Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through one of them, GreatfulMoments.com may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
As much as I know people will disagree with me but I love SUMMER because we can go swiming but I also like Fall which bring us Harvest Fun. Harvest is also my best friends favorite time of year because of the cooler Weather.
I thought I would take the time this morning share books Families can Read, then they Create & Enjoy Autumn Crafts once they finish reading the books.. My family also wanted to let you know there is something about cooler days, changing leaves, pumpkins, harvest decorations, and spending a little more time together as a family that makes autumn feel special.
But sometimes kids hear, “It’s time to read,” and suddenly they’re bored. So why not make reading part of the fun? It’s also why we changed our reading challenge from 30 minutes to 10 minutes and reading today will earn you and your children a ticket for your ticket jar.
We would like to invite you to join us for Fall as we’re combining books, crafts, activities, and a little imagination to help children discover that reading doesn’t have to feel like homework. And because I’m always thinking ahead to Christmas, these are also books you can put on your shopping list for the children in your life.
Children can be as different as night and day and children don’t all enjoy the same books, and that’s okay. A toddler isn’t going to want the same book as a teenager. A high school student may want something completely different from a beginning reader. That’s why I like the idea of choosing a fall book based on the child rather than simply choosing a book because everyone else is reading it.
Here are some ideas for different ages and stages.
For Pre-Toddlers_ Look for sturdy board books with bright pictures, simple words, and things your little one can touch, point to, and name. I would suggest Fall books about pumpkins, leaves, apples, animals, or the changing seasons which are perfect for introducing little ones to autumn.
Don’t worry about reading the entire book perfectly. Point to the pictures. Ask questions. Let them turn the pages. Even a few minutes of reading together counts. I found this book I would like The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Fall (The World of Eric Carle) because it reminds me of a book I used to read to Charlie. I think Leslie would like it for her new baby.
Then our little ones becomes toddlers and we all know they love repetition, colorful illustrations, and books they can participate in. Choose a story about fall, pumpkins, harvest time, farm animals, or getting ready for a new season.
Ask your child: “What color is that pumpkin?” “Can you find the leaf?” “Where is the squirrel?” You may be surprised by how much they remember. For our Fall basket I found Barn in Fall: Festival Fun on the Farm – A Beautiful Story of Togetherness, Autumn Harvest, and Love (Barn Seasonal Series) (Barn All Year)
Then our children enter Lower Elementary grades and that is a great age for books that combine a story with facts. Children can read about fall animals, apples, pumpkins, farms, nature, or the changing season and leaves.
After reading, take the lesson outside. Go look for leaves. Count pumpkins. Find acorns. Draw what you see. Reading becomes an experience instead of something that happens only while sitting inside. For this age we found Fall is… An Early Reader Book for Toddlers and Kids: Fun and Educational Rhyming Picture Book. A Fall Read Aloud Book for the Whole Family (Rhyme in Time)
Older elementary children can handle longer stories, nonfiction books, chapter books, and books that encourage them to ask questions. Choose something connected to fall that interests your child. Charlie said he would have liked Poppleton in Fall: An Acorn Book (Poppleton #4).
For this age they might choose a mystery or a book about animals. Or it might be a cookbook or a nature book. The goal isn’t to make every child read the same thing. The goal is to help them discover something they want to read.
Teenagers sometimes get left out of seasonal reading because so many fall activities are aimed at younger children. Don’t forget them. A mystery, historical fiction book, graphic novel, cookbook, biography, or nonfiction book can all become part of your family’s fall reading. And yes, you can still make it fun.
Let your teenager choose the book. If Suzzane were here she would have picked out Teen Fall Read: Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson. Make a favorite drink. Sit outside. Read for ten minutes. No worksheet required.
Older teens and young adults may be ready for books that explore bigger ideas. Maybe they’re interested in history, science, relationships, careers, hobbies, fantasy, gaming, art, or current interests. Let them choose. Sometimes the best way to encourage reading is simply to give someone permission to read what they’re actually interested in.
And don’t forget yourself. Parents and grandparents need books, too. You could choose something you’ve been wanting to read. Maybe it’s a novel or a cookbook. Maybe it’s a devotional ora biography. Maybe it’s a book that teaches you something new. Reading shouldn’t stop because we’re adults.
Here’s another idea I love for fall: Put together an “I’m Bored” Basket. Fill it with things children can grab when they don’t know what to do.
You might include:
- Fall-themed books
- Coloring books
- Crayons or colored pencils
- Simple craft supplies
- Puzzles
- Word searches
- Activity books
- Stickers
- Drawing paper
- Leaves collected outside
- Index cards for writing or drawing
- A small notebook for keeping track of fall adventures
The basket doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, some of the best things to put inside may already be sitting around your house or you might find them at the Dollar Tree or a neighbor or family members home.
You don’t have to tell a child they need to sit down and read for an hour. Start with 10 minutes. Set a timer. Pick a comfortable place. Read. That’s it. And if they want to keep reading when the timer goes off? Let them.
You can also turn reading into a simple family challenge. Every 10 minutes of reading earns a ticket. Parents can decide what the tickets can be used for and provide the rewards. The goal isn’t to turn reading into a competition.
It’s to give children another reason to make reading part of their day. And personally, I still think 30 minutes of reading is wonderful when a child is willing to do it—but ten minutes is a much easier place to start.
One of my favorite ways to make reading feel different is to change the location. Take the book outside. Sit on the porch. Sit under a tree. Take a blanket to the backyard. Have a snack. Drink apple cider or another favorite fall drink. Suddenly, the same book feels a little different.
Create Something After You Read
After finishing a book, give children a chance to create something connected to what they read.
They could:
- Draw their favorite character.
- Make a fall picture.
- Create a paper pumpkin.
- Draw a tree showing the changing seasons.
- Make a leaf rubbing.
- Write a short story.
- Create a bookmark.
- Make a comic strip.
- Build something related to the story.
- Act out their favorite scene.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. This is about having fun. You can also turn reading into an adventure. Read a book about apples, then visit an apple display at the grocery store. Read about pumpkins, then go look at pumpkins.
Read about leaves, then go outside and find different shapes and colors. Read about animals, then see what animals you can spot in your neighborhood. The world around us can become part of the book And here’s where my gift-giving brain comes in.
If you find a wonderful book your child enjoys this fall, put another copy on your Christmas shopping list. Books make wonderful Christmas gifts because they don’t require batteries, they don’t need to be the newest version, and they can be enjoyed over and over again.
You can give a book to:
- Your child
- Your grandchild
- A niece or nephew
- A teacher
- A homeschool family
- A friend
- A young reader who loves a particular subject
And you don’t have to wait until Christmas Eve to make a book meaningful. Give someone a book and encourage them to read it with you. That’s a gift of time as well as a gift of something they can keep. We all love the pumpkins, decorations, candy, and seasonal treats.
But fall can also be about slowing down a little. Reading together. Creating together. Going outside. Learning something new. Talking. Laughing. Making memories. And sometimes, those are the things children remember years later.
If you’re wondering where to start, keep it simple. Choose one book. Read for 10 minutes. Do one little activity. Talk about what you read. That’s enough. You don’t need an elaborate lesson plan. You don’t need a house full of expensive craft supplies. You don’t need to turn every afternoon into a Pinterest project.
Just pick up a book and spend a little time together. Because fall doesn’t have to be complicated to be memorable. And if that book becomes a favorite? Put it on the Christmas list. Because around here, I’m always looking for ways to help Santa fill his sleigh with gifts that children can enjoy long after Christmas morning. Read. Create. Explore. Enjoy autumn. That’s a pretty good way to spend fall.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.
Inside this post is my affiliate link. If you click on the link and make a purchase I will make a small percentage from the products you purchased.
GreatfulMoments.com
✝️ Glenda • 🐸 David • 🎮 Charlie • 🦋 Suzanne
