65+ Best Children’s Books About Fall for Preschool

As the fall season starts the air gets cooler and the leaves change colors, there’s nothing better than curling up with your kids and reading together.

Rainy fall days, apple cider, pumpkin patches, and colorful leaves all make the autumn season the perfect time to enjoy a good book.

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In our homeschool, reading is one of our favorite daily activities. My kids often grab 4 or 5 books at a time, so I’m always on the lookout for fresh seasonal reads. 

Today I thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite fall picture books, lots of them include pumpkins!

Note: While we have an ever growing collection of fall books we like to get a lot of our seasonal reads from the library.

The Best Preschool Books About Fall (Kids of All Ages Will Enjoy)

Fall themed books are a fun way to bring the beauty of autumn indoors with stories about apple picking, leaf hunts, harvest moons, and pumpkin patches.

Today, I’m sharing 65+ of the best children’s books about fall for preschool and young learners. (Don’t miss the free printable fall book list at the bottom of the post!)

This book list includes classics, silly stories, sweet rhyming tales, and beautifully illustrated picture books that celebrate the changing of the seasons. 

Related Post: 50 Fun Fall Activities for Families

Whether you’re looking for a board book for toddlers, a charming story about a little girl in the pumpkin patch, or a high-quality autumn book to read aloud with young readers, you’ll find the perfect book here.

Classic Fall Favorites

These timeless fall books are perfect read alouds for preschool and kindergarten students.

Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White

Rebecca Estelle ate too many pumpkins growing up and refuses to deal with them, until one smashes in her yard! 

This sweet story quickly became one of my family’s favorite fall books. It’s a fun book with colorful illustrations that captures the harvest season perfectly. We read this book multiple times each fall.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams

A classic fall read-aloud with clomping boots, shaking gloves, and a silly story young children love. It’s a great book for preschool and kindergarten students learning about the autumn season. 

It’s one of our families favorites to read each year. It’s fun for kids to do actions for the different movements in the book.

There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves by Lucille Colandro

This seasonal retelling of I know an old lady who swallowed a fly with a holiday twist is a fun read. This book is sure to bring a smile to your face and possibly a giggle or two.

My kids always think it’s so funny all the things the old lady swallowed. (We love the whole series of these books)

Duck and Goose, Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills

My oldest loved the Duck and Goose books when he was a toddler, so we grew a collection of them. In this simple book for little learners and toddlers. Duck and Goose search for the perfect pumpkin in this sweet story with cute illustrations.

The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin by Stan & Jan Berenstain

I had to add this book because it’s one I remember reading with my mom when I was growing up. The beloved family of bears heads to the pumpkin contest at the Bear Country harvest festival, you’ll have to read to find out who wins. 

It’s a great addition to your fall-themed books collection, and little readers will love the ending.

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

This beautifully illustrated picture book uses real leaves in collage art to create imaginative characters and scenes. 

Children follow Leaf Man on his journey as the wind carries him over fields, pumpkin patches, and through orchards. It’s a wonderful way to spark creativity and get kids excited about a leaf hunt in the fall.

We love going on a leaf hunt and making leaf people after reading this book. 

Favorite Books About Leaves

Introduce your little learners to autumn leaves with these beautifully illustrated stories. They are the prefect picture book to read before going on a leaf hunt or doing crafts with fall leaves.

The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming

Squirrel is upset when one of his beloved leaves goes missing, and he’s determined to find out who the culprit is. With the help of his woodland friends, he discovers the natural signs of the coming season. 

This silly story with colorful illustrations helps young readers understand seasonal changes in a fun and lighthearted way. (It’s one of my personal favorites to read each fall).

The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger

This sweet autumn story tells of a little leaf too scared to let go of its tree. When it discovers it’s not alone, the little yellow leaf finds courage to embrace change. 

With beautiful illustrations and a sweet message, this is a perfect book for teaching children about being brave and the beauty of new beginnings.

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak

In this poetic and beautifully illustrated story, a young girl takes a walk through her town as summer slowly shifts into fall. Along the way, she greets trees, animals, and plants, noticing the changes happening all around. 

This gentle read is a wonderful way to introduce preschoolers to the idea of changing seasons. (We love this whole series of books).

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert

Told through vibrant collage illustrations, this story takes readers through the life cycle of a tree from seed to sapling in a simple story. Children learn about the beauty of autumn leaves and the changes that happen in nature. 

It’s a wonderful book for curious kids and a great story to read and do along with a fall craft.

Why Do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro

This nonfiction picture book explains the science behind autumn leaves in simple terms young readers can understand. With clear illustrations and easy-to-follow text, it answers children’s questions about why leaves turn red, yellow, and orange. 

The book is a perfect blend of science and storytelling for preschool and elementary students. It’s a great story to read and do along with a fun science experiment. 

We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger

Inspired by the classic song “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” this playful rhyming story takes children through mountains, forests, and rivers in search of colorful leaves. 

The repetitive text and fun rhythm make it a great read-aloud. Preschoolers will love joining in and pretending to gather leaves along the way. It’s the perfect way to start a story time that takes the kids on a leaf hunt.

Hello, Fall! by Deborah Diesen

This cute story follows a young girl and her grandfather as they enjoy the simple joys of autumn. From apple picking to jumping in colorful leaves, the book celebrates family traditions and the beauty of the season.

 I love the illustrations that go along with the gentle text of the story, it’s a cozy autumn read for preschoolers and kids of all ages.

Fancy Nancy and the Fall Foliage by Jane O’Connor

If you’re not familiar with Fancy Nancy, your life is missing out on some “Fancy”. 

Fancy Nancy’s colorful adventure through the fall foliage makes this a fun book for young girls who love a touch of fancy. With bright illustrations and sweet humor, it’s a perfect read for the new season.

Leaves by David Ezra Stein

This cute story has very simple text and is about a bear in his first year experiencing the season changes. The story not only combines the changing seasons but also hibernation. 

Books about Apple Orchard Adventures

The perfect books to pair with an apple-picking field trip or other fun apple activities.

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall

This fun picture book shows how an apple tree grows and changes throughout the seasons. Kids will enjoy following along as the apples grow and are finally baked into a delicious pie.

This is a great story to read before baking an apple pie! 

Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell 

A simple, charming story for young students about the joys of picking apples and choosing pumpkins in the fall. 

The story is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers; it captures the excitement of autumn traditions.

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman

When the local market is closed, a girl travels the globe to gather ingredients for her apple pie. You’ll have to visit many different places to get the very best crops for your apple pie. 

This imaginative and fun adventure blends geography with the fun of baking. It’s definitely a story you’ll want to read this fall. 

Amelia Bedelia’s First Apple Pie by Herman Parish 

Amelia Bedelia is a favorite at our house and you’ll love reading about her try at making an apple pie. 

Amelia Bedelia tries her hand at making an apple pie, with plenty of silly mix-ups along the way. Kids will laugh at her literal misunderstandings while enjoying a fun fall story.

Apple Picking Day! by Candice Ransom

This cheerful sweet rhyming story takes readers on a fun-filled day of picking apples. With bright illustrations, it’s a perfect fall book for preschoolers and beginning readers.

The Apple Pie That Papa Baked by Lauren Thompson

This cumulative story follows the making of a delicious apple pie; from the sun that warmed the tree, to the apples that became the pie. With rhythmic, repetitive text and warm unique illustrations, it beautifully captures the joy of simple traditions. 

This sweet story celebrates gratitude for the world around us and the love shared in making something together.

Apples Apples Apples by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

This cute book is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers with simple illustrations and an easy to follow story. The bunny family goes apple picking; they learn about apple trees and bring apples home with them to make a treat. 

At the end of the book you’ll find some fun apple sayings and an apple song. 

Seed by Seed: The Legend and Legacy of John “Appleseed” Chapman by Esmé Raji Codell

This lyrical biography brings the story of Johnny Appleseed to life, teaching lessons about kindness, nature, and leaving the world better than you found it.

Applesauce Day by Lisa J. Amstutz

Follow a family’s cozy annual tradition of making applesauce together. A warm, nostalgic story that celebrates family, food, and fall memories.

Kids Books About Pumpkins

These pumpkin-themed books are perfect for preschoolers and kids of all ages to read throughout the month of October.

Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell 

This story follows a boy’s pumpkin after Halloween as it slowly decomposes and sprouts again in spring. It’s a wonderful way to introduce children to the life cycle of plants. 

It’s Pumpkin Time! by Zoe Hall

A brother and sister plant pumpkin seeds and watch them grow through the seasons. The story builds up to the excitement of carving jack-o’-lanterns at Halloween at the end of the book. 

With simple illustrations and an easy to follow story this is a cute book for young kids. 

From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer

This nonfiction book explains how pumpkins grow in a simple, engaging way. With illustrations and facts, it’s a perfect read for a fall science study.

The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis

A giant pumpkin rolls out of control, creating a hilarious adventure for everyone who tries to stop it. The bouncy rhymes make it a fun read-aloud for autumn.

Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper 

Three friends always make pumpkin soup together, until one wants to do things differently. This sweet story teaches lessons about sharing, cooperation, and friendship.

Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie by Jill Esbaum 

Packed with real photographs, this nonfiction book shows the journey of pumpkins from seed to pie. Simple text makes it a great pick for early readers.

Pick a Pumpkin By Patricia Toht

This cute rhyming story is short and sweet with cute illustrations. First pick a perfect pumpkin from the patch and then follow along as the pumpkin is prepared to be a Halloween Jack O’ Lantern. 

We’re Going on a Pumpkin Hunt by Mary Hogan Wilcox

This sweet book is a Halloween version of “we’re going on a bear hunt” and follows the same rhythm as the classic story. Kids will love going on a bear hunt with all of these animal friends. 

Related Post: Don’t Eat Jack Free Printable Halloween Game

Pete the Cat 5 Little Pumpkins by James Dean 

​This cute picture book is perfect for counting 1 through 5. If you’re kids like watching the show Pete the Cat they will really enjoy this picture book. 

Spookley the Square Pumpkin  by Joe Troiano

Pumpkins aren’t supposed to come in different shapes are they? This cute picture book about a square pumpkin is such a cute one about how being different is a good thing. 

Harvest Season & Farm Life

These are some of the best fall books about the harvest season and farm life. They are perfect for reading to autumn visitors at farms, pumpkin patches or corn mazes.

The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri

As autumn arrives, join squirrel in gathering food and preparing for winter. With simple text and cute illustrations make it a great book for toddlers and preschoolers.

The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown 

Another cute scarecrow story is this classic tale follows a scarecrow boy who learns from his father how to be brave. It’s a timeless story about growing up with courage and determination.

The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry

A beautifully illustrated story about an unlikely friendship between a scarecrow and a small bird. Its gentle rhymes highlight kindness, love, and compassion. It’s one of those beautiful high-quality books to add to your picture book library. 

Hocus Pocus, It’s Fall! by Anne Sibley O’Brien 

This magical rhyming story celebrates the arrival of autumn. Colorful illustrations and whimsical text make it an enchanting read-aloud.

Sweet Autumn Stories

Hello, Harvest Moon by Ralph Fletcher 

This gentle story describes the beauty of a quiet autumn evening under the harvest moon. Soft illustrations make it a calming bedtime read.

Fall Mixed Up by Bob Raczka 

Autumn traditions get hilariously scrambled in this silly book. Children will enjoy spotting the mix-ups while learning about fall traditions.

Fall Leaves by Loretta Holland

This poetic book explains the science behind falling leaves in a lyrical way. Children learn about nature while enjoying beautiful illustrations.

 The Very Last Leaf by Stef Wade

​This cute story about Lance Cottonwood is such a cute story about conquering fear and not letting worries take over. 

More Fall-Themed Books Preschoolers Will Love

One Leaf, Two Leaves Count with Me by John J. Micklos 

This cute counting book is simple and colorful and shows the four seasons as you count leaves. 

Otis and the Scarecrow by Loren Long

When a scarecrow seems lonely, Otis the tractor shows kindness and friendship even when it’s not returned. This is a heartwarming tale about kindness and compassion.

Because of an Acorn by Lola Schaefer

This story shows how a tiny acorn is part of a big cycle of life, after reading this story is a great time to talk about how little things can make a big difference. Beautiful illustrations connect kids to nature.

Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead 

As winter approaches, Bear wants to share a story with his friends but they are too busy preparing for the cooler temperatures. This sweet story encourages patience and kindness.

The Very Best Pumpkin by Mark Kimball Moulton 

Peter finds a special pumpkin that helps him make a new friend. This sweet story blends kindness and fall fun.

Even More Great Autumn Books

Mouse’s First Fall by Lauren Thompson 

Mouse discovers the joy of jumping and playing in colorful fall leaves. This simple story is perfect for toddlers discovering colors and shapes.

In November by Cynthia Rylant 

With poetic language, this book captures the quiet beauty of November. The warm illustrations make it a cozy seasonal read.

The Thank You Book by Mary Lyn Ray 

This gentle story encourages gratitude during the autumn season not just for the big things but also for the little things. It’s a lovely read to pair with Thanksgiving.

Little Elliot Fall Friends by Mike Curato 

Charming rhymes tell the story of friends exploring fall together. The bright illustrations highlight the joys of the season.

Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak

This lyrical book is perfect for the end of fall as we gently transition from fall to winter. The illustrations show seasonal changes beautifully.

In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes 

This sweet story captures the little details that make fall special. The gentle rhythm and artwork make it a great read-aloud.

Fall Walk by Virginia Brimhall Snow

Children join a walk through nature to discover 24 different types of leaves you can find in the autumn. It’s both an educational and artistic seasonal read.

The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt by Riel Nason

A ghost made of quilt feels different from the other ghosts but learns to see the beauty in being unique. This cozy bedtime story is perfect for autumn nights.

​Related Post: Halloween Picture Books and Reading Challenge

Leif and the Fall by Allison Sweet Grant

Leif the leaf is afraid of falling, so he comes up with clever ways to stay in his tree just a little longer. This sweet and funny story is a creative take on facing change and trying new things.

Little Tree by Loren Long

A beautifully illustrated tale about a small tree that refuses to let go of its leaves. With a touching message about growth, courage, and letting go, this book is a timeless fall favorite.

Sweep by Louise Greig

A poetic and visually stunning story about a boy named Ed who lets his bad mood grow and grow, until a gust of wind helps him clear it all away. A perfect read for cozy fall days and big feelings.

Tidy by Emily Gravett

Pete the badger loves to keep the forest clean…maybe a little too clean! A charming and humorous story about balance, nature, and learning when to stop tidying up.

Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber

With lyrical text and vibrant illustrations, this book invites kids to jump into the beauty of autumn leaves while learning about the different types and colors they see around them.

Sophie’s Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller & Anne Wilsdorf

When Sophie adopts a squash from the farmer’s market as her new best friend, she learns a heartwarming lesson about love, friendship, and the cycle of life. A tender fall classic.

Summer Green to Autumn Gold by Mia Posada

This stunning nonfiction picture book blends art and science to explain how and why leaves change colors. It’s a perfect mix of beauty and learning for curious young readers.

Storm by Sam Usher

Sam and his grandpa head out for a windy adventure as a storm rolls in. Full of excitement, warmth, and beautiful watercolor illustrations, this story captures the magic of blustery fall days.

Yellow Time by Lauren Stringer

A poetic celebration of that golden, fleeting time of year when the world glows yellow and leaves fall like confetti. The perfect cozy read to welcome the season.

I Know It’s Autumn by Eileen Spinelli

From apple cider to school days and cozy sweaters, this cheerful rhyming story captures all the simple joys that tell us autumn has arrived.

Fall Leaves by Martha E. H. Rustad

A simple and engaging nonfiction book that helps young readers understand what happens to leaves in fall. Great for early learners and homeschool nature study.

Free Printable Fall Book List

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