5 Terrific Children's Picture Books About Fall

There are a lot of good children’s picture books about fall. Some emphasize seasonal changes, like the changing colors of autumn leaves; others emphasize fall activities. All have wonderful illustrations. I have also included a poetry book about fall that children will enjoy. I hope some of these books will be new to you as they were to me.

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Leaf Man

Title: Leaf Man
Author and Illustrator: Lois Ehlert
Story: Read my book review of , the story of a leaf man, created when the wind blew autumn leaves around and some landed on the ground in the shape of a man. The author and illustrator, Lois Ehlert, created the striking artwork with color copies of leaves collected from various locations in the United States that she then used to create cut-paper collages.

I recommend Leaf Man for ages 3 to 8. Note: I included two other books by Lois Ehlert, featuring cut-paper collage, on my list of the Top Children's Picture Books About Gardens and Gardening and her book Snowballs in my article about the Best Children's Picture Books About Winter and Snow. For information about how collage artist Lois Ehlert writes and illustrates her children's books, see Ehlert's .
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc.
Publication Date: 2005
ISBN: 9780152053048

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Peepers

Title: Peepers
Author: Eve Bunting
Illustrator: James Ransome
Story: Read my book review of Peepers, a book about the fall foliage tours in New England and how two local boys come to appreciate the tourists ("leaf peepers") and the autumn leaves. I recommend this picture book for ages 6 and older. Note: For more picture books set in New England, see Robert McCloskey's Maine Caldecott Winners.
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc.
Publication Date: 2001
ISBN: 9780152602970

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Leaf Jumpers

In Leaf Jumpers, a little boy and girl, along with their dog, are enjoying the fall leaves, gathering them and playing in the leaf piles. With linoleum block prints and watercolors, Leslie Evans shows their activities from a variety of perspectives.

Carole Gerber’s rhyming text includes a description, complemented by Evans’ illustrations, of the leaves from eight different trees: Ginkgo, White Oak, Basswood, Willow, Birch, Red Maple, Sugar Maple, and Sycamore. At the end of the book is a page-long illustrated description of why and when leaves change color. I recommend the book for children 4 to 8. (Charlesbridge, 2004. ISBN: 9781570914973)

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In November

With lyrical language by author Cynthia Rylant and illustrations done in oils, rich with color and texture, by Jill Kaster, In November presents the changes as fall approaches winter. "In November, at winter's gate," the changes include bare trees, snow, birds leaving, sleepy farm animals, chilly air, a fire in the fireplace and more. Families enjoy fall foods, such as squash and pumpkin, and family members come together to celebrate Thanksgiving.

I recommend In November for ages 4 to 8. The quiet tone of the book makes it a good bedtime story. (Voyager Books, Harcourt, Inc., 2008 paperback edition. ISBN: 9780152063429) Note: For related children's books, see my top picks of the Best Children's Books About Thanksgiving.

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Too Many Pumpkins

While I included the picture book Too Many Pumpkins in my article about the Best Children's Halloween Books, it also belongs here because of the story's emphasis on pumpkins, in this case one woman's unexpected and unwanted large crop of pumpkins in the fall and her solution to the problem of too many pumpkins. The book was published in 1996 by Holiday House with an ISBN of 9780823413201. Linda White wrote Too Many Pumpkins, which features the colorful illustrations of Megan Lloyd.
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