Listed below are selected teacher resources, picture books, and non-fiction related to fall (autumn).
Teacher Resources
Harvest days: Celebrating fall with rhymes, songs, projects, games, and snacks
written and compiled by Durby Peterson, illustrated by Marion Hopping Ekberg
Grades: K-1
Contains a variety of hands-on projects and movement games appropriate to the fall season.
Learn every day about seasons: 100 best ideas from teachers
edited by Kathy Charner, illustrated by Deb Johnson
Grades: K-1
Numerous activities which explore seasonal changes. Each activity includes learning objectives, related vocabulary, related children’s books, materials needed, instructions for the activity, and an assessment component.
Nature’s day out and about: Spotting, making, and collecting activities
written by Kay Mcguire, illustrated by Danielle Kroll
Grades: K-3
An activity book for all four seasons. Sow seeds in spring, go pond dipping in summer, collect leaves in fall, and make an ice sculpture when it’s cold in winter. With lots of spotting collecting, making, and coloring activities, this book is the perfect way to connect with nature, whatever the season.
written by Joy Evans and Jo Ellen Moore, illustrated by Jo Larsen
Grades: 1-4
Art project ideas that correspond with the four seasons, and the weather and holidays associated with each.
by Janice VanCleave
Grades: 3-7
Presents experiments and activities in such fields as astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics that are related to one of the four seasons.
Picture Books
written by Shauntay Grant ; illustrations by Tamara Thiébaux-Heikalo
Grades: K-3
Apples and Butterflies is a gentle, lyrical poem about a family’s autumn vacation and shows Prince Edward Island in a light we don’t often see—the bright blue and orange light of fall.
by Matthew Cordell
Grades: K-5
Bears gathering nuts? Geese hibernating? Squirrels flying south for the winter? These silly poems mix up all the things we know about fall – can you find the mistakes on each page?
written by Lizann Flatt, illustrated by Ashley Barron
Grades: 1-3
What if animals and plants knew math, just like you? Would leaves fall in patterns? Would whales enter a race? Nature in the fall comes to life to help children grasp concepts of number sense and numeration.
written by Loretta Holland, illustrated by Elly MacKay
Grades: K-2
This poetic picture book puts autumn on display and captures the spirit of change that stays long after fall leaves. The book shows the secrets of this busy and beautiful time of year as the natural world makes way for winter.
written by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Judy Stead
Grades: 3-5
Rhyming text and illustrations portray the sights and sounds of autumn, from “rakers, leapers, and corn crop reapers” to “trickers, treaters, and turkey eaters.”
written by Cecilia John
Grades: K-3
Come north to Saik’uz (sigh-kuz) located within the Dakelh (dah-kay-lth) Territory and see the leaves turn colour in fall! A triple-language resource written in Carrier, English and French. Pronunciation guide for the Carrier words in the story available here. Part of the Dakelh series.
written and illustrated by Loren Long
Grades: K-3
Little Tree is very happy in the forest, where he is surrounded by other little trees and his leaves keep him cool in the heat of summer, but when autumn comes and the other trees drop their leaves, Little Tree cannot be persuaded to let his go, even after they wither and turn brown.
written by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Nancy Hayashi
Grades: K-3
A rhyming celebration of the sights, smells, and sounds of autumn, such as pumpkin muffins, turkey stickers on spelling papers, and piles of raked leaves.
written by Ralph Fletcher, illustrated by Kate Kiesler.
Grades: K-2
While tired farmers and their families are in bed, the harvest moon silently climbs into the sky and starts working its magic. For some, it is the nightly signal to rise and shine. It is time to hunt, to work, or to play in the shadows. For a little girl and her cat, it is an invitation to enjoy the wonders of the night and a last flood of light before the short days of winter set in.
written by Jan Andrews, illustrated by Susan Rennick Jolliffe
Grades: K-3
Following the pattern of the old Christmas carol, this seek and find book invites participation in a treasure hunt. Where is that fourth milkweed pod? Where are all those blackbirds? Is the ninth warbler really back there in the sky?
Non-Fiction
written by Terri Mack
Grades: K-1
Fall is the season between summer and winter. The months of fall are September, October and November. What are some activities that you and your family do during the fall months? Part of Strong Nations’ Strong Readers leveled reading series which is full of science, numeracy, social responsibility, language arts and oral language teachings. The entire series is interconnected and follows the cultural values of frog, bear, eagle and raven throughout. For more in the series, click here.
by Molly Aloian
Grades: K-3
Fall is the most appropriately named season. From cooler temperatures and fewer daylight hours to colourful leaves and warmer clothing, young readers will discover the many signs of the fall season.
by Terri DeGezelle
Grades: K-3
Find out why seasons happen, and see how fall brings changes for plants, animals, water weather, and people.
written by Betsy Maestro, illustrated by Loretta Krupinski
Grades: K-3
Explains how leaves change their colors in autumn and then separate from the tree as the tree prepares for winter. For more in the “let’s-read-and-find-out science” series, click here.
Finding More Resources
To find more resources in this area, try the following:
- Search using the General tab on the UBC Library website to look for material in all UBC Library branches.
- Search using “Search Education Resources” box in the left hand bar on the Education Library website to limit your results to materials in the Education Library.
- Use specific search terms to narrow your results, such as “autumn–fiction”, “autumn–juvenile literature”, “seasons–juvenile literature”.
- To find lesson plans, include “lesson plans”, “lesson planning”, or “activity programs” in your search terms.
For more help with searching, please visit the Library Service Desk or e-mail ed.lib@ubc.ca.