Books for Fall

Dilly Dilly Piccalilli
Tell me something very silly:
There was a chap his name was Bert
He ate the buttons off his shirt.

From Father Fox's Pennyrhymes by Clyde Watson, with illustrations by Wendy Watson

As an adult you may chuckle over that sweet little poem, but you might want to make sure your preschooler goes to the bathroom before you read it to him or her. It is a winner. We've highlighted some of our Fall books for your autumn pleasure.

The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree, by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Beginner Books, 1978

Three young bears armed with a stick, a rope, and a flashlight explore the scariest old tree in the forest, and find that it holds quite a bit more than expected! We follow along by reading the words and following the creepy, classic Berenstain illustrations.

Father Fox's Pennyrhymes, written by Clyde Watson, illustrated by Wendy Watson. (paperback) HarperCollins, 1987.

A delightful family of foxes live life to the fullest in rural Vermont. The rhymes are as good as Mother Goose (we say better) and the pictures are as American as apple pie with ice cream.

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, an old song illustrated by Peter Spier. (paperback) Bantam, Doubleday, Dell, 1961

A fox dad pays a visit to a farmer's duck and goose pens for some "take-out" dinner for his family. This classic book is cute, easy to read, and contains the music to the song.

I Need a Lunch Box, by Jeannette Caines, illustrated by Pat Cummings. (paperback) HarperCollins, 1988

When big sister gets a lunch box for first grade, little brother wants one, too. This simple book is perfect for sisters and brothers, and features an African-American family.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, written by Linda Williams, illustrated by Megan Lloyd. (paperback) HarperCollins, 1986

One old and smart woman cannot be easily scared. The repeating words in this book make it easy to read aloud.

Meeting Trees, by Scott Russell Sanders, illustrated by Robert Hynes. National Geographic Society, 1997

A father escorts his son around the forest, introducing him to all of his favorite friends, the trees. This book shows us true love between a father and son, and also true love for the beauty and variety of trees. The pictures are realistic and as beautiful as the words of the story.

Over the River and Through the Wood, by Lydia Maria Child, illustrated by David Catrow (paperback). Holt, 1996

A modern family drives to the grandparents' house on Thanksgiving Day. This book is a great new way to read a classic rhyming song with new pictures.

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf, by Lois Ehlert. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991

This is the story of one tree, from sapling in the forest, to seedling in the nursery, to tree in the front yard. The bright collage pictures are packed with detail, and there are also activities and more information at the end of the book.

The Teeny-Tiny Woman: A Ghost Story, retold and illustrated by Paul Galdone. (paperback) Clarion, 1984

A teeny-tiny woman takes a bone from a graveyard to make her supper. This funny story is full of big, easy-to-read print that often repeats.

last updated 3/22/06 ©2004 The Pennsylvania State University U.Ed. LIB 03-64

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