🍁 5 Fall-Themed Stories to Welcome the Season
As the leaves turn golden and the air gets crisp, it’s the perfect time to snuggle up with a good book and a warm mug of apple cider. Whether you're reading with your little one under a cozy blanket or taking your story time outdoors to enjoy the autumn breeze, fall is a magical season for creating reading memories.
Here are 5 autumn-inspired books that are perfect for cozy storytime sessions — plus fun fall-themed ways to enjoy each one!
1. “Leaf Man” by Lois Ehlert
🍂 Why We Love It: This beautifully illustrated story follows Leaf Man as the wind blows him across fields, orchards, and forests. It’s a gentle introduction to nature’s changes in fall.
🎉 Fall Activity: After reading, head outside to collect colorful leaves. Let your child create their own Leaf Person or Leaf Animal and tell their own story using nature as the inspiration!
2. “The Little Scarecrow Boy” by Margaret Wise Brown
🌾 Why We Love It: A classic tale of a young scarecrow boy learning bravery from his father. With rhythmic storytelling and a heartwarming message, it’s perfect for reading aloud.
🎉 Fall Activity: Dress up like a scarecrow for storytime! Use face paint or paper masks and read the story in your “scarecrow voices.” You can even make a small scarecrow together for your porch or playroom.
3. “Apples and Pumpkins” by Anne Rockwell
🍎 Why We Love It: This simple, sweet story follows a family’s trip to the farm to pick apples and pumpkins — a timeless fall tradition for many.
🎉 Fall Activity: Have a picnic with apple slices and pumpkin muffins after reading! Set up a pretend farmer’s market at home and let your child “pick” their own produce while retelling the story.
4. “Fletcher and the Falling Leaves” by Julia Rawlinson
🍁 Why We Love It: This tender story shows Fletcher the fox worried as the leaves fall from his favorite tree. It’s a beautiful way to talk about change and the seasons.
🎉 Fall Activity: Read this one outside beneath a tree losing its leaves. Bring a little blanket and some warm cocoa. Afterward, let your child glue real leaves onto paper to create a fall scene inspired by the book.
5. “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves!” by Lucille Colandro
😄 Why We Love It: This silly, rhyming book brings laughter to fall. Kids love the repetitive rhythm and outrageous items the Old Lady swallows.
🎉 Fall Activity: Use felt pieces or printables of the items the Old Lady swallows and retell the story with a puppet or paper bag Old Lady! Let your child “feed” her the fall items one by one.
🍂 Final Tip: Make It a Fall Book Basket!
Create a cozy corner with your favorite fall books, a soft blanket, a fall inspired essential oil in a diffuser, and some seasonal snacks. Rotate in these fall reads to make each story time special and seasonally magical.
At Books by Rimes, we believe that every season brings new opportunities for wonder, learning, and bonding through books. Celebrate fall with stories that spark imagination and warm your heart.
🍂 Wishing you crisp pages, cozy moments, and countless story time snuggles this season.
Christi
