Autumn children’s books for topics in EYFS, KS1 and KS2, including non-fiction guides, picture books, emerging reader books and books to share, by authors including Sam Usher, Lois Ehlert, Ruth Symons, Hazel Maskell, Dianna Aston, Jessica Courtney-Tickle, and Emily Gravett. These suggestions have been curated to provide an impetus for inspiration, display ideas, shared writing, discussion, and home learning activities, as well as classroom topic teaching.
Our recommended autumn topic books for children in EYFS, KS1 and KS2
50 Things to Try in Autumn by Kim Hankinson
From the first fall of leaves to planning Halloween, there’s plenty to keep KS1 and lower KS2 aged children occupied and interested with this journal style activity book. There’s a wealth of ideas here, including step by step guides and challenges to encourage bird feeding, foraging, painting autumn colours, and building spectacular homes for mini beasts, There’s even a handy built-in pocket to keep favourite memories of autumn. Full of fun, 50 Things to Try in Autumn is highly recommended for 5-9-year-olds
The Tiny Woman’s Coat by Joy Cowley and Giselle Clarkson
When the Tiny Woman decides to build a coat from autumn leaves, there’s help from surprising sources as the plants, trees, and animals all chip in to contribute. Using lyrical and atmospheric rhyming verse, this highly illustrated story explores themes of sustainability, loyalty and ingenuity. This book is a useful impetus to spark autumn related creative writing ideas.
Autumn by Clare Collinson
An ideal book for EYFS, with many ideas and questions that will encourage the reader to think and learn about autumn. With poetry, photographs, and paintings, together with descriptions of the weather, and what might be discovered outside, this book will generate lots of interest.
i-SPY Autumn
This interactive pocketbook challenges children to find out more than 150 fascinating things about autumn. This autumn edition features trees, fungi, festivals, bird migrations and stars in the sky to spot during the months of September, October and November. Ticking off each task accumulates points that can be collected for an i-SPY certificate and badge! The timeless i-SPY format will appeal to children aged 7-11 and their parents.
Autumn Adventure by Jessica Tizzard and Natasha Wilder
A distinctive combination book, looking at autumn, yoga, and mindfulness. Using catchy rhyme, the book follows the adventures of Bertie the bird, and Hattie the hedgehog. Yoga exercises are introduced through the animals, together with mindfulness exercises.
Autumn by Ailie Busby
A lovely board book for younger readers to enjoy. Colourful, lively, and full of playful experiences, this book includes leaf kicking, apple picking, and collecting pumpkins as activities. A fun introduction to the colours and delights of autumn.
Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson
A magical book in every sense. Follow the magic three through the four seasons. The reader does not only read this book – it needs interaction to help the tree grow. Using taps, shakes, and wobbles the magic tree changes throughout the year. Beautifully illustrated.
Marney’s Mix-Up by Jane Rushmore
As autumn begins, Marney a grey squirrel discovers a strange red creature collecting all the nuts. When he makes a move to grab the hoard for winter, something very unexpected happens. A good story to teach children about diversity, communication and thinking before acting. With catchy language, fun dialogue and punchy autumnal colours, this is a great book to read and discuss with EYFS and lower KS1 children
By Rowan and Yew by Melissa Harrison
In this sequel to By Ash, Oak and Thorn, Moss, Burnet and Cumulus begin a quest to find a very important child who might be able to save their world. With rich language, evocative nature descriptions and memorable characters, By Rowan and Yew is a spellbinding class reader for upper KS2 pupils during the second half of the autumn term. An earworm of a book for 9-11-year-olds, Melissa Harrison’s latest is a compelling read.
Hoot Owl by Sean Taylor
A sure-fire favourite as hapless Hoot Owl, master of disguise, does in search of some dinner. However, his expert camouflage never seems to fool his prey – with hilarious consequences. A laugh out loud storybook.
The Fox in the Dark by Alison Green
A bedtime story that you will read again and again. With wonderful illustrations and rhymes that children adore. The fox terrifies the rabbit and his friends – but is he really that bad?
Tidy by Emily Gravett
A cautionary tale of Badger Pete who likes everything in the forest to be tidy. With outstanding illustrations from cover to cover and appealing animal characters, this is a gentle introduction to preserving our environment.
Storm by Sam Usher
Spending time with his grandad on a windy autumn day, the boy is excited to go and fly a kite – but first, they have to find it. After discovering lots of things that remind them of other days out together, the two of them take the kite out into the storm. With vibrant autumn colours in the illustrations, this is a lovely tale of relationships to be treasured.
A Stroll Through the Seasons by Kay Barnham
A glorious and colourful book that will enhance and encourage a myriad of questions from the young reader. Each of the seasons is portrayed vividly, with text that provokes enquiry over and over again. There are useful notes for parents and teachers at the back of the book.
We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger
A read out loud adventure! Go with the three friends through the mountains and forests, collecting leaves, and discovering shapes and colours. There’s rhyming text, crunchy sounds, and of course, jumping into a pile of leaves.
Sweep by Louise Greig
Nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal 2019 Not so much an autumn book, but a powerful story to aid children with emotional problems. Ed is in a bad mood and grows to affect everyone around him. Can he sweep his problems away?
The Story Orchestra: Four Season in One Day by Jessica Courtney-Tickle
An inspirational sound book that not only takes Isabelle and her dog Pickle through the four seasons but also plays music from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi. Press the button and each season is symphonically illustrated. A fantastic story to introduce children to classical music.
Seasons and Weather by Holly Bathie
A lovely board book for young children to explore. With many lift-up flaps to investigate, the seasonal changes are displayed in pictures, with great ideas for appropriate clothing in each type of weather.
A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Aston
A charming, informative, and creative book all about seeds. From tiny seeds below ground and different methods of dispersal, the illustrations are beautifully detailed. A great introduction to how to care for plants and their needs. This could lead to a comparison of what we need to grow and flourish.
A Year in the Wild by Ruth Symons
This unique and beautiful book takes the reader through the seasons using incredible hand-pressed plants. Helen Ahpornsiri magically turns leaves, seeds, and petals into fantastic birds and animals, natural habitats, flowers blooming, butterflies swooping, and more. A book not just to treasure but to look at again and again. Our book of the month from April 2018.
A Year in Nature by Hazel Maskell
A carousel book that unfolds to display the four seasons in a large format. The reader is invited to follow a fox family through the year as the cubs grow and the woodland changes. Vivid, colourful illustrations abound.
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson
Fletcher the fox has a favourite tree. However, he notices that something dreadful is happening to its wonderful leaves. What can be wrong? A lovely picture book with a surprise for Fletcher, as first winter, then spring arrive.
What Can You See in Autumn? by Sian Smith
Part of the seasons range for young readers. Filled with photos of what to look out for in autumn, together with simple, repetitive and engaging text, this is a book to read together and enjoy.
Autumn is Here by Heidi Pross Gray
A book that explores Autumn in many exciting ways, following the changes in our surroundings. Vibrant watercolour illustrations enliven apple picking, bonfires, squirrels hiding nuts and much more.
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
Using the medium of collage, Ehlert creates an evocative exploration of the life of a tree. From roots to photosynthesis and sap, all aspects of leaves and seasons are explained.
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
Leaf Man is blowing in the wind. Which way will the wind blow him? True life leaf illustrations and fantastic vistas fill this book – a book that will inspire children to want to discover more. Useful leaf identifying guides are found at the end of the book.
Autumn topic resources and activities
- BBC Teach features a great free video that could be used to introduce topic work or a whole school assembly. (Above)
- The BBC has a series of resources about autumn, including activities and videos suitable for EYFS and KS1. There’s also a list for parents of free things to do with your child during autumn.
- The Woodland Trust has an excellent page describing creative leaf crafts that children can try at home or at school. There are some great ideas for half-term or autumn weekends here.
- Forestry England has produced a series of free activities for children to try in the autumn, as part of their ‘learning passport’.
- Ordnance Survey offers some fun free ideas to try during the autumn half-term holiday, including pumpkin picking and finding outdoor experiences.
- The National Trust features a regularly updated page detailed their children’s events and activities with a focus on autumn, during the half-term period.
To buy all the books in this autumn topic book list, see our bulk order page.
Looking for more children’s book recommendations? Have a look at our books for topics, our EYFS & KS1 books, and our KS2 book recommendations.
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