Autumn is here, the time when the year’s efforts yield abundance. It’s time to reflect and give thanks for what we’ve been given and to do a little giving in return. For many of us, it is a time of celebration and feasting. It’s also a great time to settle in with a good book, so let’s look at some autumn reading choices for your students!
Giving Thanks
Besides turkey dinners, Thanksgiving is best known for showing our gratitude for the good things in our lives. Teaching children how to feel and show gratitude are important lessons for their social development. Here are some great choices to illustrate this.
Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes
How does one give begin to give thanks? From the big things to the little details, this story teaches us about what’s important in life, and what fills us with gratitude.
Thanksgiving Day By Lizzy Rockwell
A group of students put on a play to demonstrate the important lessons behind Thanksgiving. Lauded for its accuracy and beautiful artwork, this story is sure to please as it educates.
Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp
Native American traditions are a big part of Thanksgiving and autumn celebration. Read how the Iroquois people give thanks every day!
Thanksgiving Gone Wrong
The holidays are often a time when the simplest of occasions can turn into a comedy of errors. Flights are delayed, cars break down, and the food…? Well, let’s just say that a botched recipe is not always our greatest problem.
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
Join Turkey as he goes through hilarious adventures to keep from becoming the main course at Thanksgiving dinner.
Too Many Pumpkins by Linda Arms White
This cranky old woman has hated pumpkins her whole life. Just her luck: she suddenly finds herself with a full crop of them. A perfect read-aloud book.
Nature and Changing Seasons
Yellow Time by Lauren Stringer
Between beautiful illustrations and fanciful words, this book is a delight for the senses. Enjoy this celebration of color and season change.
Leaves by David Ezra Stein
This cute tale of a young bear is great for not only teaching children about autumn and season changes, but also the hibernation cycles of bears.
Moonstick: The Seasons of the Sioux by Eve Bunting
Learn about the change of seasons through the eyes of a young Dakota Native American boy, as well as some interesting traditions of the Sioux people. Beautiful paintings by John Sandford.
Remember to encourage your students to read over their fall break. It only takes fifteen minutes per day to make a difference in a child’s life!