Fall for a Great Read: Books for Fall

Although it's currently cloudy, windy, and rainy with a chance of heavy thunderstorms and wind this weekend due to Hurricane Florence, fall weather is (hopefully!) soon approaching. Seasonal books are among my favorite type of books to read, and autumn-themed books are among the most beautifully illustrated in our collection. Here are some outstanding picks to get you ready for fall:

Apple picking and visting the pumpkin patch are classic fall outings, as sweetly explored in Apples and Pumpkins. Since this ends with children trick-or-treating, this is a great title for anyone who wants Halloween stories that don't focus on the spooky side of the holiday.

The Busy Little Squirrel was one of my fall story time staples when I was a youth services librarian (as were Nancy Tafuri's other titles). This one is actually one of Tafuri's longer stories; we follow a busy squirrel as he prepares for fall, not even having time to explore with other animals. Tafuri's trademark bold, distinct, and clear illustration paired with succinct text makes this a winner for young toddlers as well as preschoolers.

April Pulley Sayre is one of my favorite picture book creators (hopefully, a Caldecott committee will recognize her photography!), and her recent seasonal titles have been absolutely gorgeous. Full of Fall focuses on the transformation of trees in the fall, with text simple enough for preschoolers and kindergartners to understand.

In the Middle of Fall continues Kevin Henkes's "line" of fabulous seasonal picture books. If you need a general informational book about fall for toddlers or preschoolers, don't miss this one.

Although there's still a long way to go, I am thrilled to see more children's and YA (and even adult!) books that feature modern day Native Americans (rather than nonfiction titles produced for school report writing). We Are Grateful: Ostsaliheliga follows a Cherokee community as they observe celebrations throughout the year. This has earned multiple strong reviews (even starred ones!), so I am eager to read this one.

If you want a general seasonal book, rather than one that just focuses on fall, definitely check out Wonderfall. As seasons change and animals, people, and even cars pass by, a tree undergoes its unique changes throughout the year.

Yellow Time is one of my favorite fall titles in recent years; the yellow illustrations are simply gorgeous. You can use this in late fall or even early winter, as animals' preparations for winter are a key part of the story.

Jennifer Schultz, Collection Services Development Librarian, Fauquier County Public Library