15 Fall Children’s Books We Love Reading Every Year
There’s something about pulling out seasonal books that makes a new season feel like it has officially arrived. And fall might have some of our very favorite children’s books.
Changing leaves, apple orchards, chilly walks, harvests, woodland animals, give us all of it. Plus, fall books are such an easy way to help kids notice all the little changes happening outside.
We’ve read through a LOT of fall children’s books over the years, and these are 15 we think are worth tracking down. Some are beautiful and quiet, some are interactive, and others are simply fun stories that capture that feeling of fall.
Most of these books are best for ages 3–7, with a few that work especially well for toddlers or older elementary kids.
Put a few on hold at your library, make a cozy little book basket, and let the fall reading begin.
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Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
A young girl takes a walk through her neighborhood and notices all the little ways the world is changing as summer gives way to autumn. The beautiful illustrations make this one especially fun to read as the seasons begin to change outside your own window.
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson
We love this book! Fletcher the fox becomes worried when his favorite tree begins losing its leaves and tries his very best to save them. Eventually, he discovers that letting go is part of the changing seasons and that something beautiful can come next.
The Autumn Visitors by Karel Hayes
A family of bears secretly joins in on all kinds of classic fall activities, from visiting a farm to experiencing Halloween. Kids will love spotting all the fun little details tucked into the illustrations along the way.
Secrets of the Apple Tree by Carron Brown
This one adds a little bit of magic to your fall reading. Shine a flashlight behind the pages to reveal the animals and other surprises hiding inside and around an apple tree. Because of the interactive pages, it’s a great pick for kids who like to do more than just listen to a story.
Hocus Pocus, It’s Fall! by Anne Sibley O’Brien
Fall changes feel a little bit like magic in this interactive picture book. Kids unfold the pages to reveal colorful autumn transformations, from changing leaves to pumpkins and other signs of the season.
Leaves by David Ezra Stein
When Bear sees leaves falling from the trees for the first time, he isn’t quite sure what’s happening. As the season changes, he experiences autumn and eventually settles in for winter.
This is an especially good one for younger kids.
If You Find a Leaf by Aimée Sicuro
A simple leaf becomes the beginning of an entire imaginary world in this beautiful book about creativity and nature. Each spread transforms real leaves into playful scenes, making it the perfect read before heading outside to collect leaves and create something of your own.
Tractor Mac: Autumn Is Here by Billy Steers
Tractor Mac and his farm friends notice the changing weather and all the work that comes with a new season on the farm. Kids who love tractors, farms, and big machines will especially love adding this one to the fall book pile.
Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson
This is one of those books that makes kids feel like they’re part of the story. Readers tap, shake, clap, and interact with the pages as a tree changes through all four seasons. Even though it’s not exclusively a fall book, watching the leaves transform makes it such a fun one to pull out this time of year.
Tiny, Perfect Things by M.H. Clark
A child and grandfather take a walk together and notice all the tiny treasures they encounter along the way. It’s a beautiful reminder to slow down and pay attention, and a perfect book to read before heading outside for your own fall nature walk.
Apple Cake: A Gratitude by Dawn Casey
This is such a cozy little book about gratitude for all the things that come together to make an apple cake. Its simple, rhythmic text makes it perfect for younger children, and you’ll probably want to bake something with apples when you’re finished.
Little Elliot, Fall Friends by Mike Curato
In this sweet book, Little Elliot and Mouse leave the city for a fall adventure in the country filled with seasonal fun. It’s a sweet friendship story wrapped up in everything we love about autumn.
Fall Leaves by Loretta Holland
Part poetry, part nonfiction, this beautiful book explores the changes happening in nature as autumn arrives. It’s a great choice if you want a book that feels like a story while still giving kids plenty to learn about the season.
It’s Fall! by Renée Kurilla
This colorful celebration of fall follows friends as they enjoy all kinds of seasonal fun. It’s cheerful, bright, and captures so many of the little things kids look forward to when autumn arrives.
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
Lois Ehlert’s signature collage illustrations tell the story of a sugar maple tree—from seed to fully grown tree bursting with autumn color. We love that it combines beautiful artwork with information about how trees grow and change.
Make a Fall Book Basket or Book Shelf
One of our favorite ways to make seasonal reading feel special is to keep a basket of books somewhere the kids can easily reach them.
You don’t have to own them all, either. We love using the library for seasonal books. In fact, if your library offers a delayed or future-start hold system, put your fall books on hold early! You can get yourself into the hold line before everyone starts looking for autumn books and choose a later date for your holds to become active.
Then when fall rolls around, you’ve already done the work.
Add a blanket, make some popcorn or apple cider, and you’ve got a pretty great fall afternoon.
Keep the Story Going
We also love pairing books with something that brings the story into real life. After reading a few of these, you could:
Go on a fall nature walk and collect colorful leaves.
Visit an apple orchard.
Bake an apple cake together.
Press leaves between books.
Visit a pumpkin patch or local farm.
Make leaf rubbings.
Look for the tiniest, most interesting things you can find outside after reading Tiny, Perfect Things.
It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Sometimes reading a book about falling leaves and then walking outside to find a really good red one is enough to make the story feel a little more magical.
If you have a fall children’s book your family pulls out every year, send it our way. We’re always looking for another one to add to our library holds!
X.o. The Threads Between Sisters
