50+ Best Fall Books for Kids to Read Aloud This Season

Last month I shared back to school books and shelf decor, and today I’m excited to share favorite fall books for kids!

September is here which means we’re looking forward to falling leaves, apple picking, and visiting the pumpkin patch. These fall picture books are a great way to share the magic of the autumn season with the young readers in your life.

I’ve always enjoyed the simple stories and beautiful illustrations found in children’s books. Now, reading them with my kids is my favorite thing to do each new season! I hope you find this list of fall-themed books helpful if you are headed to your local library or bookstore.

Side note: Since there is a lot of overlap between autumn and Thanksgiving books, I am including them both in this post. So, if you are looking for harvest or Thanksgiving kids books, you are in the right place. For spooky books, check out 50+ Best Halloween Books for Kids!

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Favorite Fall Books for Kids

Here is a list of fall books to read aloud this season! It was difficult for me to narrow it down to 12 top picks, so I’m including a few honorable mentions at the bottom as well 😉

(I am linking the books from Amazon for your convenience, but you can also head to your library, local bookstore, or an online used book seller like Thrift Books for more options.)

1. Because of An Acorn

First up, say “hello autumn” with Because of An Acorn! This simple story is about how a forest’s trees, flowers, and animals are connected. Because of an acorn, an oak tree grows, a bird has a place to build a nest, and so much more! This is a great book about the ecosystem of a forest and how all of the inhabitants play a part.

We actually first read this book on a nature walk at a local park. They had the pages laminated along the path, which was such a fun idea!

2. Leaf Man

Secondly, Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert is a fun autumn book that celebrates nature’s changing landscape through the personification of colorful leaves. The autumn leaves make different shapes, such as a turkey, pumpkins, cows, and fish, before reforming into the leaf man at the end of the book.

We love looking at the different types of leaves (ash, honey locust, maple, sweet gum!) and getting inspired to go on a leaf hunt. A wonderful classic book for fall!

3. The Scarecrow

A simple story for the fall season, The Scarecrow is about an unexpected friendship between a scarecrow and a baby crow and the joy of helping others. This one is a little on the sentimental side for me, but the art style and poetic verse are beautiful!

4. Bella’s Fall Coat

A perfect read for the season, Bella’s Fall Coat follows a little girl who loves to play in the orange autumn leaves, pick apples, and run with the geese. Unfortunately, Bella’s favorite coat is a little too small this year! But after experiencing some grief about the change, she falls in love with the new coat that her grandmother makes for her and finds a special use for her old coat.

5. The Very Last Leaf

The Very Last Leaf follows a little yellow leaf named Lance Cottonwood. Lance is a hard working student who usually excels in school, but is feeling worried about his “final exam”: falling gracefully to the ground in autumn. A good book about how it’s okay to feel afraid, get the support you need, and take the plunge anyway. Also, super cute fall theming!

6. Little Elliot, Fall Friends

A sweet story about making new friends, Little Elliot, Fall Friends follows Elliot the elephant and mouse as they travel from the big city to the countryside for an autumn vacation. Eventually, the pals become separated during a game of hide and seek, but the smell of a delicious pie leads them back together for a fall feast with the farm animals.

We do not have the original Little Elliot Big City book, but I need to pick it up because we love the storybook illustrations and cute characters.

7. The Leaf Thief

This one did not arrive in time for my photos, but The Leaf Thief is a great pick for an autumn picture book! Squirrel is enjoying his morning counting his favorite red, gold, and orange leaves. But wait, a leaf is missing! After questioning Mouse, Woodpecker, and Bird, Squirrel learns that the only leaf thief is the wind.

Kids of all ages will enjoy this silly story, as well as the extra pages at the end that give more information about autumn and falling leaves.

8. Apple Cake

Apple Cake is a lovely book following a young girl and her family who live on a farm. Each page expresses thankfulness: for the simple pleasures of a fall day, for relationships, and for the ingredients to make a delicious apple cake! This is a shorter one without too many words (it reads more like a board book), and the pictures are so cozy and sweet.

The season of fall and thanksgiving is the perfect time to enjoy this story. We want to try the apple cake recipe at the end of the book!

9. Thanksgiving in the Woods

Thanksgiving in the Woods is a sweet book about a community gathering together in thankfulness. A little boy and his family help prepare for a fun day of delicious food, fall activities, and playing music around the campfire. Based on a real Thanksgiving in the woods celebrated by a family and friends in upstate New York! We also love the detailed pictures.

10. Strega Nona’s Harvest

Strega Nona’s Harvest by Tomie Depaola is a great addition to any kids fall bookshelf! We love the colorful illustrations and the charming main character, a woman named Strega Nona who carefully saves seeds and plants a garden each year. Strega Nona’s garden is orderly and neat, but her helper Big Anthony wants to plant a garden in his own way! In the autumn, they harvest enough fruit and vegetables to help their community, too.

This is actually our first Strega Nona book, but I’m excited to read more of them!

11. Sweep

Sweep follows a little boy and his “bad mood,” characterized by a gust of wind blowing leaves around a city. This book has beautiful illustrations and is a great conversation starter about hard days and making a decision to look up and keep going.

Side note: Moods and emotions are complex, and a picture book can only do so much. I mainly chose this book for the pictures of autumn leaves! There are some thoughtful reviews on Amazon that may help you decide if you would like it.

12. Picking Apples and Pumpkins

Finally, I could not write a post about our favorite books for fall without including Picking Apples and Pumpkins! (You will not see it in the photos because our copy is from my childhood and very well-loved.) This book follows a family and friends who spend a day at an orchard. They go apple picking, choose pumpkins from the pumpkin patch, and finally bake an apple pie at home. The epitome of 90s cozy autumn vibes!

This was my absolute favorite fall book as a child, and my kids also love it! So glad that it is still in print.

Honorable mentions: Humongous Fungus, Little Witch Hazel, Always Everly, and The Complete Brambly Hedge.

50+ Favorite Fall Books for Kids

Here are some more of the best fall books for kids, plus Thanksgiving books too!

Fall Books for Kids Styling Ideas for a Bookshelf

Want to style a cute kids bookshelf for autumn? Here are some decor items that you can include.

Kids Bookshelf Garland and Bunting for Fall

First up, try using a felt ball garland or bunting with fallen leaves to dress up book ledges and shelves for the season. Here are some cute ones to consider!

Fall Kids Bookshelf Decor

Secondly, include a cozy blanket, fall throw pillow, or stuffed friend to cuddle with. I went with these little acorn and pumpkin pie Palm Pals that are our favorite to collect!

Autumn Kids Wall Banners

Finally, here are some cute fall wall banners for a kids room or playroom! I reused the same one (size mini) from our back to school bookshelf, but especially love this one for autumn.

Favorite Fall Books for Kids Conclusion

To sum up, fall children’s books are a fun way to share the wonder of the changing seasons with kids. If you have a favorite that I did not mention, I would love to hear what it is in the comments below!

More fun fall inspiration: