Enjoying Autumn with Your 0-Year-Old! A Special Selection of Picture Books Perfect for Read-Aloud Time
Picture books are an important presence that nurture the heart of a rapidly growing newborn.
As autumn arrives, picture books that gently depict nuts, fallen leaves, and seasonal changes cultivate a baby’s rich sensitivity.
Here, we introduce autumn-themed picture books you can enjoy together with your 0-year-old baby.
Simple picture books with gentle colors and rhythmic words stimulate a baby’s curiosity and create precious time to engage their five senses.
Spend a wonderful autumn with your baby through picture books.
Enjoying Autumn with 0-Year-Olds! Recommended Picture Books for Read-Aloud (1–10)
You know, the sweet potato…
Released as the seventh installment in the picture book series “Delicious Friends,” which even babies can enjoy, “Oi-mo-san ga ne…” features familiar foods that spring to life, making it easy for children to dive into the story.
In this tale starring the sweet potatoes, they start digging themselves up.
The very last one just won’t come out, so when they tug on the vine calling, “Wake up!”, it suddenly pops free with a burst of energy, rolls away, and plops right into the water.
It’s a heartwarming book that will make you smile, letting you enjoy the adorable sweet potatoes and the tasty flavors of autumn.
Please enjoy some sweet potatoes!
Let me introduce a picture book perfect for autumn that teaches compassion: “Please Have Some Sweet Potatoes!” First, a bear appears in the story and harvests sweet potatoes from the field.
He gathers a big haul, but thinks it would be a shame to eat them all by himself, so he shares them with his neighbor.
Then the neighbor who received sweet potatoes from the bear passes some along to the next neighbor, and so on.
The book warmly portrays the kind of neighborhood relationships that have become rare in modern times, and the way everyone shares the joy is truly heartwarming.
Good evening, Mr. Moon.
This picture book with its striking cover of a round full moon is beloved not only by little children but also by mothers and fathers, and it has been cherished for a long time.
Some of you may even have had it read to you when you were young.
The gentle, smiling face of the moon on a dark night leaves a lasting impression.
When reading it, it’s best to go slowly, pausing and speaking softly as if to gently address the listener.
It can also be nice to read it before the autumn moon-viewing festival to enjoy the seasonal feeling.
Great Pumpkin King
“The Pumpkin King” is a perfect picture book for the autumn Halloween season.
It’s also fun to read while flipping the pages vertically.
Try guessing with the children what’s hiding under the pumpkin.
Adding simple hints might make it even more exciting.
Even babies from 0 years old can experience Halloween traditions through this book.
When reading, keep a good rhythm, and also allow time to look at each page slowly—this approach is recommended so that even a 0-year-old baby can follow along.
Guruguru-chan
If you’re looking for a cute autumn picture book, how about “Guruguru-chan”? This book features a parent and child squirrel.
It tells the story of gathering acorns in an autumn forest, letting you enjoy the adorable sight of Guruguru-chan stuffing their cheeks full of acorns while taking in the beautiful fall foliage.
Children will be surprised by Guruguru-chan’s changing face shape, and they might even start looking for acorns themselves in imitation.
It’s a perfect picture book for autumn, with a gentle, unhurried atmosphere.
Who ate it?
This picture book will make you want to peek into the holes in food.
Animals pop up as if peeking out from holes in grapes, cheese, oranges, and more.
Read along while asking children, “Which animal do you think will come out of this hole?” The way the animals’ faces peek out of the holes also serves as a helpful hint.
It’s a perfect picture book for autumn, a season when children often encounter plants and insects during walks.
Enjoy reading it while savoring the feeling of the season.
Sleepy, sleepy.
This is a recommended picture book to read before a nap or at bedtime—it helps you relax and might even make you feel drowsy.
Various vegetables appear, but they, too, start getting sleepy.
One of the book’s charms is that the background changes when the characters fall asleep.
The key is to read it slowly, in a gentle tone, one page at a time.
Some children might find themselves getting sleepy just listening.
At the end, it’s also nice to add a personal touch by reading it with your child’s name included.