Fall for Books: Books for Fall

Fall is my favorite season, so as we turn the calendar to September, I'm dreaming of cooler weather, colored leaves, football games,  and holidays spent with family and friends. Fall 2017 won't officially start until September 22, and we probably have a few more days of hot and humid weather; however, if you're a fall fanatic like me, it's not too early to get excited about fall!

While fall is made for outdoor adventures, cool crisp fall days are also made for cozy reading days. Here are some of my favorite fall books for young readers:

Although I'm not including Halloween books in this post (that will come later!), the scope of Apples and Pumpkins focuses on visiting the pumpkin patch and picking out the perfect pumpkin, with Halloween being mentioned only at the end. On the other hand, if you're looking for a Halloween story that's not about the supernatural elements of the holiday, this is an ideal choice.

Awesome Autumn  is a vivid celebration of all things fall--everything from brisk fall weather to playing football outside with friends. A mix of illustrations and photos add variety, with fun craft ideas thrown in for good measure.

The Busy Little Squirrel has been one of my standard read-alouds since it was published in 2007. This simple and attractive tale of a squirrel busily preparing for fall is tons of fun: bright illustrations, opportunities to practice your best animal sounds, and a very determined type-A squirrel.

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn  is a sure bet for these in-between days of summer/fall. Not much to the story--just a very observant nature-loving girl noticing the changes in her community.

The Rookie Reader series is one of my favorites for easy reader nonfiction. How Do You Know it's Fall?  is a top-notch introduction to the fall season for young readers. Topics from the change in weather, animal migration, fall holidays, and more are covered in this attractively designed reader.

Kevin Henkes fans are impatiently waiting for In the Middle of Fall ; not surprisingly, it's already received amazing reviews! When I think of Henkes's illustrations, lovely pastels come to mind, so I'm super excited to see how he works in the rich colors of autumn in his latest story.

Wonderfall is one of the most gorgeous fall-related picture books I've seen. Written/illustated from the perspective of a tree, this is a wondrous journey through leaves changing colors, families celebrating holidays, and animals preparing for the cold winter ahead.

If you're counting down the days until fall, these books will definitely be great to have on hand when fall weather hits for real!

National Dog Day was August 26, but dog books are awesome any time of the day. I recently blogged about my favorite recently published dog books for ALSC.

Jennifer Schultz, Youth Services Librarian, Fauquier County Public Library