Fall Fun

Fall is the most glorious time of year, in my opinion. It's a true feast for the senses; the vibrant colors, the warm smells of seasonal favorites, the feel of the crisp air, and the sounds of crunching leaves under your feet. Luckily, my coworkers feel the same way about amazing autumn. We couldn't handle it any longer, we just had to turn one of our unused columns into a tree [display]. It's been a great way to showcase some of the underappreciated books that feature forests and woodland animals.  

In the spirit of all things autumn, here are a few of my more recent favorites for this time of year.

A is for Autumn by Robert Maass
I love this ABC book all about the joys of autumn for kiddos ages 2 and 3. I was drawn in by the cover and photos on each page, so I can forgive some of the not necessarily fall fiting pairs (i is for ice cream, n is for neighborhood...). Understanding that books with photos can become dated quickly, I will keep going to this nonfiction book for as long as I can for my fall storytimes.

Bear Has A Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Erin E. Stead
We meet lovable Bear, who has a story to tell, but all of his friends are too busy preparing for winter.  A sweet story that discusses migration and hibernation in an enchanting way. And who doesn't love the Philip and Erin Stead team?

Flora's Very Windy Day by Jeanne Birdsall and illustrated by Matt Phelan

I absolutely adore the illustrations in this charming picture book. The watercolor images of leaves and siblings floating through the air are the most lovely part of this whimsical story of an older sister and her younger brother who struggle against a "very windy" autumn day.

Awesome Autumn: Fall Facts and Fun by Bruce Goldstone

A wonderful book full of photos, facts, and activities all about fall changes (migration, hibernation, why leaves change color, fall holidays, etc). An important resource for teachers and students in the prek-2 classroom. Due to the nature of the format it is a little tricky as a straight read aloud, but the bright colors, engaging photos and informational text make this one a keeper for sure.