Erica Loop
As the leaves go from summer green to autumn orange, your ever-questioning toddler might be asking a lot of questions about the changing season. Here’s where fall books for toddlers and preschoolers come in!
Picture books are your little one’s entry into the wide world of literacy. Even though these board book easy reads aren’t exactly War and Peace-level literature, they can help your toddler to build their budding vocabulary skills, get familiar with the conventions of print, and learn about symbols. Combined, the early literacy lessons your child gets from children’s books can give them the jump start they need to become life-long readers. If you’re not sure where to begin your fall-themed book search, check out these awesome autumnal options for toddlers and preschoolers.
Editor’s Note: We know raising kids can be hard. That’s why we’re dedicated to making your life easier with the latest and greatest parenting advice and products. We wanted to let you know that if you chose to purchase one of the items featured in this post, we may receive a small commission for it.
1. Leaf Man, Lois Ehlert
Leaf Man is one of the top fall books for toddlers. Not only is this a fave for young readers right now, Leaf Man is a time-tested pick that toddlers and preschoolers have adored for almost two decades. The colorful of-the-season leaf collages in this autumn book are sure to inspire plenty of fall activities in your home art center!
2. The Falling Leaves, Steve Metzger
This colorfully illustrated children’s book will grow with your child. Along with the autumn theme (and plenty of colorful leaves), this fall book may just help your tot to learn about their own emotions. If your child enjoys this book about the changing seasons, take a look at Metzger’s other fall book titles—The Biggest Leaf Pile, The Falling Leaves and the Scarecrow, We’re Going On A Leaf Hunt, Autumn’s First Leaf, The Leaves Are Falling One By One, and When the Leaf Blew In.
3. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn, Kenard Pak
Explore the changing seasons and help your little one say, “Goodbye summer!” in a fun-filled lit-friendly way. Kenard Pak helps children to greet the new season through the eyes of this book’s main character, a young girl who does more than just walk through nature - she also talks to it.
4. Leaves, David Ezra Stein
Stein’s board book follows a young bear and his first autumn experiences. Like your tot, Bear is kind of confused about the falling leaves and the changing season. This illustrated children’s book can help your toddler to learn about nature, the seasons, and what their animal friends do as fall turns into winter.
5. I Love Fall, Alison Inches
This touch and feel board book combines early literacy with a simple sensory exploration. Your toddler can learn about the changing seasons through this children’s book’s rhyming text and textured pages. If your toddler is all about discovering their world, this fall picture book is the ideal option for your autumn-themed story-time sessions!
6. In the Middle of Fall, Kevin Henkes
Caldecott Medalist Henkes introduces everything from pumpkins and apples to colorful fall leaves in this children’s book. And you don’t have to stop the seasonal lessons here! Henkes’ Winter Is Here, When Spring Comes, and Summer Song can help toddlers and preschoolers to explore all four seasons.
7. Mouse's First Fall, Lauren Thompson
Thompson, along with illustrator Bucket Erdogan, creates a toddler-friendly tale that follows Mouse playing in the autumn air! This easy read can help your child to learn about the changing seasons and build color recognition skills too.
8. Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin, Tad Hills
Author and illustrator Tad Hills uses short, simple language and bold colors to craft this fall-themed story. If your toddler falls for this book, check out Hills’ other Duck and Goose titles—Duck and Goose Colors, Duck and Goose Go to the Beach, Duck and Goose It’s Time for Christmas, Duck and Goose How Are You Feeling?, and Duck and Goose Here Comes the Easter Bunny.
9. Apples and Pumpkins, Anne Rockwell
Author Anne Rockwell and illustrator Lizzy Rockwell paint a literary picture of the fall season through a little girl’s trip to a farm. Get ready for your fam’s pumpkin picking adventure with this bold, bright story-time read!
10. Because of an Acorn, Lola M. Schaefer
If fallen acorns are scattered along your normal daily walking path, and these small, strange, seed-like things catch your kiddo’s eye, this kid-friendly fall book is the perfect pick. Not only can your child learn more about acorns, this picture book also helps little ones to learn about the environment by providing more information about acorns, trees, and what your family can do to protect the Earth’s forests.
11. Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf, Lois Ehlert
This Ehlert classic is more than just a great book about the fall season. It also helps kids to learn about the environment. Check out the perfect-for-your-preschooler tree fact glossary. And if you’re looking for fall activities, Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf has instructions for making a bird treat.
12. My Autumn Book, Wong Herbert Yee
From furry critters to fallen leaves, My Autumn Book follows a little girl and her outdoor adventures. Yee’s titles for kids don’t only make it to fall book lists. This author/illustrator has also written other season-inspired picks, such as Tracks In the Snow, Who Likes Rain?, and Summer Days and Nights.
13. The Very Hungry Caterpillar's First Fall, Eric Carle
The iconic children’s book author and his beloved caterpillar character helps toddlers to learn about the autumn season in this colorful kids’ lit pick! The bold fall oranges, reds, and yellows stand out in this unforgettable board book.
14. Sweep, Louis Greg
This leaf-filled book is a little less about fall, and a little more about managing major emotions. But that shouldn’t stop you from adding it to your fall book story-times. A smart selection for preschoolers, this easy read features Ed—a character who learns to maintain his moods by sweeping autumn leaves.
15. The Leaf Thief, Alice Hemming
Older toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy this sweet story! The Leaf Thief follows Squirrel as he searches for a missing leaf. This children’s book explores more than just fall themes. It also focuses on change and how to handle new transitions.
16. The Tree Book, Hannah Alice
Even though this book isn’t all about fall, it’s still an awesome autumn read. With see-through acetate pages, your curious kiddo will learn more about trees, how trees help them, and how they can help the trees.
17. We're Going on a Leaf Hunt, Steve Metzger
This children’s book will get your little one ready for a leaf hunt of their very own! Follow three friends as they search for fall finds in this rhyming tale.
18. The Little Yellow Leaf, Carin Berger
Perfect for preschoolers, author/illustrator Carin Berger creates an autumn-themed story that also helps children to explore themes surrounding change or transitions. Your younger child can follow along as you read this to them right now—and continue to enjoy the book for years to come.
Now that you’ve added these fall books for toddlers to your must-read list, complete your little’s library with Books for Ages Two Through Four and the Best Books for Babies and Toddlers!
