As the daylight dims and a crisp fall breeze begins to blow, bundle your little ones up in their sweaters and snuggle together under a cozy quilt with one of these captivating reads for the season.

By A. Noelle

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert (Ages 4 – 8)

Drifting east, over marsh and ducks and geese, or west, above orchards and spotted cows on prairie meadows, Leaf Man travels with the wind. The illustrations in this book are composed of fallen leaves—a playful and whimsical celebration of the natural world that will enrich the imaginative life of your child this season.

 

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman (Ages 3 – 7)

When the market is closed, the world becomes your grocery store. Taking a steamboat to Italy for the finest semolina wheat and hitching a ride to England for fresh milk straight from the cow, little readers travel the globe to gather ingredients for this silly apple pie recipe—a simpler version of the recipe is included in the book.

 

Oliver Finds His Way by Phyllis Root (Ages 2 – 5)

Intent on following an autumn leaf blown by the wind, Oliver doesn’t notice that he’s lost. Alone at the wood’s edge, he starts to cry until he realizes that crying will get him nowhere. Rubbing his nose, Oliver plucks up his courage to face his troubling situation and thinks hard about how he can find his way home.

 

Waltz of the Scarecrows by Constance W. McGeorge (Ages 4 – 8)

On a visit to her grandparents’ farm, Sarah helps make scarecrows by stuffing old clothes with straw and sewing button eyes onto pillow faces. These are no ordinary scarecrows. Dressed in top hats and tails, ball gowns and gloves, they appear to be ready for one magical evening of dancing. The book includes a reader’s guide full of activities and discussion topics for kids.

 

Wild Child by Lynn Plourde (Ages 3 – 8)

Mother Earth gently helps her daughter get ready for bed. Illustrations of late summer greens to fiery fall sunsets and peaceful winter blues present young minds with a lovely tribute to the wonders of nature and family.

 

Woody, Hazel and Little Pip by Elsa Maartman Beskow (Ages 4 – 8)

Two acorn children are carried away by the blustery wind. Mr. Squirrel and the youngest Hazelnut child go on a quest to search for the children, encountering a grumpy troll and the Chestnut boys during their journey.

 

Hello, Harvest Moon by Ralph Fletcher (Ages 3 – 7)

As tired farmers and their families peacefully slumber in their beds, the harvest moon ascends into the sky to work its magic on nocturnal creatures. While some awaken to hunt, work, or play in the darkness, a little girl and her cat begin their nighttime adventure before the start of winter.

Keep Reading

– 5 Enjoyable Reads for the Final Days of Summer

– With Factual and Fictional Animal Friends, Help Your Child Become a Better Reader

– Raising Readers: The Importance of Reading to Babies and Toddlers

Photo: cotaro70s via photopin cc