children’s books

BOOKS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Favorite Fall and Winter Books for Outdoor Adventures
- October 26, 2023
As the vibrant hues of autumn fade into the crisp, wintry landscapes, there’s a unique kind of magic that happens in the great outdoors. The fall and winter seasons offer a treasure trove of unique opportunities for kids to explore their world in a whole new way. With the right books in hand, children can embark on thrilling adventures that extend beyond the boundaries of their imaginations. Today, Emily Liebel, Utah mom of three and founder of @inclusivelibrary, will take you on a journey through the best nature-inspired fall and winter books for kids. So, let’s dive into a world where the changing seasons are an invitation to get outside and adventure together!

Fall and winter outside

Fall and winter stand in stark contrast to each other when it comes to outdoor adventuring. Fall-time is full of more adventures and activities than most of us have time for. There are farms to visit, hikes to enjoy, harvests to be fulfilled, and explosions of color everywhere. In winter, life slows down significantly. Our kids may want to stomp and play in the snow or cuddle up with warmth and rest during the darker months.

In both seasons, we want to help our kids have fun! For some of us, this could be easy, and for others, there is a struggle to find the right activities. This is where books can come into play (literally!). Books can help encourage our kids to get creative and explore new perspectives and aspects of outdoor adventuring.

Where to find these books

If you would like to buy these fall and winter books through the affiliate links provided, RWMC receives a tiny commission. Our small business appreciates your support! If you would like to support small and independent bookstores in your area, try bookshop. I will also always recommend frequenting your local libraries and checking the books out as well.

How to use these books

In my spring and summer books post, I detailed the ways to use these books before, during, and after your adventures. The same ideas apply to the fall and winter books I have curated here. Make sure to refresh yourself on the benefits and how-to of pairing books with adventures from that post!

All of our kids are unique and will connect to different aspects of outdoor adventuring. While reading books, we can parse out what our kids will be most excited to experience. We can prepare them for new adventures or refresh their knowledge of family favorite adventures. And we can help them awaken imaginative play in new ways.

Diversity in books and reading level

Children of all ages will be able to read and understand different things that will support their uniqueness and their personal interests. And for that purpose, I have made sure to include diverse books that will help all kids feel included and excited about outdoor adventuring.

Kids may not pick an activity or adventure for themselves if they do not first see themselves represented in that arena. There is also a range of reading levels represented in the books I chose for this post. And while some books are more advanced than others, the vast majority of them will work for all ages. Personally, I would have no issue reading picture books with my middle-schooler (or even high-school-aged kids). They can still get so much enjoyment from being read to and flipping through picture books. But, no matter what age your kids are, you will have multiple options here that best fit your family and kids’ interests.

Seasonal weather and using these fall and winter books

I have not met many people who do not enjoy some aspects of autumn. It can be a nice reprieve from hotter days, and there really are so many activities available to us that automatically get our families outdoors. More often, I meet people who do not slow down enough to find deep appreciation and enjoyment of fall because they are busy preparing for winter. I hope that the books I have chosen to include here will help you find ways to connect to the earth and all the awe this season has to offer.

Once wintertime is in full swing, I have met a lot more people who pull back on their outdoor adventuring in favor of hunkering down and staying inside. The books that I have included are meant to inspire us to fight that urge. Winter, while cold and dark in many areas of the world, can be a time to refocus our habits on what really matters to our families. There is plenty of family adventuring and play to be had outdoors in the winter. If we have resources like these books to show us the possibilities, we will be able to pass encouragement on to our children.

Favorite fall books for kids

Books about fall leaves and hikes
1. Forest Baby by Laura Elmquist
2. Hiking Day by Anne Rockwell
3. An Autumn Treasury by Angela Ferraro-Fanning
4. Fresh Fall Leaves by Betsy Franco
5. It’s Fall! by Renee Kruilla
6. Taking a Walk: Fall in the Country by Sue Tarsky
7. Thank Fall by Ciara L. Hill
8. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
9. The Wilderness by Steve McCarthy
These books capture the wonder and awe of autumn colors. While the natural world is beginning to wind down, we get to enjoy the changes in real time! This can be fascinating to children if we are willing to slow down and examine it with them.

You may think ‘autumn leaves’ and immediately connect it to a walk or hike or jumping in leaf piles. These are brilliant options, but what about leaf crafts or forts as shown in An Autumn Treasury or Fresh Fall Leaves? What about connecting it to daily gratitude with Thank Fall? The Wilderness is simply gorgeous and centers on bravery, friendship, and exploration.

Each of these books will give you and your family new ideas about how to engage with leaves and colors all season.

Books about farm visits, harvest, and fall festivals
1. Harvest Days by Kate DePalma
2. Marya Khan and the Spectacular Fall Festival by Saadia Faruqi
3. Farm Boots by Lisa H. Detlefsen
4. Amara’s Farm by JaNay Brown-Wood
I am a top-tier fan of agro-tourism. I shamelessly seek out the local farms with pumpkins, apple cider donuts, games, tractor rides, animals, and corn pits and mazes. Behind these fun seasonal attractions is a lot of effort from the farmers and even the animals! These books will give your kids a window into that work. Amara’s Farm introduces foods that are harvested this time of year and helps kids find characterizations as they wander the farm. Marya Khan is a new release chapter book following a third-grade girl while preparing a fall festival.

Each of these fall books will excite kids to visit farms with you and instill an appreciation for harvest and gathering.

Best winter books for kids

Winter sports
1. Goodnight, Chairlift by Libby Ludlow
2. The Little Book of Skiing by Orange Hippo!
3. Goodnight, Snowboard by Kristen McCurry
A great way to get kids outside in the winter is by taking up a winter sport. You may already be a skiing family, or you may want to try it out for the first time. Either way, there is a lot of gear and mountain-side etiquette and safety involved. Even sledding, there are things for which to prepare your kids. The Little Book of Skiing is not strictly a picture or chapter book, but I have included it because there are pages with only one sentence, some with paragraphs and others with infographics. All of which add to a deeper understanding and appreciation of a very involved but exciting winter sport.

All of these books introduce the information to kids while also capturing the true spirit of adventure that is going fast down the snow!

Books about playing in the snow
1. Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Kathy Camper
2. Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak
3. A Day So Gray by Marie Lamba
4. Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
5. First Snow by Nancy Viau
6. Walking in a Winter Wonderland by Peggy Lee and Tim Hopgood
If you and your family are not as enthusiastic about snow sports, you may be looking for ideas closer to home or slower-paced. Playing in the snow in your own backyard or local parks and fields can be exciting as well. I’m sure I’m not alone in wondering how to get our kids to play outside a little longer in the winter. Besides quality gear to keep them warm, we can encourage them by showing them the true beauty of winter, as in A Day So Gray. With books like Ten Ways to Hear Snow and Over and Under the Snow, building a snowman or throwing snowballs can be just the beginning of our kids’ snowy play.

These books are sure to help your kids find ways to extend their time in the snow and build imaginative winter worlds right outside their doors.

Books for enjoying fall and winter holidays outside
1. Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht
2. Halloween in the Orchard by Phyllis Alsdurf
3. We’re Going on a Pumpkin Hunt by Goldie Hawk
4. Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht
5. Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf
6. Little Red Ruthie: A Hanukkah Tale by Gloria Koster
This time of year is often called the holiday season because there are at least a dozen cultural and religious holidays that take place. We may automatically think of Halloween as a largely “outdoors” holiday. But we may not think the same for Hanukkah or Chinese New Year. These books bring those holidays outside in both small and large ways.

Holidays are not the main focus of this post, but I do think it is important to consider them. We can use our cultural and religious celebrations as opportunities to get outside and create new and lasting adventures or experiences. We do have a nature-holiday post with more books if you are looking for other suggestions!

Nature books enhance our adventures

Books can bring wonder and learning to our lives. When we take time to read nature books to our kids, we are helping them gain more appreciation of what this earth has to offer, which can lead to life-long understanding and habits of adventure. We know the benefits of early literacy, and we know the benefits of nature play. We can overlap these two aspects of physical and mental growth/health in beautiful and meaningful ways that benefit the whole family.

How will you use these books to adventure in the fall and winter months?

About the author

Emily and her family have moved across the US multiple times, and the best things about each state have been the outdoor adventures and the public libraries! Now living in Utah, Emily has continued her love for both. She explores both mountain and city outdoor spaces weekly with her three kids and friends and attends library story times, as well as leads a local story time. Emily has a passion for children’s literature. She uses books to educate, promote inclusion, understanding, and justice, and inspire adventure and creativity. Emily loves how reading and being outdoors overlap in so many exciting ways!

You can find Emily online in the following locations:
Instagram: @inclusivelibrary
RWMC Posts: Emily Liebel
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, RECIPES, SUMMER
Blueberry Picking with Kids
- July 7, 2020
Blueberry season is in full swing and U-Pick fruit farms are the perfect place to go with your little ones! U-Pick farms are exactly what they sound like – you pick your own produce. Children will love this hands-on learning experience and will be asking to go back year after year! Today, Megan Rigdon, Maryland photographer and mom of 3 is here sharing all the tips you need know for blueberry picking with kids. Megan’s family owns a U-Pick farm, so she knows what she’s talking about! Plus, she’s included a great list of blueberry-inspired books to read before you go and an awesome recipe for a tasty treat made by her kids with the berries they picked!

Blueberry season

Blueberry plants (Vaccinium spp.) produce white or pink flowers in spring. The flowers are pollinated by bees and soon after, small, green berries form. As the berries mature, they turn from green to pale blue and eventually to a dark blue or even purple color. How do you know when they’re ripe? Taste them! Ripe berries will be soft and sweet!

Blueberry season and harvest in the US varies by state, but runs from May to September, starting with Southern states (Florida and Texas) and moving North. Depending on where you live, your blueberry season may have already passed or the blueberries might not be ready! Check your local harvest calendar to find out when peak blueberry picking season is in your state.

Children’s books about blueberries

With every adventure, I love to incorporate children’s books because that is just how I roll! It is a good idea to read one before you go blueberry picking with kids so your children can get excited about what’s to come. Keep these books around your house a few weeks after picking, too. I bet your kids will go back to the books to reminisce about all the fun they had at the blueberry farm. Below are just a few of our favorite books about blueberries.
Ready for an adventure

Our family has a U-Pick blueberry field in Harford County, Maryland. When summer arrives, my children know it’s almost time to pick blueberries at their grandparents’ farm. By the last week of June, the blueberries are ripe and ready! We read a few of our favorite blueberry-themed books and even wrote about how excited we were to go picking in our summer journals.

Tips for blueberry picking with kids

Here are a few things to consider when planning a trip to go blueberry picking with kids:
- Call or check your local farm’s website or Facebook page on the day of picking. Confirm the picking hours and to see if conditions have changed. The farm could have had a lot of people that day or in the days before and there may not be many berries left. Also, weather conditions can change the timing of when berries may be ready to be picked.
- Plan on going to pick blueberries in the early morning or evening hours to beat the summer heat.
- Most farms supply their own buckets for picking and weighing the berries. If you use the farm’s buckets, you will need to transfer them into your own basket or bucket when you leave. I do not recommend bags because berries tend to get squished.
- Have your child wear play clothes. The farm could be muddy from summer storms or blueberry juice could make its way onto clothes.
What to pack for blueberry picking with kids

Make sure you take some time to pack for your blueberry picking trip. Below are things I would make sure to pack in addition to the items already in your diaper bag or purse when you go blueberry picking with kids:
- Water – Make sure you and your little ones stay hydrated!
- Sunscreen – it is a good idea to put sunscreen on your children before you head to the farm. This will give the sunscreen time to soak in and then, once you get there, that task is already complete!
- Insect repellent – it could be buggy out there!
- Blanket for a rest break – lay a blanket in the shade so that anyone who is with you can take a break
- Stroller or wagon – a stroller or wagon can be very helpful when hauling the buckets back when finished and also useful for holding water bottles, snacks, diaper bags and oh… the kids too!
It’s picking time

When you arrive at the U-Pick blueberry farm, give each child their own bucket. Explain to them to pick the berries that are ripe. They should be blue and will fall off the stem easily. I always tell my children to not eat the berries unless they check with me first, so we can confirm they’re ripe (sweet, not sour). Once they know what to pick and look for, let them go at it! I recommend laying out a blanket in the shade for the children to be able to take breaks if needed. Fill your baskets and enjoy the adventure!

Blueberry treats

On the ride home, we love to come up with all kinds of delicious treats that we can make with the blueberries we picked. Blueberries are incredibly versatile, so possibilities are endless. We came up with so many ideas ranging from blueberry waffles, blueberry ice cream to blueberry crumb pie. YUM! We ultimately decided to make blueberry yogurt popsicles with our haul! These are such a cool and refreshing treat after all of our hard work! The best thing about this recipe is that it only calls for a few ingredients and the children can help you make it.

Blueberry yogurt popsicles

The recipe for the blueberry yogurt popsicles is easy peasy! You will need only four ingredients- blueberries, honey, milk, and yogurt. My kids couldn’t wait to help with this treat! Measure out 1.5 cups of blueberries and two tablespoons of honey and place them in a saucepan. Cook the blueberries and honey over medium heat until the berries start to burst. Leave them on the stove for about 3-5 minutes and then take the pan off of the heat and allow time for it to cool.

While the blueberry mixture cools, mix together the yogurt and milk. Then, fold in the cooled blueberry mixture into the yogurt and milk. Make sure not to mix them too much because then the whole thing will turn purple. Instead, fold the two mixtures together just a few times to create a swirly pattern. Finally, pour it into the popsicle molds, add popsicle sticks, and freeze.

When your popsicles are frozen, it’s time to enjoy! My kids could not wait to try their homemade blueberry yogurt popsicles! They absolutely enjoyed every bite of them and were so proud of all of their hard work!

Benefits of blueberry picking with kids

There are so many benefits to taking your child to pick blueberries. You are supporting a local farm and getting to spend quality time outside with your kids. Your little ones get to witness the process of how the berries grow on a bush, turn blue when ripe and ready to be picked. Incorporate a few of the recommended books and you’ve got an educational activity for kids of all ages. But, the best part about blueberry picking with kids…turning your berries into something scrumptious and enjoying the fruits of your labor together!

What are you waiting for?! Start planning your trip to pick blueberries with your kids today!

Have you ever picked blueberries with kids?

About the author

Megan is a mother to three energetic children and lives on their family farm in Harford County, Maryland. She is a lifestyle family photographer and a lover of joyful and colorful images. Megan has a degree in Early Childhood Education and taught Kindergarten prior to having her own family. They spend as much time as possible outdoors exploring the farm and going on adventures. Raising chickens, fishing, gardening, camping, and crafting are just a few of her favorite things to do with her family.

You can find more from Megan in the following locations:
Professional Instagram: @meganrigdonphotography
Personal Instagram: @megmrigdon
Website: meganrigdonphotography.com
BOOKS, GIFT GUIDE, LESSONS, NATURE SCHOOL
Best Educational Nature Books for Kids
- November 4, 2019
Books are one of my biggest passions and biggest weaknesses. I am a self-proclaimed book addict and can’t ever pass up a good book recommendation. Children’s books are no different. Our shelves at home are lined with picture books containing incredible stories, silly rhymes, and beautiful images. I especially love to find books that not only captivate my children visually but teach us something about life, nature and our planet. Today, I’ve put together a giant comprehensive list of more than 80 gorgeous educational nature books for kids. These nature-inspired children’s books are sure to teach your children about the world around them and become some of your child’s favorite resources for years to come.

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Best educational children’s books about nature & our planet

This list of the best educational nature books for kids has been in the works for a long time! It’s taken me months to put together a list of mostly non-fiction nature-inspired books that will teach your child about the beautiful world around them in a fun way that doesn’t feel like learning. From learning about the tiny microbes in your home to the giant whales in the ocean, we’ve included books about all kinds of aspects of our planet and nature. We’ve included animal fact books, nature poetry, children’s atlases and encyclopedias. From bees to birds, bugs to bark, we’ve got something for everyone! Exploring a book with a child is one of the best ways to spend time together, inside or out! We hope you’ll use this list to encourage your child to love and appreciate our planet and its animals in a whole new way.

Save this list!

Don’t forget that books make GREAT gifts! If you’re looking for a way to cut down on the amount of cheap plastic and toys you give/get this upcoming holiday season, consider investing in some of these amazing books instead. They’ll serve your children well for years and can be passed down to the next generation or donated to a library/charity. Consider gifting a few of these to the special kids in your life to add to their shelves. Feel free to pass this list of educational nature books to grandparents and family members when they ask you what your children want for the next holiday or birthday.

We’ve even made it easy for you to save and share – here’s a free printable PDF of the books for you to pass on to friends and family members, save for future reference, or print out and take it to your local library or bookstore.

1. Atlas of Ocean Adventures: A Collection of Natural Wonders, Marine Marvels and Undersea Antics from Across the Globe by Emily Hawkins
2. What Do They Do with All That Poo? by Jane Kurtz
3. Everything & Everywhere: A Fact-Filled Adventure for Curious Globe-Trotters by Marc Martin
4. Wild World by Angela McAllister
5. Nature’s Day: Discover the world of wonder on your doorstep by Kay Maguire
6. How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery
7. Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner
8. Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes by Nicola Davies

9. Children’s Illustrated Animal Atlas by DK
10. A Nest Is Noisy by Dianna Hutts Aston
11. Bees: A Honeyed History by Piotr Socha
12. Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and a Hundred Sea Turtles by Philippe Cousteau
13. Trees, Leaves & Bark (Take Along Guides) by Diane Burns
14. National Parks of the USA by Kate Siber
15. How to Survive as a Shark by Kristen Foote
16. The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs: Use Outdoor Clues to Find Your Way, Predict the Weather, Locate Water, Track Animals―and Other Forgotten Skills by Tristan Gooley

17. The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest―and Most Surprising―Animals on Earth by Steve Jenkins
18. Octopus Escapes Again! by Laurie Ellen Angus
19. When the Whales Walked: And Other Incredible Evolutionary Journeys by Dougal Dixon
20. A Rock Is Lively by Dianna Hutts Aston
21. The Big Book of Beasts by Yuval Zommer
22. Water Is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle by Miranda Paul
23. Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
24. Cuddly Critters for Little Geniuses (Big Words for Little Geniuses) by Susan Patterson

25. Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life by Julia Rothman
26. Owls: Our Most Charming Bird by Matt Sewell
27. The Big Book of Birds by Yuval Zommer
28. Redwoods by Jason Chin
29. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino
30. Trees: A Rooted History by Piotr Socha
31. The Honeybee by Kirsten Hall
32. This Phenomenal Life: The Amazing Ways We Are Connected with Our Universe by Misha Blaise

33. The Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zommer
34. A Tree for All Seasons (Rise and Shine) by Robin Bernard
35. Animals of a Bygone Era by Maja Säfström
36. Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
37. D’Aulaires’ Book of Animals by Ingri d’Aulaire
38. Atlas of Adventures: A collection of natural wonders, exciting experiences and fun festivities from the four corners of the globe by Rachel Williams
39. A Year of Nature Poems by by Joseph Coelho
40. Who Eats What?: Food Chains and Food Webs by Patricia Lauber

41. The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green
42. A Seed Is Sleepy by Dianna Aston
43. How Mountains Are Made by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
44. Botanicum: Welcome to the Museum by Kathy Willis
45. Song of the Wild: A First Book of Animals by Nicola Davies
46. Bird Builds a Nest: A First Science Storybook by Martin Jenkins
47. The Wonders of Nature by Ben Hoare
48. The Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts by Maja Säfström

49. Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth by Nicola Davies
50. Earth Verse: Haiku from the Ground Up by Sally M. Walker
51. Island: A Story of the Galápagos by Jason Chin
52. The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth: Understanding Our World and Its Ecosystems by Rachel Ignotofsky
53. A Butterfly Is Patient by Dianna Aston
54. Food Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of Our Edible World by Julia Rothman
55. The Bee Book by Charlotte Milner
56. The Animal Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of Life on Earth by DK

57. Animalium: Welcome to the Museum by Jenny Broom
58. An Anthology of Intriguing Animals by DK
59. In the Past: From Trilobites to Dinosaurs to Mammoths in More Than 500 Million Years by David Elliott
60. Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies
61. A World Full of Animal Stories US: 50 favorite animal folk tales, myths and legends by Angela McAllister
62. The Big Book of the Blue by Yuval Zommer
63. Nature All Around: Bugs by Pamela Hickman
64. Curious Kids Nature Guide: Explore the Amazing Outdoors of the Pacific Northwest by Fiona Cohen

65. Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies (Take Along Guides) by Mel Boring
66. Flying Frogs and Walking Fish: Leaping Lemurs, Tumbling Toads, Jet-Propelled Jellyfish, and More Surprising Ways That Animals Move by Steve Jenkins
67. Animals by the Numbers: A Book of Infographics by Steve Jenkins
68. Nature All Around: Trees by Pamela Hickman
69. A Beetle Is Shy by Dianna Hutts Aston
70. Atlas of Animal Adventures: A collection of nature’s most unmissable events, epic migrations and extraordinary behaviours by Rachel Williams
71. The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-Ups by Gina Ingoglia
72. Does It Fart?: The Definitive Field Guide to Animal Flatulence by Nick Caruso

73. Lots by Marc Martin
74. Amazing Facts About Baby Animals by Maja Säfström
75. The Variety of Life by Nicola Davies
76. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World by Julia Rothman
77. Fish Tricks: The Wild and Wacky World of Fish by Haude Levesque
78. An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston
79. Strange Trees: And the Stories Behind Them by Bernadette Pourquie
80. The Life and Times of the Honeybee by Charles Micucci

81. Birds, Nests & Eggs (Take Along Guides) by Mel Boring
82. Caterpillar and Bean: A First Science Storybook by Martin Jenkins
83. The Butterfly House by Katy Flint
84. Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year by Nosy Crow
85. Feathers: Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart
86. The Wonder Garden by Jenny Broom
87. A Drop Around the World by Barbara McKinney
88. A Log’s Life by Wendy Pfeffer

What’s your favorite educational nature books for kids?

For more children’s nature book recommendations, check out all our Nature Books posts.
BOOKS, CRAFTS, FALL, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, OUTDOORS INSIDE
5 Fantastic Fall Books and Activities for Kids
- October 7, 2019
Fall is definitely in the air! One of our favorite ways to usher in a new season is to read books about the changing weather and what we can look forward to. We’re always on the lookout for fun books and ways to make outdoor learning exciting, so today’s post is a win-win. We have the amazing Chelsea, Virginia photographer, former teacher, and adventure mom of two, here sharing her family’s 5 favorite fall books and activities for kids. Not only are each of these books beautiful and fun to read, but they’re paired with awesome nature-inspired crafts and activities that are guaranteed to keep your kids entertained, active, and learning!

Favorite fall books and activities for outdoor kids

Fall is starting to make an appearance here in southeastern Virginia and we couldn’t be more excited! In our house, we love to match the books we’re reading to the current season or approaching holidays. We recently took a trip to our local library to check out almost every book in the fall children’s book section to kick-start fall. Today, I’m sharing some of our favorite fall children’s books and providing a fun family activity to do with each book. Whether you’re a homeschooler, a parent of children not yet in school, or a parent of school-aged kids, these fall books and activities will be sure to enrich your child’s learning while fully embracing the beauty of the season!

Choosing the books

In order to choose the best books possible, I used a VERY official and scientific method of measurement. My kids. We checked out a dozen fall nature-inspired books from our local library and read them all. If they asked to read a book again the instant we finished, it passed the test. I kept the ones they wanted to read multiple times and returned the rest! Here are 5 of our favorite fall books and an activity to go with each one!

Book 1: Because of an Acorn by Adam and Lola M. Schaefer

Because of an Acorn is a wonderful fall book about how all living things are connected. You’ll love both the story and the illustrations! Children are often amazed that giant oak trees all start as tiny little acorns. The book does a great job of showing how every tree, plant and animal in the forest are connected and tied to each other.

Activity: Acorn characters

Once you’re finished reading the book, take a little nature walk to collect some acorns, caps and tiny sticks. While you’re out exploring, you can discuss what kind of trees produce acorns and how to identify them! My kids had fun looking up at the leaves on each tree to see which ones were oaks and then looking around on the ground below to see if any acorns had dropped.

Once you get home, use your treasures to make little characters! We used tacky glue but I’m sure many different kinds of glue will work. If you have very small children, you may want to have them lay out the character and then leave the gluing part to a grownup! Once your characters are dry, you can draw on eyes if you’d like and then head back out into the woods to create tiny houses for them! You can break this activity up into multiple days or take a whole afternoon for it! The kids will have so much fun creating little families and then using imaginative play to make them come to life. And the best part is all that wonderful fresh fall air you’ll get from the time spent outside!

Book 2: It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Shultz

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a childhood classic! Linus, Charlie and the rest of the Peanuts gang await the arrival of the Great Pumpkin on Halloween night. I wasn’t surprised that my kids really loved this one, because they love any Peanuts book! This book’s been around so long that it’s not only a new favorite of theirs, but a classic favorite of mine from childhood. I love being able to share that with them.

Activity: Painted rocks

In the story, one of the Peanuts characters gets rocks instead of treats during trick-or-treating, so we decided to go collect some rocks to paint. Once the boys had found the perfect rocks, we took them home, rinsed them, and dried them. Then we used acrylic paints to decorate them like pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. Once they were dry, we headed to a park nearby to hide the rocks in fun places to be discovered by others! My kids are always excited when they find painted rocks at our park so we decided to keep that ball of fun rolling by placing some of our own there for other kids to enjoy.

Book 3: Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins

Stumpkin is the cutest little book about a pumpkin with no stem that never gets picked to be purchased and brought home. My kids love wordplay and making up words by putting other words together, so they were already hooked by the title. They really loved the illustrations and asked to take extra time on each page to enjoy the pictures. This one was a big hit!

Activity: Jack-o-lantern volcanoes

Once you’re finished with Stumpkin, a fun activity to do with the kids is to carve small pumpkins and then make “volcanoes” out of them. If you’ve enjoy doing science/STEM experiments at home, you’ve probably already used baking soda and vinegar for other projects. But have you ever watched the chemical reaction take place inside a jack-o-lantern?! It’s so much fun! The kids will love watching the bubbles come out of all the holes. In addition to the baking soda and vinegar, we also used some dish soap because I had read that it bubbles up more and I do think it worked!

Book 4: Fall Leaves by Loretta Holland

Fall Leaves is a really gorgeous picture book about the beauty of this magical season. Part poetry and part silent pages, this book showcases just how pretty fall is when the leaves change color and the whole world turns red, orange and yellow.

Activity: Fall leaf art project

This activity is so much fun and goes perfectly with the beautiful artwork in the Fall Leaves book! It’s also really easy and the kids loved it. Head out on a nature hunt to find different colored fall leaves. Once you’ve collected some, head back home to make your art.

Leaf art supplies:
- water color paints
- paintbrushes
- water
- straws
- paper
- glue
- the leaves you’ve collected
Once you have the supplies, instruct the children to use the paintbrush to get lots of water and some paint on the brush. Then have them make a “puddle” of water on the bottom of their paper. Use the straw to blow the water upward and out to make the trunk and branches of a tree.

When they’re finished with the trunk and branches, have them pick their favorite leaves to glue onto the branches. This project is great for building and developing fine motor skills, so feel free to have them create more than one tree!

Book 5: Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn is another beautiful book about the changing seasons. In this book, a young girl takes a walk through forest and town, greeting all the signs of the coming autumn season. In a series of conversations with every flower and creature and gust of wind, she says good-bye to summer and welcomes autumn.

Activity: Fall leaf art with crayons

If you’re like us, you have all sorts of old, broken crayons hanging around the house! These projects are a great way to use up some of those crayons. They’re also perfect activities for families who live in areas that don’t have season changes! You don’t need to use any real fall leaves for these projects but can still make some art that celebrates the autumn season. Both of these actives are a throwback to my own childhood and were very nostalgic for me! It was fun doing some activities with the kids that I did when I was a kid!

Option 1 – melted crayon shaving leaves

For the first crayon art project, you’ll need:
- a cloth towel
- crayons
- a vegetable peeler or scissors
- wax paper
- an iron
- construction paper
Obviously, with that list of supplies, it’s important for an adult to be around to help out with the project! Depending on how old your kids are, you’ll either have them make crayon shavings using whatever tool you have around, or you’ll have them pick the colors and you can do the shavings for them. Put all the shavings in a pile and set aside.

Next, use construction paper to cut out the trunk and branches of a tree (or several!). You will use it to create a fall scene on the wax paper. You can do one tree with some construction paper grass, multiple trees, whatever you like! Once you have the parts of your scene cut out from construction paper, place them on a sheet of wax paper to begin creating your fall scene.

After the construction paper parts are in place, have your child take the crayon shavings and sprinkle them wherever they want fall leaves to be. Once everything is where you want it to be, place a second sheet of wax paper on top. Then place the towel on top of everything. Use a hot iron (job for a grownup!) to seal the two pieces of wax paper together. This will also create a beautiful effect with the crayon shavings because it will melt them together! So much fun!

Option 2 – leaf rubbings

The second fall art activity you could do with crayons is make leaf rubbings! My kids LOVE doing this. It’s such a simple, timeless activity. When the kids see the leaf prints starting to appear, they light up with joy! My kids could do a hundred leaf rubbings and still be excited every time they see the leaf print appearing on the paper.

If you’ve never done this before, you only need some paper (computer paper works great), crayons, and leaves! Any leaves will do – they don’t have to be fall-colored. Place the leaf underneath the sheet of paper, hold it down carefully, and rub the SIDE part of an unwrapped crayon back and forth on top of the paper. You’ll see the shape of the leaf appearing on the paper! Leave them on the larger sheets of paper or cut them out. As my kids would say- easy, peasy, lemon-squeezy!

Favorite fall books and activities for kids

And there you have it! 5 beautiful fall books and activities for kids. Not only will you and the kids love these beautiful books, but the accompanying activities are some that the whole family will enjoy! This should definitely keep your little ones active, inspired, and excited about reading and nature.

What’s your favorite fall book for kids?

About the author

Hi there, I’m Chelsea! I’m a photographer, mother of two busy boys, and sunshine and fresh air addict. We live in Virginia Beach, Virginia and spend as much time outdoors as we possibly can! We spend most of our time exploring the beach, inlets, and nature trails nearby. We love biking, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, building forts, and playing in the sand! During the warm months, you can find us enjoying the Chesapeake Bay almost every night until long after the sun goes down. We’re doing our best to reduce our carbon footprint and always try to leave every trail cleaner than it was when we arrived.

You can find Chelsea online in the following locations:
Instagram: @dimples.and.the.blonde
Client work: @chelsea.lyn.photography
Website: dimplesandtheblonde.com

More RWMC posts from Chelsea:
BOOKS, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
40+ More Beautiful Nature Books for Kids
- October 19, 2018
Books are a big deal at our house! I have a 1st grader learning to read and a preschooler that would listen to 500 books a night if I had that kind of time. We voraciously go through books. I’m always on the hunt for fun new (to us) books for my little readers. Since we’re an outdoorsy family, we naturally love children’s books about nature and animals. Picture books are favorites since both kids can follow along – my son reads the words he knows and my daughter enjoys the illustrations.

(This post contains affiliate links. We make a small commission on each purchase made using our links. Thank you for supporting a small business.)

Below we have compiled a list of more than forty beautiful children’s picture books about nature. This list was curated from our personal favorites and those of a number of family, friends, and fellow nature-loving parents. These books will inspire, educate and help your children develop a deep sense of love for nature and the outdoors. They have beautiful pictures and beautiful words. They teach lessons about nurturing, love and compassion. This list is perfect if you’re looking to add some beautiful books to your shelves at home, give them as a gift or add them to your library wishlist.

This is part 2 of our series on beautiful nature books for kids. If you want even more recommendations, make sure to check out part 1 of the series: 30+ Beautiful Children’s Books About Nature.
1. As an Oak Tree Grows by G. Brian Karas
2. Mice Skating by Annie Silvestro
3. On a Magical Do-Nothing Day by Beatrice Alemagna
4. Who Eats Orange? by Dianne White
5. Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
6. A Hippy-Hoppy Toad by Peggy Archer
7. Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
8. Animals in the Outhouse by Anja Frohlich
9. The Forever Tree by Tereasa Surratt
10. Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
11. The Skies Above My Eyes by Charlotte Gullain
12. We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger
13. Elmore Hardcover by Holly Hobbie
14. Little Butterfly by Laura Logan
15. Pond by Jim LaMarche
16. Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
17. A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems by Deborah Ruddell
18. Step Gently Out by Helen Frost
19. Bruno Munari’s Zoo by Bruno Munari
20. Wendell the Narwhal by Emily Dove
21. The Tiptoeing Tiger by Philippa Leathers
22. Yellow Kayak by Nina Laden
23. All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon
24. Shy by Deborah Freedman
25. This Is Sadie by Sara O’Leary
26. Moon, Gorgeous Moon by M.H. Bradford
27. Roly-Polies (Mini-Animalist) by Mónica Carretero
28. If You Hold a Seed by Elly MacKay
29. Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgins
30. Night Animals by Gianna Marino
31. Guess Who, Haiku by Deanna Caswell
32. Apples and Robins by Lucie Felix
33. Backyard Fairies by Phoebe Wahl
34. Ocean Meets Sky by Terry Fan
35. The House of Four Seasons by Roger Duvoisin
36. Looking for a Moose by Phyllis Root
37. Prickly Hedgehogs! by Jane McGuinness
38. Adventures with Barefoot Critters by Teagan White
39. Baby Wren and the Great Gift by Sally Lloyd-Jones
40. The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnett
41. Kate, Who Tamed the Wind by Liz Garton Scanlon
42. Tiny, Perfect Things by M. H. Clark
43. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
44. And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano
45. The Story of Charlie the Coyote by London Michaels
46. The Things That I LOVE about TREES by Chris Butterworth
47. Bunny Roo, I Love You by Melissa Marr
48. Miss Maple’s Seeds by Eliza Wheeler
49. Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht
50. Where is Bear Going? by Mark Janssen
And be sure to check out part 1 of this series
30+ Beautiful Children’s Picture Books About Nature
for even more books!
BOOKS, NATURE SCHOOL
Beautiful Children’s Picture Books About Nature
- October 24, 2017
If your kids are anything like mine, they devour books. Rarely do we read a book just once. We read them over and over again until the words are memorized and the pictures are etched in our minds. My son loves silly books that make him laugh. My daughter loves sing-songy books that rhyme. And I love nature books that teach the kids about the wonder and beauty of the outdoors. One thing we all agree on, the more beautiful illustrations, the better. That’s why we’ve put together this giant comprehensive list of the most beautiful books about nature for kids. These are some of the best children’s books about nature out there and we can’t wait for you to fall in love with them, like we have!

(This post contains affiliate links. We make a small commission on each purchase made using our links. Thank you for supporting a small business.)
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Nature books for kids

We’ve put together a list of more than thirty of the most beautiful children’s picture books about nature. This list was curated from our personal favorite nature books for kids and recommendations from a number of families, friends, and fellow nature-loving mamas. These nature books will inspire, educate and help your children develop a deep sense of love for nature and the outdoors. They have beautiful pictures and beautiful words. They teach lessons about nurturing, love and compassion. This list of nature books is perfect if you’re looking to add some beautiful books to your shelves at home, give them as a gift or add them to your library wishlist.

Most beautiful nature books for kids
The importance of nature books

We all want to raise kids that love being outside and love nature. Reading about nature is a great way to encourage kids to love and respect the great outdoors. One of the most important things that we can teach kids is how to care for our planet and protect it. The care of our planet, its land, minerals, animals, and their habitats is of the utmost importance. Kids need to understand that what we do today affects tomorrow and how they can make a difference. Reading gives kids this opportunity and helps them make these connections. Books about nature foster a love of learning and give kids knowledge and appreciation of the planet we live on. Use books about nature to explore how our planet works and what we can do to help preserve it.

Encouraging young readers

Raising kids that love to read as much as they love to be outside can be a challenge. I find that my super active kids sometimes find it hard to settle down long enough to read. There’s nothing wrong with kids on-the-go, but I also want to be sure they develop a love of reading in a way that’s natural and not forced. Here are a few things you can do at home to encourage your young ones to develop strong reading habits.
1. Model the behavior – Let your kids see YOU reading at home and enjoying it. Kids learn so much through modeling. If they see you reading in your free time, they’ll be more likely to give it a try when they have downtime.
2. Read together every day – Read to your children for around 30 minutes a day. Young readers are made on the lap of their parents during storytime. Read your kids’ favorites to them, try new books, make up your own story in a picture book, or read them a favorite of yours from childhood.
3. Practice makes perfect – Let your early readers read familiar books they’ve read dozens of times. Re-reading the same books can help build speed and accuracy and help with confidence.
4. Make reading real through connections – Help your child make connections between what they’re reading in books and what’s happening in real life. Nature books are a great way to do this. You can read about nature, bugs, weather, animals, etc. in a nature book and then make observations in real life outside that ties the experiences together.
Additional nature books

We have compiled a few other posts filled with our favorite nature books for kids (and we’re adding more all the time). If you’re on the hunt for the perfect book, check out some of these posts for more inspiration!
What’s your favorite children’s book about nature?