Perfect for the reading season of autumn! Recommended picture books that will captivate elementary school children
Acorns are falling, and a pleasant breeze is blowing.
The season that makes our hearts race with the sights of autumn has arrived.
How about enjoying the changing season with elementary school children through picture books about autumn nature, moon viewing, and fallen leaves? Here, we introduce picture books perfect for both reading season and art season, where you can feel the autumn scenery through delicate illustrations and heartwarming stories.
These picture books are also ideal for read-aloud time, letting you relax and enjoy the beauty of autumn nature.
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Perfect for fall reading! Recommended picture books that elementary schoolers will love (11–20)
Red leaves, yellow leaves.
A picture book that lets you enjoy the beautiful colors of autumn leaves, Red Leaves, Yellow Leaves.
It’s the story of a girl who loves sugar maples and raises a maple tree she finds at a garden center.
It shows not only the splendor of maples in autumn, but also ways to enjoy them through all four seasons, making you feel as if you’re experiencing the year alongside them.
Some pages are created with collage, giving a sense of realism—as if the real thing were right in front of you.
It might even make kids want to reach out and touch it!
Ghost Apple
The protagonist of “The Ghost Apple” is Walter, who lives in poverty.
Walter owned a single apple tree, but it had never borne fruit.
So he prayed for it to bear fruit.
His wish was granted and the tree did bear fruit—but the apple grew to an enormous size, turning into a ghostly giant apple.
Even when he tried to sell it, no one would buy it, and the king ordered him to offer it as a gift to a dragon…
What will become of Walter and the apple? It’s a fun story full of twists and turns that will sweep readers along—perfect for autumn.
Acorns and the Wildcat
Donguri and the Wildcat is a fairy tale included in Kenji Miyazawa’s short story collection The Restaurant of Many Orders.
After a postcard arrives, the protagonist, Ichirō, heads to the Wildcat Court.
There he finds golden acorns squabbling over who is the best… It’s the kind of premise that instantly draws children in, isn’t it? And it’s not just the story—Seizō Tashima’s dynamic illustrations are a highlight as well.
In the scene where the wildcat opens its mouth wide, you can’t help but wonder if someone’s about to be eaten—the impact is tremendous.
It’s a book you’ll want to read at least once in autumn: humorous on the surface, yet as you read on, you begin to notice the profound message beneath.
My very best friend in the forest
This story features Dormouse-kun, who loves big things, and Mr.
Bear, who loves small things.
They become fast friends as soon as they meet and spend their time eating cake together and growing seedlings.
From the forest scenery shifting from fresh green to autumn colors, to the delicious-looking cakes and the insects that appear—everything is depicted with delicate detail, making this a book full of highlights.
There are a few tense moments in the story, but rest assured it ends happily.
It’s a truly lovely picture book that teaches the importance of accepting each other’s differences and embracing one another just as we are.
Rainbow and the Mysterious Picture
The protagonist is Rainbow the mouse.
Rainbow makes a living as a painter; he was never famous, but he happily spent his days painting.
One day, a mouse shows up asking to buy a picture Rainbow had painted on a door, saying he liked it.
From there the story unfolds, and Rainbow ends up entering a contest.
But when he goes to paint, he discovers he has only three colors of paint.
You can’t help but wonder what Rainbow will do.
While it carries the big theme of life, the cute illustrations and Rainbow’s completely undaunted attitude make this a heartwarming read.
Dwarfs of the ForestNEW!By Elsa Beskow
A work by Elsa Beskow, a picture-book author who represents Sweden.
In the book, the wintertime lives of the gnomes who live in the forest are depicted.
The approach is very unique: on every spread, the text is on the left and the right side consists only of an illustration.
Thanks to this, the right-hand pages let you immerse yourself in the gnomes’ richly textured world without thinking about anything else.
Another highlight is how their way of life is portrayed both realistically and with plenty of humor.
There’s no doubt it will spark your imagination when you read it.
20 Delicious Autumns
A warm and delightful picture book about twenty animals living in an autumn forest who set out to search for “delicious autumn.” With each turn of the page—acorns, mushrooms, fruits—the colors and scents of autumn’s nature unfold.
The “tasty treats” the animals find by working together will bring a smile to your face.
With gentle language and charming illustrations, it’s easy for little ones to enjoy and a lovely way to sense the changing seasons.
It’s also perfect for reading with your child while chatting, “I’d like to taste this!” After reading, you’ll want to head outside to discover autumn yourself.
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.
fig carrot
This is a picture-book adaptation of the traditional children’s song “Ichijiku Ninjin.” Vegetables that appear in the song—such as figs, carrots, Japanese pepper (sansho), and shiitake mushrooms—are depicted in illustrations.
The artwork is so detailed that it feels like looking at real vegetables.
Some vegetables that children don’t often see also make an appearance, and this book may spark their interest in varieties they haven’t known before.
Since this nursery rhyme is a counting song, be sure to sing along as you enjoy the picture book.
The Great Sweet Potato Operation
A delightful picture book perfect for autumn.
Kids head out for a sweet potato dig, finding and unearthing potatoes with loads of excitement! But secretly, the potatoes have a “grand plan” of their own…
With child’s-eye humor and the adorable expressions of the potatoes, this story is sure to make kids smile.
After reading, you might even hear, “I want to eat sweet potatoes!” It’s perfect for read-aloud time and a story you can enjoy with children while feeling the season.
A heartwarming, highly recommended read.