Books for Autumn
October 13, 2010
I love autumn! I know I say this about each and every season but autumn is just so... wonderful.
We are a reading homeschool family regardless of the season (ie: reading is a priority all year round) but there is something about the arrival of fall that sends us back to the books in earnest.
Fall is the perfect time to hit the couch again, rather than the beach chair or picnic blanket, and snuggle together for a good read. We enjoy a variety of books all year but I especially appreciate celebrating the seasons with seasonal reading.
Over the years I've kept an ongoing list of fall (and spring, summer, holiday & winter) themed books that we have enjoyed reading together. Below are a few favorites from that list. Some of these books have craft ideas and activities. A couple give passing mention to halloween activities which I know are objectionable for some families (just a heads up).
Autumn Reads
Picture Books & Early Readers
Looking for Loons Feels like Maine
In the Leaves Introduces easy Chinese characters.
Pumpkins Interesting reference type book with cool photography.
Flower Fairies of the Autumn Celebration The illustrations are amazing, the poetry so-so but my children just LOVE fairies anything.
Wild Child Perhaps our favorite fall picture/poetry book of all time.
Short Story & Chapter Books
A Pioneer Thanksgiving: A Story of Harvest Celebrations in 1841 Thanksgiving story set in Canada or Northern United States. Canadian Thanksgiving is in October (just 2 days ago in fact) and is definitely a fall celebration whereas US Thanksgiving feels like "the holidays" to me, with Christmas decorations being put up etc..
Autumn Story My children love the Brambly Hedge series of books. All are very seasonal and richly illustrated.
Autumn Moon Great chapter book by the renowned naturalist Jean Craigehead George about autumn in three geographic regions in the United States, ie: it's not just about leaves in New England (smile).
Here's two more chapter books that aren't exactly fall themed but seem perfect to read this time of year.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond The kids and I listened to this while driving on our recent trip to Nova Scotia. The story spans a whole year but feels just right for fall.
Charlotte's Web One of the only chapter books I've read twice to my children, with one of my favorite phrases, "the glory of everything".
Tree Reads
What is autumn without tree books? Spring is when I naturally gravitate to garden and flower books but fall is all about trees. Especially here in Maine with the gorgeous show of color we enjoy. Scarlet maple, golden birch and bronze oak... oh the colors. Simply magnificent.
Woody, Hazel and Little Pip Lovely, lovely, lovely.
Johnny Appleseed Poetry, history, biography.
And have you seen Ginny's Forest and Tree Study resources at her blog Small Things? Go check it out.
In the next week I have two (count 'em - two!) book/reading related posts coming your way. I'm excited to share how our family stocks the bookshelves (on a budget) with quality books and how we've taught our children to read and appreciate the wonders of the written and illustrated word. Oh... this will be fun!
What fall books do you recommend? Adult fiction and non-fiction ideas welcomed also.
