It’s that time of year again: time for preschool to start – and almost time for the leaves to begin to fall. So, it’s the perfect season to share autumn-themed books with your preschooler, with TheSimpleParent.com recommending 15 books to check out. When the weather is pleasant, you can enjoy reading these in your backyard or in a nearby park – and they also make good bedtime stories.
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
Number 1 on the list is Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert. Here’s what American Bookseller has to say about what makes this particular book so special: “Lois Ehlert uses watercolor collage and pieces of actual seeds, fabric, wire, and roots in this innovative and rich introduction to the life of a tree. A special glossary explains how roots absorb nutrients, what photosynthesis is, how sap circulates, and other facts about trees. Children will beg to share this book over and over.”
Mouse’s First Fall
This book is written by Lauren Thompson and here is School Library Journal’s praise of the book: “Bright hues evoke the season and realistically show the leaves in all their variety. Swirling brushstrokes and texture add interest to the paintings. Each spread has one or two simple sentences, and additional comments (Pretty! Yippee! Whee!) are spread throughout to add to the fun. This is a pleasant read-aloud for introducing autumn.”
Leaf Man
TeachPreschool.org praises another autumn-themed book by Lois Ehlert: Leaf Man. This book explores how fallen leaves, along with other goodies found in Mother Nature, can be made to look like animals – or even people – at craft time. TeachPreschool.org shares a craft wherein children glue a leaf onto a piece of construction paper and then creatively turn this leaf into another creature. The writer recommends using Crayola Twistable Slick Stix to color on the leaves themselves.
When Autumn Comes
BrightHubEducation.com recommends this book by Robert Maass. This book uses real photography to share autumn’s glorious colors with children. Many of the photos were taken in New England where hues can be especially vibrant – and easy-to-read captions can get your young child engaged in reading.
Autumnblings
The site also recommends this book by Douglas Florian, one that can encourage the silly side of your preschooler. It contains colorful illustrations along with fun and simple rhymes about what’s fun – and not so fun – about the season.
Autumn is Here!
Pre-kpages.com recommends this book by Heidi Pross Gray, especially if your child loves to have fun words trip off of his or her tongue. To accompany the watercolor illustrations, Gray includes words such as flutter, bundled, scattered, chattered and hoard.
It’s Fall!
That site also includes a book by Linda Glaser with “stunning cut-paper art . . . both beautiful and fascinating. Take the time to ask your students how they think the author/illustrator created the pictures and invite them to do the same – lots of fun!”
Reading tips
Read together every day, making it a fun and affectionate time between you and your child. Share how much you love reading and let your child know your reading time together is one of your favorite parts of the day. Use different voices as you read. Have fun! Discuss what's in the book and make reading an interactive, enjoyable experience for your child. Find more reading tips at ReadingRockets.org
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