Fall brings so many distinct new sounds, colors and smells. Is there a better way to introduce kids to the wonders of the season than through reading? Here is a list of our favorites. Borrow them from the library, or get a copy of your own (click on the titles to go to Amazon), and get excited for fall!
FOR THE YOUNGEST READERS
Mouse’s First Halloween by Lauren Thompson and Buket Erdogan
Poor mouse encounters all sorts of spooky sights and sounds on his first Halloween, which give him quite a fright. Kids help him discover that these scary things are just leaves, bats, even trick-or-treaters. They are not so scary after all!
Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boynton
You’re never too young to ponder the age-old dilemma: what am I going to be for Halloween? Kids join beloved Pookie as he tries on all sorts of silly and serious disguises and finally finds his perfect costume.
Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills
Join Duck and Goose as they search for a pumpkin in all sorts of unlikely places: in a log, in a lake, and in a tree. Spoiler alert: they find one in a pumpkin patch!
You’re My Little Pumpkin Pie by Natalie Marshall
This is a new addition to our library, but it is already a hit! It is a beautifully illustrated ode to your little pumpkin pie / bedtime bat / spooky ghost. Warning: it elicits all kids of warm and fuzzy feels!
FOR THE SCAREDY CATS
I Dare You! by Nicole Maubert
A fun touch-and-feel book which turns fears into play. Brave kids tickle a scary monster, check for ghosts under the bed, and even put their hand in the mouth of a hungry wolf! It’s a great accompaniment to the millions of “there’s nothing to be afraid of” conversations you will have this season.
Go Away Big, Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
A great way to show kids they are in charge of their fears. In this classic die-cut book kids make a monster by turning the pages, complete with sharp, white teeth and big yellow eyes. Then, they can make him go away!
There’s a Monster In Your Book by Tom Fletcher and Greg Abbott
A fun and interactive book about getting the monster out of your book… and then putting him back. Kids get to turn the book, blow on it, and make loud noises to try and scare the monster out. A fun role reversal, making kids the scarers, not the monster.
FOR THOSE CRAVING A FRIGHT
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Perfect for any time of year, including Halloween. It is a story of Max, the wild thing who was not scared at all, and became king of where the wild things are… but ultimately decided to came home for supper. A beloved classic story that is a must for any home library.
Eat Pete! by Michael Rex
A monster appears at Pete’s window, and Pete is excited to play with him. The monster does not want to play though… he just wants to eat Pete! Will he do it?
Olivia… and the Missing Toy by Ian Falconer
Join brave Olivia on a dark and stormy night as she looks for her missing toy. Yes, it’s all a little creepy, but Olivia will not let fear stop her from finding her favorite toy.
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown
Warning: this book is not for the faint of heart! A children’s book with the look of an old-school thriller, it tells the story of clever carrots who scare Jasper so much that he stops eating them. It perfectly channels all the feels of childhood fears. I know it’s about carrots, but I recommend reading during the day.
Goodnight Goon: A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex
A fun showcase of all things ghoulish and scary, all written in the cadence of the beloved Goodnight Moon. A sure hit with a school-aged audience.
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler
A fun rhyming adventure featuring a witch who makes some great friends as she flies around on her broom, friends who narrowly help her escape being eaten by a dragon!
FOR THE PUMPKIN SPICE FANS
Sixteen Runaway Pumpkins by Dianne Ochiltree and Anne-Sophie Lanquetin
Join Sam the racoon on his trip to the pumpkin patch, and the hijinks that follow as he tries to get his 16 pumpkins home. Thankfully, the whole story ends in pumpkin pie!
Raindrop, Plop! by Wendy Cheyette Lewison and Pam Paparone
A beautifully illustrated book about a rainy day. It is a fun way to get excited for playing in the fall weather, and then cleaning up and warming up at home.
Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins
No one likes being picked last, especially one poor little stemless pumpkin! A warm story about worries, insecurities, and ultimately finding your own place in the world, no matter your differences and imperfections.
What are you reading this fall? Let us know in the comments below. We would love to add new stories to our collection for this season.
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