Cozy Autumn Books for Kids
This list features our family’s favorite autumn books! These are books we reach for each year to welcome the season. I always preview books first to make sure they’re age-appropriate, in line with our values, and to plan how to bring the story to life.
Why read fall-themed books with your child?
Seasonal books make fall exciting! They’re one of my favorite ways to bring the seasons into our home. They help children notice changes in nature- such as leaves turning, squirrels gathering acorns, and cooler weather- and connect what they see in books to the real world. My daughter is always so excited when her favorite books return each year. Revisiting beloved stories year after year creates a comforting rhythm, and it becomes a special family tradition.
Storing seasonal books
I keep our autumn books tucked away until the season arrives. With limited space, I own only a few favorites and rely on the library for the rest. I recommend placing library holds a couple of weeks in advance for seasonal books, especially for popular titles. While I’ve linked the titles below on Amazon for convenience, I usually check our library first, and this year I’ve only purchased used copies through ThriftBooks or eBay. If your library doesn’t have a book you’re looking for, you can submit it as a purchase suggestion, and in my experience, every book I’ve recommended so far has been added to their collection.
Other book lists for Autumn
Fall Themed Book List
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
Fletcher thinks his favorite tree is sick when the leaves start falling, but then he gets a wonderful surprise as he learns what happens when the seasons change.
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn
A beautiful book for teaching about what changes when autumn arrives.
Autumn
A lovely little book with beautiful illustrations. With no text, this book is perfect for practicing story telling. This book is great for babies and toddlers, but my almost five year old still likes looking at the pictures and telling her own little story about fall.
Pumpkin Soup
A sweet and soothing story about three friends that love to make pumpkin soup, with lessons about friendship and sharing.
Woody, Hazel, and Little Pip
A whimsical story about acorn children that go on adventure when the wind sweeps them away on a fall leaf.
Stone Soup
A true classic with themes of sharing, caring, community, and working together.
Mrs. McNosh and the Great Big Squash
A silly, cute, and short story for autumn!
Possum’s Harvest Moon
A sweet story about friendship, celebration, and making time for what’s most important. The gentle story and cozy illustrations capture the magic of fall and the importance of cherishing simple moments with loved ones.
Wild Child
A lyrical autumn bedtime story where Mother Earth gently guides her spirited daughter, Fall, toward rest. It beautifully captures the season’s changing colors and rhythms of nature.
The Leaf Thief
A playful and funny story about a squirrel who can’t figure out where all the beautiful autumn leaves are going. Filled with humor and warmth, it’s a lighthearted story that reassures children about the changes that autumn brings.
Leave Me Alone!
A whimsical and relatable modern folktale that I enjoy as much as my daughter! In this laugh-out-loud funny story, a grandmother just wants some peace and quiet to finish her knitting before winter comes.
Autumn Story: Brambly Hedge
A gentle, nostalgic tale set in the enchanting world of Brambly Hedge. With beautiful illustrations and a heartwarming conclusion, this autumn story is the perfect cozy read for bedtime.
A Fall Ball for All
A beautiful rhyming story about animals gathering to feast on windfall: food that the autumn wind shakes from the trees. This book is a cheerful celebration of autumn!
Sweep
In this story Ed’s bad mood grows until it sweeps through his whole town. This beautiful story offers a gentle exploration of how our emotions can grow and how we can find calm again.
Strega Nona’s Harvest
A delightful tale of magic, community, and the joys (and mishaps) of autumn’s bounty. With charming illustrations and gentle humor, this story celebrates generosity and the spirit of the season.
Sophie’s Squash
A charming and relatable story about a little girl who adopts a butternut squash as her new friend. The squash doesn’t last through winter, but the story gently reminds us that new beginnings always follow with the spring.
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
With beautiful collage art, this story follows the life of a sugar maple tree, from seed to sapling to the vibrant colors of fall. It’s a wonderful introduction to the wonder of trees and the magic of autumn.
Baby Loves Fall!
A lift-the-flap book about fall! Perfect for babies and toddlers, and honestly, at 5-years-old my daughter still loves to flip through this book!
Ox-Cart Man
A story about the value of hard work, simple living, and the changing seasons.