A selection of recommended picture books for 4-year-olds to enjoy in autumn and feel the wonders of nature
You can feel the arrival of autumn in the air now.
Four-year-olds are gradually becoming able to express their own thoughts, and this is also a time when they are deeply drawn into the world of picture books.
Picture books that feature familiar autumn nature—fallen leaves, nuts, and insects—greatly expand children’s curiosity and imagination.
Here, we introduce picture books that will resonate richly in children’s hearts during the fall.
We hope this guide helps you discover a favorite, and that you enjoy the world of picture books together with your children!
A selection of recommended picture books that let 4-year-olds enjoy autumn and connect with nature (1–10)
How many nice things are there on an autumn walk?
A picture book that lets you enjoy the autumn outdoors with gentle words and cute illustrations.
The colors and shapes of fallen leaves, acorns and chestnuts, tiny insects…
As you count the “little treasures” you find on your walk, you and your child can soak in the autumn scenery together.
With every page turn, it invites children to notice the changing seasons and the wonders of nature, creating warm, cozy moments to share.
It also naturally teaches numbers and the joy of observing, making it perfect for playful learning.
A highly recommended book that will make autumn outings even more fun.
Snug Hugs Shichi-Go-San
A picture book filled with a father’s love, Hug-Tight Shichi-Go-San, is perfect for celebrating the Shichi-Go-San festival.
It portrays a five-member family with three siblings going to their shrine visit.
While it’s not a work that delves deeply into the customs of the event, it entertainingly captures the realistic behavior of children experiencing Shichi-Go-San and the father’s responses to them.
Scenes of harvesting rice and hanging persimmons vividly convey the change of seasons.
If you’re looking for a fun Shichi-Go-San picture book, this is a great choice.
Kuroneko Kuro’s Halloween Party
Let me introduce a charming book that depicts a Halloween party for cats.
On Halloween, the costumed cats go around knocking on doors of various houses.
They say “Trick or treat” to get sweets, and at the party they dance.
The fun continues, but when they accidentally knock a pumpkin off the table, chaos erupts.
To their surprise, the angry pumpkin summons a witch! Beyond the entertaining story, the many cats with their different patterns—and even their expressions—are rendered with such delicacy that each page feels as satisfying as viewing a painting.
My dear friend
This is a lovely story about the friendship between Toto the hedgehog and Rabi the field rabbit.
As the weather turns colder, Toto takes out the scarf he got from Rabi.
Hoping to fluff it up before using it, he leaves it out in the sunshine—only to find it has disappeared before he knows it.
You can’t help but feel a flutter of suspense as Toto talks with Rabi without being able to bring up the missing scarf, and as he searches high and low for it.
It’s also a book where you can enjoy autumnal scenes, like yellow leaves and squirrels nibbling on acorns.
Acorn Roly-Poly Bug
This is a delightful tale about cute little bugs who live inside a tiny acorn and go on fun adventures.
The picture book is filled with scenes of colorful insects playing inside a tumbling acorn and kindly helping their friends.
With gentle words and warm illustrations, even very young children can slip right into the world of the story.
It’s a heartwarming book that will bring smiles to both children and adults when read aloud.
It also nurtures curiosity about nature and small creatures, making it a great choice for a first picture book.
A Leaf Letter
A perfect picture book for autumn, when a colorful carpet of fallen leaves spreads across the ground.
The protagonist is Pon the raccoon dog, who works as a mountain mail carrier.
Every day, Pon diligently delivers letters written on leaves to the animals.
One day, Pon hears a mysterious voice…
The book comes with leaf-shaped letters you can actually write a message on and give to someone.
It also includes a leaf field guide, so you can fully enjoy the autumn season with this one volume.
Transforming Roasted Sweet Potato
A picture book packed with mysterious, delightful stories.
One day, the sweet potato hero discovers it can “transform” and changes into all sorts of things.
As children read and watch the sweet potato’s adventures, they can enjoy thinking, “Changing is fun!” right along with it.
With gentle words and colorful illustrations, even very young children can happily read along.
It’s a book that adults who want to nurture imagination and curiosity will want to give as a gift.
After reading, kids might be inspired to play “transformation pretend,” too!