“Onions were made into long ropes, braided together by their tops, and then were hung in the attic beside wreaths of red peppers strung on threads. The pumpkins and the squashes were piled in orange and yellow and green heaps in the attic’s corners.
The attic was a lovely place to play. The large, round, colored pumpkins made beautiful chairs and tables. The red peppers and the onions dangled overhead. The hams and the venison hung in their paper wrappings, and all the bunches of dried herbs, the spicy herbs for cooking and the bitter herbs for medicine, gave the place a dusty-spicy smell.
Often the wind howled outside with a cold and lonesome sound. But in the attic Laura and Mary played house with the squashes and the pumpkins, and everything was snug and cozy.”
The Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (now in full color!)
Autumn has long been my favorite season.
Fall color.
Boots and hoodies.
Back-to-School.
Hot apple cider and pumpkin bread.
Harvest, Halloween, Thanksgiving.
I love it all. And as a mom, Fall Picture Books are yet another favorite of the season! There are an incredible number of children’s books to celebrate Autumn, and we’ve FALLen in love with many! Over the past few years, the kids and I have read well over a hundred fall-themed children’s books together, and we have selected our very favorites to share with you today. I’m even including a “cross-curricular” / nonfiction section to use as (or with) a Homeschool Fall-Science Unit Study! Who says pleasure reading can’t have a little purpose thrown in there, too?
So brew some hot apple cider and cuddle up with your kiddos around a few of these color-rich books to celebrate the awesome autumn!
FALL FICTION; our Top-Picks by age
~ACORNS (under 3)~
A colorful yet grounding celebration of autumn.
Nature-steeped enchantment with a textured, sparkling surprise.
~PUMPKINS (ages 3-6)~
- The Turnip by Jan Brett (a real gem)
A classic folktale with an extra helping of whimsy and a twist ending.
One of the finest versions of this favorite folk tale, Jerry Pinkney’s “The Little Red Hen” has fall flair to spare.
As much a square-dance as a book, this cheerful sing-song read-aloud paints everything on the farm in a circle of harvest life, with the apple pie as king. Smiles and giggles abound.
Although the title says WINTER days, this first-little-house-book depicts all the lovely fall days leading up to winter. This picture book of the world’s favorite little pioneer girl is simply delicious in its old-world simplicity.
All the wonder of a country fair comes to life in this first-little-house book.
~SCARECROWS ( ages 6+ )~
The intro quote in this post evidences the fact that this beloved classic celebrates autumn like no other book I have ever come across. Harvest is at its best when put into words by Laura Ingalls Wilder. And then to have it illustrated by Garth Williams . . . it’s almost unfair to all the other books. I think the only person in the world who loves this book more than I do is our son.
Yet another fall triumph by Wilder, every single chapter in this book makes me hungry.
- Homer Price by Robert Mccloskey
A silly, celebratory read of boyhood larks that just so happens to be set in autumn. Oh, and it’s Robert McCloskey.
CROSS-CURRICULAR / NONFICTION FALL; Top-Picks by age
~ACORNS (under 3)~
Little science for little people has never been so charming.
This is a perfect beginner’s mammal unit study for fall!
“Leaf Man” is a nature-study and an abstract art exhibit in one. Who knew autumn leaves had so many possibilities!
~PUMPKINS (ages 3-6)~
The title is just the beginning to the celebratory explosion of yellow in this book. “Yellow Time” is a vibrant autumn walk through a chalk park.
Everything you ever wanted or didn’t want to know about apples. Thank you, Gail Gibbons for making kids experts on simple, humble, everyday miracles.
A fun fall adventure in stunning color and subtle history.
As lovely as it is educational, “Ox-Cart Man” is a treasure from my own childhood, now passed on to our children!
HAPPY READING and HAPPY FALL!
Thanks for reading!
Love, ~Our Holistic Homeschool~
This post is just in time! I see glimpses of some orange and yellow on a few trees. The sun is warm but the wind is brisk. Great reading list for fall!
Me too! The color is starting early this year 🙂