20 Wonderful Fall Picture Books for Preschoolers (No Halloween)
Cozy, colorful autumn reads—with no Halloween focus
Fall is a wonderful time to curl up with a good book—and preschoolers have so much to discover during this season!
Colorful leaves, apples, pumpkins, busy animals, cooler weather, and changing trees provide plenty of opportunities for conversations and learning. Seasonal books can also help children connect what they see on the page with what they notice in the world around them.
These 20 fall picture books are wonderful choices for preschoolers, whether you’re looking for a cozy read-aloud, books to accompany your family’s autumn adventures, or simply some new choices for your next library visit.
And because not every family celebrates Halloween, this list focuses on fall and autumn, not Halloween.
Links in this post may be affiliate links. Purchases made through these links will not cost you more, but may earn me an affiliate fee.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites. Thank you for using my links.
1. Leaf Man
By Lois Ehlert
After a windy day, Leaf Man blows across the countryside, inspiring children to notice the many shapes and colors found in autumn leaves. Lois Ehlert’s distinctive collage illustrations make this a wonderful choice for encouraging both nature exploration and creativity. https://link.amazon/B0izIYTwi
Try this: Collect a few leaves on your next walk and see what pictures your child can create with them.
2. Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
By Lois Ehlert
This beautifully illustrated book follows the life of a maple tree from seed to growing tree while introducing young children to seasonal changes and the natural world.
It’s a lovely choice for preschoolers who are beginning to wonder why trees change throughout the year. https://link.amazon/B07L09bFS
3. We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt
By Steve Metzger, illustrated by Miki Sakamoto
Three friends set out in search of colorful autumn leaves, encountering mountains, forests, and other adventures along the way.
The repetitive language makes this an especially fun read-aloud for preschoolers who enjoy joining in with familiar words and phrases. https://link.amazon/B02D1FctS
Try this: Go on your own leaf hunt. How many different colors, shapes, and sizes can your child find?
4. Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
By Julia Rawlinson, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke
Little fox Fletcher worries when the leaves begin falling from his favorite tree. Is something wrong?
This gentle story about seasonal change can help young children understand that changes that initially seem sad or worrying can also bring something new and beautiful. https://link.amazon/B08gr0gtC
Talk about it: Ask your child why Fletcher was worried and what he eventually discovered.
5. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn
By Kenard Pak
A young girl takes a peaceful walk through her neighborhood and the natural world, noticing the subtle signs that summer is giving way to autumn.
This quiet book is especially good for encouraging children to slow down and observe what’s happening around them. https://link.amazon/B0bwnQkD0
Try this: Take a walk together and look for three signs that fall has arrived where you live.
6. Because of an Acorn
By Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer, illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon
One tiny acorn can have a surprisingly big impact.
This beautifully illustrated book introduces young children to the connections among trees, plants, animals, and the forest ecosystem. https://link.amazon/B04zkqHqG
Talk about it: Ask, “What would happen if there weren’t any acorns?” There isn’t a need to look for one perfect answer—let your child think through the possibilities.
7. Little Acorn
By Melanie Joyce, illustrated by Gina Maldonado
Follow a little acorn as it grows into a mighty oak tree.
The simple story introduces preschoolers to plant growth, trees, and the changing seasons, making it a nice addition to a fall nature theme. https://link.amazon/B0225Zq8I
8. The Busy Little Squirrel
By Nancy Tafuri
Squirrel is very busy getting ready for winter. Although his animal friends invite him to play, he has work to do!
Young children get a glimpse of seasonal animal behavior while enjoying the repetition and beautiful illustrations. https://link.amazon/B0cGlFcPr
Talk about it: Why is Squirrel so busy? Ask your child what they think he is getting ready for.
9. Mouse’s First Fall
By Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Buket Erdogan
Mouse and Minka explore the sights of fall, discovering colorful leaves and other seasonal delights.
Its simple text and bright illustrations make this a great choice for younger preschoolers. https://link.amazon/B0dG8JMLz
10. Fall Leaves
By Loretta Holland, illustrated by Elly MacKay
Poetic language and beautiful illustrations celebrate the changing leaves and other signs of autumn.
This is a wonderful book for introducing new seasonal vocabulary while helping children pay closer attention to nature. https://link.amazon/B06CHNUzG
11. In the Middle of Fall
By Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
From colorful leaves and migrating birds to changing weather, this book captures that wonderful time when autumn is all around us.
The simple text and bold illustrations make it an appealing read-aloud for preschoolers. https://link.amazon/B0iuIPPTY
12. Fall Mixed Up
By Bob Raczka, illustrated by Chad Cameron
Something isn’t quite right about fall in this silly book!
Autumn traditions and events get hilariously mixed up, giving children the opportunity to figure out what belongs—and what definitely doesn’t. https://link.amazon/B00LxS1Sr
Talk about it: Let your preschooler be the expert. Ask, “What’s silly about this page?” Spotting the mistakes is wonderful practice for observation and reasoning.
13. Apples and Pumpkins
By Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell
A young girl and her family visit a farm to pick apples and choose a pumpkin in this classic celebration of autumn traditions.
The familiar experiences make it easy for preschoolers to connect the story to their own lives. https://link.amazon/B0hnLlvFq
Talk about it: Has your child ever picked an apple, visited a farm, or chosen a pumpkin? What do they remember?
14. Apple Farmer Annie
By Monica Wellington
Annie grows and picks apples, makes delicious foods from them, and sells her apples and baked goods at the farmers market.
Along the way, preschoolers learn a little about where food comes from and what happens between the orchard and the foods we eat. https://link.amazon/B05GvAmyI
Try this: Have an apple taste test. Try two or three different varieties and talk about which are sweet, tart, crunchy, soft, red, green, or yellow.
15. How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
By Marjorie Priceman
What happens when you want to bake an apple pie but the market is closed?
You travel around the world to gather the ingredients yourself, of course!
This imaginative story combines cooking, geography, sequencing, and plenty of humor as the main character searches the world for everything she needs. https://link.amazon/B0hKRKjl8
Talk about it: See if your child can remember some of the ingredients needed to make the pie. Which one would they travel to find first?
16. The Apple Pie Tree
By Zoe Hall, illustrated by Shari Halpern
Two sisters watch their apple tree change through the seasons—from bare branches to blossoms and eventually delicious apples ready to become a pie.
This is a wonderful way to help children understand that the foods we enjoy often begin with plants that need time to grow. https://link.amazon/B0fxDYQ1M
17. Pumpkin Soup
By Helen Cooper
Cat, Squirrel, and Duck have a special way of making their pumpkin soup—until Duck decides he wants a different job.
Their disagreement makes this autumn story about much more than soup. It’s also a fun way to explore friendship, cooperation, and what happens when someone wants to change the usual routine. https://link.amazon/B02T6Q1BT
Talk about it: What could the friends have done when they disagreed?
18. Bear Says Thanks
By Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
Bear’s friends arrive with delicious foods to share, but Bear worries because his cupboards are empty and he has nothing to contribute.
He soon discovers that sharing isn’t only about what you can put on the table.
This warm story provides a natural opportunity to talk about friendship, generosity, and gratitude. https://link.amazon/B0bEIDr6G
19. Wonderfall
By Michael Hall
Clever wordplay and colorful illustrations follow a tree through the autumn season.
This book gives preschoolers opportunities to notice what’s changing around the tree while enjoying the playful language.
Don’t worry if your child doesn’t understand every bit of the wordplay yet. Enjoying the pictures and sounds of the words together is enough. https://link.amazon/B01aW73eK
20. The Scarecrow
By Beth Ferry, illustrated by The Fan Brothers
Scarecrow has spent his life alone in the fields until an unexpected encounter begins to change things.
Beautiful illustrations accompany this touching story about friendship, kindness, compassion, and finding connection in an unexpected place.
This one may lead to some wonderful conversations with older preschoolers. https://link.amazon/B06Pfkt7Q
Note – this one may have Halloween as the word Halloween is in the subtitle.
Why Read Fall Books Together?
Seasonal picture books do more than help us celebrate a favorite time of year. They encourage children to notice the world around them while naturally building kindergarten-readiness skills such as listening, vocabulary, observation, comprehension, and conversation.
But that doesn’t mean you need to turn storytime into a lesson.
You don’t need to ask a question after every page or quiz your preschooler when the story is finished. Simply talk about the pictures, wonder aloud about what might happen next, introduce an unfamiliar word, or connect something in the story to your child’s own experiences.
Those little conversations count.
And please don’t look at this list and think you need to buy 20 new books!
Visit your local library and choose a few. Let your preschooler pick some favorites. Read them more than once. Preschoolers often gain even more from familiar books because each reading gives them another opportunity to notice something new, anticipate what comes next, and join in with favorite parts.
Then take some of that reading into real life.
Go on a leaf hunt. Cut open an apple. Watch a squirrel gathering food. Look closely at a tree that’s beginning to change.
Fall gives preschoolers plenty to explore.
A good book simply gives you one more way to explore it together.
I have not read most of these books, so you may want to pre-read before sharing them with your child.
This post was created with help from AI.
Check out more book lists
Did you enjoy this post? Click the like button to help others find it.
Links in this post may be affiliate links. Purchases made through these links will not cost you more, but may earn me an affiliate fee.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites. Thank you for using my links.
Check out my lists on Benable
Want to help support this blog? You can leave a tip here. Or make any purchase on Amazon with my link, or shop in my Amazon storefront
