It’s Fall, Y’all!
Whether the view outside your window glows with vibrant fall foliage or the thermometer tells a tale of waning heat, there is a universal magic to the transition into autumn. It’s a season that invites us to slow down, lean into comfort, and share stories that warm the room no matter what the weather is doing outside. To celebrate this shift, we’ve gathered a cozy collection of children’s and YA books brimming with harvest festival fun, pumpkin patches, and crisp-air adventures. Pull up a soft blanket and gather your readers close to delve into this year’s fall-focused titles—and if you’re looking for even more festive fall reads, be sure to explore our Fall Leaves & Autumn Reads visual booklist, complete with a downloadable spreadsheet for easy planning.
The Best of Fall, written & illustrated by Andrea E. Beck (BiblioKid Publishing), ages 3–9.
What do you like best about Fall? From state fairs to hot cocoa, caramel apples to trick-or-treating, this rhyming book has the sights and smells that make fall the best of all the seasons. The Best of Fall will take you on a journey through the wonderful things the Autumn season brings.
Book Themes: Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Food / Cooking, Concepts, Family / Community
Fall Day, All Day, written & illustrated by Kari Percival (Penguin Young Readers / Rise x Penguin Workshop), ages 0–5.
From Ezra Jack Keats Award winner Kari Percival comes a joyful celebration of the fall season, inviting children to explore the connections between humans, animals, and nature.
As the leaves change colors and the air starts to crisp, the natural world begins to shift, and so do we. Through vibrant digital woodcut illustrations and lyrical text, award-winning author-illustrator Kari Percival (How to Say Hello to a Worm) captures the magic of fall, inspiring young children to see the ways in which our seasonal routines reflect those of animals and plants in the wild.
An encouraging appreciation for nature, play, and the simple beauty of a fall day.
Book Themes: Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Concepts, Science / Nature, Imagination / Play
Fall Days with Frog and Toad, written & illustrated by Arnold Lobel (HarperCollins), ages 3–7.
Arnold Lobel’s beloved duo Frog and Toad enjoy a friendship-filled Fall in this charming mini-hardcover book.
Join Frog and Toad as they rake in the fallen leaves, tell spooky stories, and bask in the warmth of a friend’s company when the weather gets cooler in autumn with this special gift book. Includes the popular stories “Shivers” and “The Surprise.”
Book Themes: Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Friendships, Animals, Classics
Fall—A Seasons Story, by Kelsey E. Gross; illustrated by Renata Liwska (Simon & Schuster / Beach Lane Books), ages 3–9.
From Kelsey E. Gross and New York Times bestselling artist Renata Liwska comes the next book in the stunning Solstice & Seasons series, this time as the animal pals celebrate fall with a new monarch butterfly friend.
Fall is here, and so is a new friend! Monarch is making her way south before winter arrives, and she needs a safe place to rest. Owl, Mouse, Duck, Rabbit, Squirrel, Chickadee, and Raccoon are ready to lend a helping hand. Soon it’s time for Monarch to continue on her journey, but first a celebration of the season reminds everyone that even when things change, the friends will always have each other.
Book Themes: Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Science / Nature, Animals, Friendships
Falling Into You, by Emma Harrison (HarperCollins / Avon a), Teen (12+).
Gilmore Girls meets America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in this cozy fall paperback original.
Rory Graham is determined to lead her squad to victory at the big cheer competition this fall, but her dreams deflate when one of her bases gets injured. Enter Jacob Reilly, a star soccer player and the most annoying boy Rory’s ever known, who has just lost a bet and been forced to join the cheer squad. Can Rory whip her new teammate into perfect alignment, like everything else in her life? Or is it possible that Jacob is something else—something better than perfection?
Book Themes: Romance, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Contemporary, Sports / Games / Recreation
Froggy: Autumn Antics!, written & illustrated by Paige Walshe (Flying Eye Books), ages 7–9.
Froggy is back for another series of little adventures, but this time, it’s a whole lot chillier— which for Froggy just means cosy fires, playing in leaves, and being his usual curious but slimy self!
Winter is approaching at the pond, and Froggy is gearing up for all the fun that autumn and winter bring. Soup! Reading books in front of the fire! Snowball fights! Leaf fights! Mud fights! But he’s noticed that his pond friends seem to be slowing down and getting ready to sleep through all the fun. Will he get lonely when they all go to sleep, or will he find more mischief to get into?
The perfect cosy comic for Fall fun.
Book Themes: Animals, Humor, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Action / Adventure
Henri and Miko: Autumn in Bosk Olivette, written & illustrated by Rebecca Green (Penguin Random House Canada / Tundra Books), ages 3–9.
Join best friends Henri and Miko for fall festivities in the wooded village of Bosk Olivette in an enchanting picture book series from New York Times–bestselling illustrator Rebecca Green. This beautiful gift book for fans of Beatrix Potter, Brambly Hedge and Calico Critters includes a recipe, activities, a cross-section gatefold and more!
Beyond the Phelps County Orchard, in a stretch of woods known as Bosk Olivette, at the bottom of a lone black maple, you’ll discover a cider press. But not just any cider press . . . welcome to the home of Henri and Miko!
Henri the mouse and Miko the bee adore autumn. From the glow of the harvest moon to cinnamon donuts to ruby red leaves, there is so much to celebrate. And celebrate they do. They might even share a scare or two!
The pair spend their days building leaf forts and reading spooky stories, but Henri and Miko never forget to delight in their favorite time of all: time with friends. Together, it surely will be an autumn to remember.
A delightfully cozy and tenderhearted series of little adventures for little readers—and for big readers who love tiny pleasures!
Book Themes: Friendships, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Animals, Concepts
The House in Poplar Wood, by K. E. Ormsbee (Chronicle Books), ages 9–Teen (12+).
A heartwarming and haunting story about two boys’ desire to be free, one girl’s desire to make a difference, and a family’s desire to be together again. Now available in paperback!
For as long as the Vickery twins can remember, Poplar House has been divided into two parts: On the east side, Felix lives with his father and Death, and on the west side, Lee lives with his mother and Memory. And the brothers are only able to leave the house together on one night a year—Halloween.
This is the Agreement, and it is permanent. They’ve learned that the hard way.
But one Halloween, Gretchen Whipple smashes her way into their lives and offers them a deal: If the twins help her solve the murder of a local girl, she’ll help them break the Agreement.
However, the more the three investigate, the more they realize that something is terribly wrong in the town of Boone Ridge. If they don’t solve the case—and soon—history will repeat itself, and this murder won’t be the last.
Book Themes: Fantasy, Mystery / Thriller, Horror, Family / Community
The Last Leaf, written & illustrated by Ali Pye (Penguin Young Readers / Flamingo Books), ages 3–9.
A sweet, autumnal story about a nervous little puppy named Parker who learns what happens at the end of autumn and that change isn’t always scary; sometimes it can be great! Perfect for fans of The Leaf Thief!
One day, the first leaf fell. It floated down, down, down, and onto the nose of a little puppy called Parker.
Then another leaf fell, and another. And soon Parker started to worry. What if the trees ran out of leaves altogether? And what would happen when the last leaf fell?
With sweet and silly text and gorgeously lush illustrations, this comforting picture book deftly addresses the big feelings kids have and the things they struggle with, like being anxious and dealing with change. The Last Leaf is equal parts science lesson about the changing seasons and reassuring story for the worrywarts of the world. Perfect for fans of Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, Have You Seen My Acorn?, and Wemberly Worried!
Book Themes: Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Science / Nature, Animals, Social Emotional Learning
Meet November, written & illustrated by April Martin (Sourcebooks / Sourcebooks Wonderland), ages 3–9.
Celebrate the months of the year with this adorable picture book featuring the yummiest month of all: November!
Meet November, who is ready to eat. Join him as he celebrates all the fun fall traditions on his way to Thanksgiving dinner!
Created by a former elementary school teacher, the Calendar Kids series is the perfect tool to educate and entertain. Each book focuses on the weather, traditions, and holidays of a specific month through a sweet story, charming character, and cool pet. With adorable illustrations and a seasonal theme, this installment of the Calendar Kids series is perfect for young readers ages 5 to 8!
Book Themes: Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, School / Education, Friendships, Concepts
Meet October, written & illustrated by April Martin (Sourcebooks / Sourcebooks Wonderland), ages 3–9.
Celebrate the months of the year with this adorable picture book featuring the spookiest month of all: October!
Meet October, who has a hard time being brave. But when his pet spider, Boo, goes missing, will he be able to face his fears and find the fun this spooky season?
Created by a former elementary school teacher, the Calendar Kids series is the perfect tool to educate and entertain. Each book focuses on the weather, traditions, and holidays of a specific month through a sweet story, charming character, and cool pet. With adorable illustrations and a seasonal theme, this installment of the Calendar Kids series is perfect for young readers ages 5 to 8!
Book Themes: Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Social Emotional Learning, Friendships, Science / Nature
Meet September, written & illustrated by April Martin (Sourcebooks / Sourcebooks Wonderland), ages 3–9.
Celebrate the months of the year with this adorable picture book featuring the most colorful month of all: September!
Meet September, who is so ready for fall, Deaf Awareness Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month. When her teacher assigns an autumn nature walk, she can’t wait to find all the signs of her favorite season, but will September and her friends find a colorful leaf before the scavenger hunt is due?
Created by a former elementary school teacher, the Calendar Kids series is the perfect tool to educate and entertain. Each book focuses on the weather, traditions, and holidays of a specific month through a sweet story, charming character, and cool pet. With adorable illustrations and a seasonal theme, this installment of the Calendar Kids series is perfect for young readers ages 5 to 8!
Book Themes: Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, School / Education, Friendships, Cultural Diversity
Millie Fleur’s Pumpkin Problem, written & illustrated by Christy Mandin (Scholastic / Orchard Books), ages 3–9.
Autumn has arrived, and the residents of Garden Glen are feeling dreary thinking about the gray months ahead. Lucky for them, Millie Fleur has a plan to bring color back to town. Her unusual pumpkin patch is sure to delight her neighbors.
But when Millie Fleur’s growing gourds take on a life of their own, she’ll have to find a way out of this pumpkin problem!
A new compact storybook featuring kid-favorite character Millie Fleur, Millie Fleur’s Pumpkin Problem is the perfect pick for fall! Includes stickers!
Book Themes: Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Humor, Family / Community, Science / Nature
Now You Have a Pumpkin Patch, by Molly McNamara Carter; illustrated by Anna Lazareva-Zubova (Lawley Publishing), Concepts, ages 3–9.
Did you know there is a pumpkin called a Baby Boo? It’s true!
Get ready for a fun-filled adventure with pumpkins! Starting with little seeds, follow the amazing journey of pumpkins from where they grow to all the magical things you can do with them along the way.
This cheerful rhyming book is sure to make you smile and help you fall in love with pumpkins. Who knows? You might even be inspired to grow your very own pumpkin patch
Book Themes: Science / Nature, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Family / Community
Practically Magic, by Jen Calonita (HarperCollins / Avon a), Teen (12+).
On the eve of Halloween, a sister’s well-intentioned love spell turns into a curse in this witchy, flirty rom-com perfect for fans of The Ex Hex, Gilmore Girls, and Practical Magic.
The Hadley sisters of Mystic Hollow are magic. Literally.
But for all the generations of witches behind her, Kat Hadley could swear that she’s utterly invisible to boys.
Then she learns that her perfect older sister, Harriet, cast a curse to protect her from heartbreak. Kat is so furious, she loses control—and it’s not just their sisterhood that shatters. It’s magic itself.
Suddenly, every spell a Hadley witch has ever cast starts reversing. Spells to do good start bringing evil. Curses to repel suddenly attract. And the veil between worlds begins to thin. If Kat and Harriet don’t do something fast, this Halloween might be Mystic Hollow’s last.
As they race to repair the balance of magic—and their relationship—Kat notices that every crush who’s ever rejected her is suddenly magically lovesick. Even her annoying class rival seems to have fallen under her spell. For the first time in her life, she feels practically magic. Who cares if it’s all just a spell?
Book Themes: Occult / Paranormal / Supernatural, Romance, Coming of Age, Humor
Pumpkin on a Vine, by David L. Harrison; illustrated by Alice Feagan (Holiday House), ages 3–9.
See how a pumpkin grows! First graders can read this book on their own!
Take a pole. Poke a hole. Drop a seed. Pull a weed.
Before long, a sprout comes out. There’s sun and rain, and a vine grows. There are blooms and bees, and then—BOOM! A pumpkin!
This book aligns with the science of reading. Phonics features of every word are listed. Offers phonics practice with long vowels.
David L. Harrison is an award-winning poet and picture book author who holds a degree in science. Cute farmer mice in Alice Feagan’s cheerful illustrations are fun for children to follow!
Book Themes: Animals, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Science / Nature, Daily Life
A Season for Falling, by Kate O’Shaughnessy (HarperCollins / Storytide), Teen (12+).
A swoony, heartfelt, and evocative standalone paperback original romance about first love, second chances, and finding yourself in the season of change—perfect for fans of Misty Wilson’s FALLING LIKE LEAVES and anyone looking for their next Gilmore Girls-esque fall read.
Some seasons change everything….
Five years ago, Claire was a child star, the goofy punchline of one of America’s favorite sitcoms. Until a series of devastating betrayals by her manager-father left her broke, humiliated, and desperate to disappear.
Now she’s just another high school senior in postcard-perfect Glenridge, Connecticut, determined to leave her past behind. Not even her best friend knows who she used to be—or that she’s scraping together every spare dollar to hopefully attend NYU.
When a movie shoot lands in Glenridge—and with it, her former co-star and ex–best friend, Luke Cordova—it threatens to stir up not only Claire’s past, but also the dizzying crush she once had on Luke. He offers Claire a deal: let him shadow her to research his role, and he’ll pay enough to make her college dreams possible.
As the woodsmoke-tinged October air grows colder, and she falls for Luke (again), Claire must confront what really drove her to hide—and whether she can step back into herself without being consumed by everything she’s tried to forget.
Book Themes: Romance, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Friendships
Sign the Seasons: Fall, by Kathy MacMillan; illustrated by Ekaterina Ladatko (Familius), ages 3–7.
Sign along to the activities, traditions, tastes, and scenes of fall with this adorable board book from ASL expert Kathy MacMillan—an engaging tool that helps little ones communicate while celebrating the season.
Signing with young children isn’t complete without the seasons! Sign the Seasons: Fall teaches eight essential signs for every child and parent to know during the autumn season, including fall, trees, leaf, squirrel, popcorn, pumpkin, apple, and pie.
With a simple story about the activities, traditions, and scenes that make fall special, children can learn American Sign Language (ASL) in context, making it perfect for baby communication and early learning. Even better, each sign includes adorable illustrations from Ekaterina Ladatko and accurate instructions from ASL expert Kathy MacMillan so that children can practice them again and again.
Nothing makes learning sign language more fun than colorful leaves and pumpkin treats!
Book Themes: Non-English Languages, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Concepts, How-to / Interactive
Snow Geese Season, by Angela Burke Kunkel; illustrated by E. B. Goodale (Random House Children’s Books / Random House Studio), ages 3–9.
A poignant picture book about a boy caught between two homes, who finds peace and belonging with his grandfather and the snow geese that return each year.
On a weekend when mom can’t have him, and dad can’t either, a young boy stays with his pops. He sleeps on the couch, and pops wakes him early, when it’s still dark. After a ride in the old truck, past farms and houses that are still sleeping, they pull off the main road. Wrapped in plaid blankets and holding a too-hot thermos of cocoa, they wait. Side by side. Listening. Watching. And then—a sound. A sky filled with wings. And then a field transformed, turning bright white. The snow geese have arrived.
With a lyrical voice and breathtaking illustrations, here is the deeply moving story of a child navigating a challenging family situation, and discovering comfort and connection with the rhythms of nature—and with a loving, present grandfather.
Book Themes: Family / Community, Animals, Science / Nature, Social Emotional Learning
Squirrel and Duck’s Autumn Adventure, by Harriet Stone; illustrated by Moonlie Fong Whittaker (The Quarto Group / words & pictures), ages 3–5.
Discover the magic of autumn with Squirrel and Duck’s Autumn Adventure, a heartwarming picture book that blends storytelling, learning, and creative play.
In a gentle tale set among crunchy amber leaves, Willow the duck and her friend Kit the squirrel explore the excitement and beauty that autumn brings.
Their joyful game of hide‑and‑seek takes them from treetop branches to a cosy canal boat, where an unexpected encounter with a tiny mouse leads to a brand‑new friendship. Along the way, they notice the colours, textures and changing rhythms of the season.
Complete with a child‑friendly fact file, a make‑your‑own squirrel and a make-your-own duck craft, and a spot‑the‑difference puzzle, this charming book offers hours of fun for little nature‑lovers.
Join Kit and Willow and celebrate the wonder of autumn!
Book Themes: Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Animals, Action / Adventure, Friendships
Stick Season, by Cam Higgins; illustrated by Ariel Landy (Simon & Schuster / Little Simon), ages 5–9.
Scrapper enjoys every dog’s favorite time of year—stick season—in the fifth story in a chapter book series from the creators of Good Dog!
The autumn leaves have fallen, and it’s officially stick season! Wherever Scrapper goes in the forest, he sees sticks, sticks, and more sticks. It’s a doggy paradise! But today, Hank and his family are gathering the sticks for a mysterious reason…and it’s not gnawing or playing fetch. What could it be?
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, Scrapper chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.
Book Themes: Animals, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Humor, Imagination / Play
Trust Fall, by Lynn Painter (Simon & Schuster / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers), Teen (12+).
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies, Lynn Painter, comes a rags-to-riches rom-com about a small-town girl whose family inherits a fortune and moves to New York City, where she meets a big-city boy hiding an explosive secret.
Julia is just a small-town girl from Nebraska who loves her peaceful life. But when her elderly next-door neighbor—who just happens to be a secret multi-millionaire—leaves everything to Julia and her family after his passing, Julia is swept away to live in a historic brownstone in New York City and attend an elite private school for the super-rich.
It should be a dream come true. Wrong. Julia doesn’t fit in at her new school; worse, she’s failing. Enter Damion, the mysterious and handsome tutor who will get Julia back on track. Except Damion has a secret. He is the great-nephew of the man who left everything to Julia’s family. Damion doesn’t buy for a second that the person who was like a father to him would leave his home to strangers. And he’s determined to prove it.
To uncover the truth, Damion schemes to earn Julia’s trust. Not an easy task, with Julia unsure about this rich boy with a rebellious personality. But the more time Damion spends with Julia, the more his plan begins to backfire. Because he is falling for the enemy—and the enemy is falling for him.
As Damion and Julia figure out where they belong, can they see past their differences and act on their feelings, or will the trust Damion has worked so hard to gain fall apart?
Book Themes: Romance, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Humor
Welcome, Little Squirrel, by Daniel Cañas; illustrated by Verónica Aranda (Cuento de Luz), ages 3–9. Also available in Spanish!
Hazelnut the squirrel’s nest was in a hole in a tree, and she had everything ready for Winter: a warm bed made of leaves, a pantry full of nuts, and hundreds of seeds hidden in secret places all over the forest …
Winter is just around the corner, and Hazelnut has worked hard to get ready. In her cozy nest high up in a tree, the little squirrel watches the last leaves of the fall flutter past, when suddenly the tree trunk crashes to the ground. Oh no! The beavers have chomped it down! Hazelnut is heartbroken. What will she do now?
Luckily, the beavers realize their mistake and quickly offer her their home. The squirrel makes an effort, working hard to carry logs across the river, but soon abandons the idea of spending her days in the water. Later, while searching for a new place to shelter, she meets the bats, who kindly offer her their cave for the winter, but…
The first snowflakes are falling… Will Hazelnut find a comfy home in time? An exciting adventure through the forest that will invite readers to discover the importance of tolerance and respect for living together, and how generosity and solidarity flourish in the face of adversity.
Book Themes: Animals, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Action / Adventure, Social Emotional Learning
Looking for more great reads?
Be sure to check out our other Themed Collections for some amazing titles!
