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Cozy September Picture Books for Fall

If your kids love fall, then they will love the books on my Cozy September Picture Books for Fall booklist–and you will too! From apples to pumpkins, Johnny Appleseed to back-to-school, this list has dozens of books you will love reading aloud with your kids this autumn.

A collage image of picture books for fall, with the words, "the best cozy picture books for fall."

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What Age Range Is This List For?

These picture books are great for 4-8 year olds, or thereabouts. I also added a few board books for the toddlers in the family. If you have preschoolers, kindergartners, or early elementary age kids, this list is a great place to find your picture books for fall. And, as always, you can certainly read these books with kids older/younger as you feel they will enjoy them!

What’s On This List of September Picture Books

September is a month filled with the changes that fall brings. Harvest. Apples. Pumpkins. A cold snap to the air. Back to school. New classes. New adventures. This list of cozy September picture books covers it all from inspiring biographies to answering the question of “why are the leaves falling?”

I hope you can read these books with your kids while cuddled under a warm blanket together and maybe watching the very first leaves start to fall.

If you aren’t sure where to start, here’s a couple of my very favorites (the entire list follows):

A picture book called, A Computer Called Katherine.

A Computer Called Katherine by Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison

I remember that the thing I dreaded most about the return of the school year when I was growing up was…MATH. This picture book, a biography of human computer Katherine Johnson, will inspire your kids to see the wonder and possibilities of math.

The cover of Just Like Beverly, a children's picture book biography.

Just Like Beverly: A Biography of Beverly Cleary by Vicki Conrad, illustrated by David Hohn

If you are familiar with Beezus, Ramona, and Henry Huggins, don’t miss this biography of Beverly Cleary! You’ll love seeing her characters reflected in the illustrations of a young Beverly and learning about the story behind her collection of wonderful children’s books.

The cover of Ox-Cart Man, by Donald Hall and Barbara Cooney

Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall (Author), Barbara Cooney (Illustrator)

Barbara Cooney is responsible for some of the most memorable and lovely picture books. This is a favorite. Watch the work of an early homesteader as a year passes by. A classic that earned the 1980 Caldecott Medal.

The cover of Leaves, by David Ezra Stein.

Leaves by David Ezra Stein (Author, Illustrator)

A board book about a bear’s first autumn. From attempting to reattach fallen leaves to falling asleep in the middle of it all, you’ll love this tale of the seasons from a bear’s perspective.

Cozy September Picture Books for Fall

And here’s a listing of the categories and titles!

Back To School

A Computer Called Katherine by Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison | A biography of human computer Katherine Johnson.

A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant (Author), Melissa Sweet (Illustrator) | A biography of artist Horace Pippin.

Computer Decoder: Dorothy Vaughan, Computer Scientist (Picture Book Biography) by Andi Diehn (Author), Katie Mazeika (Illustrator) | Another “Hidden Figure”, Dorothy’s story is inspiring!

I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët | A wordless book that addresses kindness, bullying, and friendship.

John Ronald’s Dragons: The Story of J. R. R. Tolkien by Caroline McAlister (Author), Eliza Wheeler (Illustrator) | A book that any enthusiast of J. R. R. Tolkien’s work will love. Eliza Wheeler’s illustrations are wonderful.

Just Like Beverly: A Biography of Beverly Cleary by Vicki Conrad, illustrated by David Hohn | If you are familiar with Beezus, Ramona, and Henry Huggins, don’t miss this biography of Beverly Cleary.

Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain by Cheryl Bardoe (Author), Barbara McClintock (Illustrator) | A biography of the extraordinary eighteenth-century mathematician Sophie Germain.

Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen: The Story of Six Novels, Three Notebooks, a Writing Box, and One Clever Girl by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by Qin Leng | A biography of Jane Austen. Need I say more?

Sweep by Louise Greig (Author), Júlia Sardà (Illustrator) | A fall-themed picture book about bad moods and big emotions.

The Mighty Silent e! (Language Is Fun: Silent Vowels) by Kimberlee Gard (Author), Sandie Sonke (Illustrator) | An imaginative tale about what happens when “Little e” isn’t around to help spell words!

Harvest/Seasons

Christopher’s Harvest Time by Elsa Beskow (Author) | This is a old book that will be a challenge to find, but check your library as Elsa Beskow’s illustrations are very much worth it!

County Fair (Little House Picture Book) by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Author), Jody Wheeler (Illustrator) | A children’s book adaption of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Farmer Boy. The pumpkins!

Fall Walk (Seasonal Walks Series) by Virginia Brimhall Snow (Author) | Learn to identify different leaves and do some crafts too.

Flower Fairies of the Autumn by Cicely Mary Barker (Author) | A book of fairies and poetic verse for fall!

Green on Green by Dianne White (Author), Felicita Sala (Illustrator) | Ok, this is not a fall book. But it’s a seasonal book and you will so clearly see the seasons as you read through with your kids (and notice that the time passing is bringing the arrival of a new sibling closer and closer). It’s lovely.

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak (Author, Illustrator) | A young girl walks through a world changing from summer to autumn.

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? (Mr. Tiffin’s Classroom Series) by Margaret McNamara (Author), G. Brian Karas (Illustrator) | Find the answer in this book!

Johnny Appleseed by Reeve Lindbergh (Author), Kathy Jakobsen (Illustrator) | A book I remember reading when I was little, all about the legendary Johnny Appleseed.

Miss Maple’s Seeds by Eliza Wheeler (Author, Illustrator) | I love this imaginative tale of how seeds get where they are going! A favorite.

Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall (Author), Barbara Cooney (Illustrator) | Watch the work of an early homesteader as a year passes by. A classic not to be missed!

Sophie’s Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller (Author), Anne Wilsdorf (Illustrator) | A pet squash named Bernice…how will this end?

Strega Nona’s Harvest by Tomie dePaola (Author, Illustrator) | Strega Nona for autumn and harvest-time.

The Apple Pie That Papa Baked by Lauren Thompson (Author), Jonathan Bean (Illustrator) | A spin on The House That Jack Built.

Animals In Autumn

Autumn in the Forest (Lift-a-Flap Surprise) Board book from Cottage Door Press | For the babies and toddlers, a fall lift-the-flap book.

Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead (Author), Erin E. Stead (Illustrator) | Animals are busily preparing to hibernate in this beautiful book.

Elmore by Holly Hobbie | A lesson in friendship from a sweet porcupine (great choice for back-to-school).

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson (Author), Tiphanie Beeke (Illustrator) | Answering the question, “why are all the leaves falling?”

Leaves by David Ezra Stein | A board book about a bear’s first autumn.

Orange Pear Apple Bear (Classic Board Books) by Emily Gravett (Author, Illustrator) | Not really about fall, but hey, apples!

Tidy by Emily Gravett | An overly tidy badger destroys a forest with his need-for-clean in this book that prompts conversations about caring for the earth.

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