50+ Fall Books for Kids: The Ultimate Autumn Reading List
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While I truly love summer, there is something so incredibly magical and dreamy about fall. The changing leaves, crisp autumn days, pumpkin-flavored everything, apples, corn mazes, sweatshirt weather… I could go on and on. I really think it’s the dreamiest time of year for reading.
And I love pulling out all of our fall books. These are some of my kids’ favorite stories, along with plenty of other fall favorites I’ve collected over the years.
Looking for books to fill your fall reading basket? I’ve gathered a big list of fall favorites for kids, including autumn picture books, faith-based stories, books for young readers and chapter readers, not-so-scary Halloween books, and Thanksgiving favorites.
And if you want to save the list for later, you can download the printable Fall Book List below and keep it handy for library trips, classroom planning, or cozy reading at home.
A Few of My Fall Favorites
If I had to call out just a few titles from the list, below, these are the ones that are at the top of my list and I cannot go through the September/October/November months without reading these with my kids.
The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry - This is one of those books where I love everything about it. The illustrations are some of my favorites, the whole story feels so cozy, and the friendship at the heart of it is just the sweetest. I absolutely adore this one, and it is a must-read in our house every fall.
The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming - My boys always laugh with this one. There is so much silliness and fun as Squirrel tries to figure out where all the leaves are going, and it is just one of those books that is genuinely fun to read together. If you're looking for a lighthearted fall read, this is a favorite around here.
Autumn Is for Apple Pie by Wendy Dunham - Another darling! I love the friendship in this story, and I especially love that this is part of a series of seasonal books—there's one for each season. These are older titles that have recently been published together in a new collection from Harvest House Publishers, which makes them especially fun to discover now.
Autumn Story by Jill Barklem - If you already love Brambly Hedge, you know exactly why this one made my favorites list. And if you've never read Brambly Hedge, you absolutely need to! It has everything I love about those books—the tiny woodland world, beautiful illustrations, cozy details, food, friendship, and all the little rhythms of seasonal life—and Autumn Story brings all of that magic into fall.
Fall Picture Books for Kids
When you combine a cozy fall theme with a delightful picture book, there’s really not much better. These are wonderful choices for family read-alouds, preschoolers, and younger elementary readers.
And because we are a little obsessed with fall picture books around here, we’ve got a longgggg list for you. You’re welcome.
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn - Kendra Pak (part of 4 Seasons)
The Pumpkin Seed’s Secret - Hannah Barnaby
A Bold Pumpkin Plan - Katy Hudson
Oak, The Littlest Leaf Girl - Lucy Fleming
Miss Maple's Seeds - Eliza Wheeler
The Scarecrow - Beth Ferry
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves - Julia Rawlinson
The Leaf Thief - Alice Hemming
Sophie's Squash - Pat Zietlow Miller
The Apple Pie That Papa Baked - Lauren Thompson
Sweep - Louise Greig
I Know It's Autumn - Eileen Spinelli
Hungry Bunny - Claudia Rueda
Hopefully, the Scarecrow - Michelle Houts
How To Make an Apple Pie and See the World - Marjorie Priceman
If You Find a Leaf - Aimée Sicuro
Treemendous - Bridget Heos
Apple Cake: A Gratitude Book - Dawn Casey
County Fair: A Beloved Adaptation of Farmer Boy - Laura Ingalls Wilder
A Very Big Fall - Emmy Kastner
We’re Going on A Leaf Hunt - Steve Metzger
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin - Beatrix Potter
Nature Stories: Little Acorn - IglooBooks
The Golden Acorn - Katy Hudson
The Very Last Leaf - Stef Wade
Ox-Cart Man - Donald Hall
Lawrence in the Fall - Matthew Farina
Johnny Appleseed - Reeve Lindbergh
The Busy Little Squirrel - Nancy Tafuri
Strega Nona's Harvest - Tomie de Paola
Who Goes There? - Karma Wilson
Four Friends in Autumn - Tomie de Paola
From Seed to Pumpkin - Wendy Pfeffer
Fall Walk - Virginia Brimhall Snow
Too Many Pumpkins - Linda White
Seed by Seed - Esme Raji Codell
Porcupine's Pie - Laura Renauld
Because of an Acorn - Lola M. Schaefer
Bear Has a Story To Tell - Philip C. Stead (end of fall/beginning of winter)
Faith-Based Autumn Books for Kids
These faith-based fall books bring seasonal themes together with stories about gratitude, God's creation, kindness, family, and faith. They're especially nice for families, classrooms, and Sunday school settings looking for autumn reading with a Christian perspective.
Gus Gets Badgered: When You Meet A Bully - Julie Lowe
Jax's Tail Twitches: When You Are Angry - David Powlison
In Jesus' Name I Pray - Costi Hinn
The Pumpkin Patch Parable - Liz Curtis Higgs
The Oak Inside the Acorn - Max Lucado
I Can’t Believe My Eyes - Joshua Cooley
📚 Young Readers & Chapter Books
For kids ready to move beyond picture books, this section includes early readers, beginning chapter books, and longer stories that are especially fun to read during the fall season.
Autumn Story - Jill Barklem
Anne's School Days - Kallie George
Heartwood Hotel: A True Home (Book 1) - Kallie George
The Year of Miss Agnes - Kirkpatrick Hill
Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Sophie Mouse: The Maple Festival - Poppy Green
Poppleton in Fall: An Acorn Book - Cynthia Rylant
The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found (Book 4) - Karina Yan Glaser
The Eagle (Lighthouse Family) - Cynthia Rylant
Gooseberry Park - Cynthia Rylant
Autumn Is for Apple Pie - Wendy Dunham
Not-So-Scary Halloween Books
As a Christian family, my husband and I have had lots of conversations about how to navigate Halloween. But one thing we both know for sure: we don’t do scary. No scary costumes, no scary books, no scary movies.
So these are the Halloween-themed books that we actually feel good about and enjoy reading with our kids each year.
The Pumpkin Gospel by is one we read every year when we carve pumpkins, and my kids love it! It even glows in the dark and shares such a great gospel message that ties beautifully into carving a pumpkin.
A Pumpkin For Peter by Beatrix Potter - Halloween but make it Peter Rabbit
I hope this list gives you plenty of ideas for filling your fall shelves this year. There are so many sweet books to discover during this season, whether you're reading together on the couch, heading to the library, reading aloud in the classroom, or simply enjoying a quiet book before bed.
And if you don't want to lose this list, be sure to download the printable Fall Books for Kids list and tuck it away for your next library trip.