, pastels, and digital methods.
Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Fall Feast: Nature’s Harvest (Seasons in the Wild)
by Sean Taylor (Author), Alex Morss (Author), Cinyee Chiu (Illustrator)
Summary: Two siblings go on a nature walk with their Mom and Mama to explore the autumn season, discovering such things as falling leaves, berries and nuts, fungi, and migrating birds.
Comments: The back sections include more information about fall, animals, plants, and decomposers.
This is the last book of the Season in the Wild series. The other can be found at this Amazon page.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Squash & Pumpkin: #SquashGoals
by G.G. McQueen (Author), Michael Slack (Illustrator)
Summary: Pumpkin and Squash are best friends until autumn arrives, when Pumpkin becomes famous. Everywhere she goes, people adore her: pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes, and pumpkin pies.
At the Harvest Festival, Acorn Squash sets up a booth showcasing all the delicious squash dishes. Their friendship has turned into a rivalry, but they eventually find a solution together.
Comments: A humorous read-aloud about friendship.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
The Wishing Leaf
by Kallie George (Author), Paola Zakimi (Illustrator)
Summary: Bear patiently waits for the last leaf of autumn to fall because he believes that if he makes a wish on the leaf, it will come true. Bear and his friends watch and wait, but as fall turns into winter, they realize they need to sleep. Mama Bear allows Bear to wait a little longer. When the leaf finally falls, Bear makes a wish before heading inside to sleep.
Comments: Ideal for reading aloud as fall transitions into winter. Students can share their wishes and their thoughts on Bear’s wish.
The illustrations were made with pencil and watercolor and digitally altered.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Little Red, Autumn on the Farm
by Will Hillenbrand (Author)
Summary: Katie and her pickup truck, Little Red, help various vehicles around Shady Acre Farm when they break down while preparing for the harvest festival.
Comments: This story will delight toddlers and preschoolers who love vehicles. The theme of helping one another to create an event is valuable.
The illustrations were created digitally using Adobe Fresco and were designed to complement the autumn color scheme.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
The Secret of Fall
by John Coy (Author), Kristen Adam (Illustrator)
Summary: This narrative nonfiction picture book explores tree leaves when they are green and why they turn colors in the autumn season.
Comments: What a wonderful book to explain photosynthesis in the simplest terms that young readers will understand.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
In the Autumn Forest
by DANIELA KULOT (Author, Illustrator), Elisabeth Lauffer (Translator)
Summary: Crow, Fox, and Mouse share the things they will miss about summer, while Squirrel is happy about autumn. In the distance, they all see a storm approaching, causing them to take shelter. After it passes, they come together in the forest again to share how they now feel about autumn approaching and are okay with it after the wind has shaken all of the fruit and nuts to the ground.
Comments: A lovely story to share with students in September before autumn arrives.
The illustrations were created with digital media.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
How the Forest Feels: Sensory Play Nature’s Way
by Wendi Silvano (Author), Mirka Hokkanen (Illustrator)
Summary: A grandpa and his grandson take a walk in the forest during autumn, noticing all of the nature around them through touch, such as rough bark, feathery plants, and prickly thistle.
Comments: This is an interactive sensory story with rhyming text and beautiful illustrations created with watercolor on paper with digital touch-ups.
The back of the book has four helpful pages: “Author’s Note, “Make a Texture Mystery Box,” Go On a Texture Hunt!,” and “Stay Safe on Your Adventure.”
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
It’s Fall! (Celebrate the Seasons, 1)
by Renée Kurilla (Author, Illustrator)
Brief summary: A young girl shares what the fall season brings with back-to-school, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.
Comments: Illustrations are in yellows, reds, and oranges. The story is in rhyme.
What a fun book to share with young readers that introduces fall vocabulary.
Large single-page, double-page spreads, and vignette illustrations make this a read-aloud recommendation.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
When Fall Comes: Connecting with Nature as the Days Grow Shorter (When Seasons Come)
by Aimée M. Bissonette (Author), Erin Hourigan (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Young readers will read how humans, wildlife, and nature prepare in the fall for the winter months ahead. Some will harvest and stock up on food, others will build places to sleep, while others will migrate to warmer weather.
Comments: This season series would be an excellent choice to have in any library. I’m looking forward to seeing When Spring Comes.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
On a Gold-Blooming Day: Finding Fall Treasures
by Buffy Silverman (Author)
Brief summary: When fall arrives, nature changes in many ways to prepare for winter.
Comments: Large and brilliant illustrations with fun adjectives, adverbs, and verbs to read aloud.
More in-depth explanations of fall changes are at the end of the book.
The back section includes What Treasures Will You Find in Fall?, Further Reading, and Glossary.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Mid-Autumn Festival (Traditions & Celebrations)
by Ailynn Collins (Author)
Brief summary: Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Moon or Mooncake Festival, is globally celebrated by Asian people. Young readers will learn the origins of the holiday, the lunar calendar, and what traditions and foods people have to observe this holiday.
Comments: The back sections are Glossary, Read More, Internet Sites, Index, and About the Author. Bolded words are found in the glossary.
I wish we had these Traditions and Celebrations books when I was a child. I’m learning so much from reading them as an adult, which has broadened my understanding of other cultures.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Orchards (Trip to the Farm)
by Ursula Pang (Author)
Brief summary: There are many orchards (farms where trees grow)producing fruit, nuts, seeds, syrup, and Christmas trees. Young readers will learn about each type of orchard.
Comments: I placed this book in the fall section as when I think of orchards, I think of apple or fruit orchards because those are the ones in my area that are harvested in the fall. I also had those teachers book requests for fall units before they went and visited a nearby apple orchard.
I enjoyed reading and learning about the different types of orchards and when they were harvested.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The selected children’s books are chosen by a certified, retired elementary school librarian who passionately reads and recommends picture books to teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book enthusiasts.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris recommends are checked out from the public library. The only exception is for the complimentary copies that she receives for an honest review, which are duly noted.