Books by Theme
Mother Earth in Autumn
Share the season's bounty with these great books about Mother Earth. From poems of autumn, to the life cycle of a pond, to the tale of the first strawberries, these books celebrate the sights and sounds of nature. Read one of these recommended books with a youngster from ages 0-9, and together appreciate the world that surrounds us.
Autumnblings
Cheery watercolor illustrations combine with short, playful poems to evoke the changes that happen in the fall. It’s "Awe-Tumn" after all, when "…autumn leaves/Leave me in awe."
Corn Is Maize: The Gift of the Indians
Did you know that corn is a grass? Early American Indian farmers figured out how to cultivate corn and shared their knowledge with the European settlers. Easy to read language and crisp illustrations provide a glimpse into the importance of corn throughout history.
Every Autumn Comes the Bear
As the seasons change, a large black bear prepares for hibernation. In his search for a den, he startles a bobcat, a grouse, and other smaller animals. Striking watercolors and brief text, drawn from the artist’s observations of a bear behind his Vermont home, explain the balance found in nature and the cycles of life.
How Chipmunk Got His Stripes
When Bear brags and Chipmunk teases, the results are an angry bear and a striped chipmunk. Animated language and colorful illustrations tell a Native American pourquoi story — a tale that explains why — that's perfect for sharing aloud.
In the Small, Small Pond
A child (and a small green frog) witness the change of seasons in a small, critter-filled pond. Engaging language swirls and moves across the pages in this vibrantly illustrated Caldecott Honor book.
Pumpkins: A Story for a Field
Warm tones are used to show one man's effort to save a beautiful field from development. With confidence and imagination, he buys and sells the field's pumpkins throughout the world. Readers will catch the point of this cautionary tale, and will likely feel that they, too, can make a difference.
The Apple Pie Tree
Two sisters describe the changes they see in the apple tree throughout the seasons from bare winter branches to fruit in the fall. A recipe for making apple pie is included with additional information about pollination. American writer Louisa May Alcott must have noticed similar seasonal changes in the trees that grew around their Massachusetts home, named Orchard House for the 40 apple trees planted there.
The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story
Seeing that man is sorry after arguing with his wife, Sun sends the first strawberries to the land. The sweet fruit slows the wife down, allowing her husband to catch up and apologize. To this day, strawberries remind people to be kind to each other. Rich illustrations add interesting details to this fluid telling of a traditional legend.
Too Many Pumpkins
While growing up, Rebecca Estelle ate so much pumpkin in so many ways she grew to hate them. When she buried the pumpkin that accidentally fell into her yard to be rid of it, the humorous results benefited the entire community in many ways. Lighthearted illustrations add comic detail.
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