Hi there, and happy autumn to my Northern Hemisphere friends! My name is Ellie Brooks, I'm a mom of two from Washington State and a former art teacher turned homeschool mom. I share my love of picture books, art and education over on Instagram. This will be our second full year of Wondergarten and I am honored to get to share my love for it with you here.
We are approaching October and the warm smells of beeswax and spices are starting to fill our days. The weather is turning blustery and porches are beginning to glow with the oranges and yellows of pumpkins and lantern light.
Autumn picture books are some of my favorites and there are so many wonderful ones out there. I chose my top four books to highlight for each of the weeks of October, that we not only love, but that I feel will fit beautifully into a wide variety of homes around the world. Below those, you’ll find a more extensive list of seasonal titles. You can shop all the titles listed here. You can also check your local library or second hand stores.
Spice Week
Along with many of you, I’ve found Spice Week to be a tricky one when it comes to picture books. I have had some great suggestions from the community about how they are expanding upon the theme. This week we join Puddleblume for a cup of tea and also say farewell to the fairies until spring. With that in mind, I chose books not only with fall flavors in mind but also themes of cozy tea and the call of autumn migrations.
- A Fall Treasury of Recipes and Wisdom by Angela Fanning
Includes many child friendly recipes and projects including one for stove top potpourri.
- Masala Chai Fast and Slow by Rajani LaRocca
I am feeling very inspired to break out the cardamom pods and try my hand at homemade chai since reading this book. There is even a recipe at the back!
- Little Goose's Autumn by Elli Woollard
This book is filled with stunning illustrations and through the story we learn how the different animals of the first prepare for winter. For one in particular, (much like our fairy friends) the answer lies southward.
- Owl at Home: Tear Water Tea by Arnold Lobel
You'll see Arnold Lobel pop up over and over in my book lists. Owl at Home doesn't get a much fanfare as Frog and Toad but it is one of the coziest little books you'll ever read.
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Good Morning Neighbor by Davide Cali
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The Spice Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallota
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Days with Frog and Toad: Shivers by Arnold Lobel
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Migration by Gail Gibbons
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Animals in winter by Henrietta Bancroft
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Winter Lullaby by Barbara Seuling
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Canada Goose at Cat Tail Lane by Janet Halmann
Wind Week
I look forward to reading these stories all year.
- Frog and Toad All Year: The Surprise by Arnold Lobel
This might be my favorite fall story of all. As a child the humor in it would have gone over my head but as an adult its charm makes me smile every time.
- The Story of the Wind Children by Sibylle von Olfers
This book is filled with stunning illustrations of the magic of childhood.
- Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
Some of my favorite autumn books fit into more than one category. Leaf Week is coming in November and this book will fit right in again.
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Books and Audio)
This is a two for one. I grew up watching The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh on VHS at my grandma’s house, while doing Jigsaw puzzles. Did you know you can listen to an Audio production of this classic Disney film, narrated by Christopher Plummer and the full cast? Look for it on your favorite music streaming service. I have also been collecting the books and Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day is perfect for Wind Week.
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Days with Frog and Toad: The Kite by Arnold Lobel
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The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins
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The Little Kitten by Nicola Killen
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Let’s Read and Find Out: Feel the Wind by Arthur Dorros
- Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson
Pumpkin Week
Every year we plant pumpkins on our little farm but we also have volunteer plants pop up in the compost, the flower garden, and in cracks in the concrete. We never know what color or shape they will be and watching them grow all summer is a joy I nevertire of. It seems that I’m not alone in that feeling, as several of my favorite pumpkin stories are about that very thing.
- Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White
This might be my very favorite pumpkin book. In this story, volunteer pumpkins start as a nuisance but become the thing that brings a community together. It has a beautiful message about how we can take a tricky situation and turn it into something that serves and brings you to others.
- From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer
I am always reaching for Let's Read and Find Out books as my first choice of non fiction with my little ones.
- The Pumpkin Seeds Secret by Hannah Barnaby
This lovely poem is one I look forward to reading each year and follows a pumpkins lifecycle from seed to harvest and highlights its versatility both as a food and a shelter. I think Rutabug would approve.
- Lilly's Surprise Pumpkins by Beth Charles
Speaking of volunteer pumpkins, this sweet tale is full of educational tidbits about not only how pumpkins grow, but also how they feed animals in the winter months. Of course, they feed people too and there are four delicious recipes in the back to try.
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The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Seven Kroll
- The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons
- The Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs
- Sophie's Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller
- County Fair by My First Little House Books
- Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell
Lantern Week
This week, we get a glimpse into how cultures around the world say farewell to the harvest season. Some of the books below touch on holiday traditions while others are simply about the beauty of light.
- Pumpkin Moonshine by Tasha Tudor
Tasha Tudor is one of my favorite illustrators. You’ll find another of her beautiful books listed below.
- Dark on Light by Dianne White
I love this story year-round but especially in summer and fall. Dianne White’s poetic writing is beautiful to read aloud and it is filled with captivating illustrations of a night spent exploring nature by flashlight and moonlight.
- Yin Li’s lantern by Brenda Williams & Benjamin Lacomb
This beautiful story takes place on the day of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival that teaches us how putting others before ourselves and doing so with a cheerful heart is often rewarded in unexpected ways.
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The Lighthouse Cat by Sue Stainton
- Books about lighthouses often feature lanterns but this one has an especially whimsical twist.
- A Time to Keep by Tasha Tudor
- Hector Fox and the Raven's Revenge by Astrid Sheckels
- Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
- Lantern House by Erin Napier
- The Night Gardener by The Fan Brothers
- Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter & Connie Roop
- When the Sky is Like Lace by Elinor Lander Horwitz
You can shop all these books by category here.
I am sure I've missed some great books so if you have a favorite you are excited to pull out for the weeks of October, let us know in the comments! I would love to check it out.
Happy Spice Week!
-Ellie Brooks