Fall Picture Books for Cozy Read-alouds

They see that words move from top to bottom and left to right, they see that those squiggles on the page translate into words and that the words have meanings. They begin to pick up the rhythms of words and the fact that letters make up the words, and even deeper understandings such as the emotion that words can convey. So reading aloud to young children is a must. But, once they start school, there's no reason to stop read-aloud time. There is nothing that encourages growth in reading skills more than interacting with books from a wide variety of genres.Picture books for young children are typically about 32 pages long. There are few if any chapters, and the pictures carry much of the meaning. Because of this, you will usually find rich, colorful pictures which can be scanned and examined by reader and child for even more enjoyment as the book is read. Typical fall topics for picture books are the outdoors; leaves, pumpkins, apples, changes in weather and gathering in the harvest. And so you can expect to see illustrations that are both beautiful and informative. Following are some excellent examples of fall picture books your children from babes up to age five will love. Some of these books are part of series on the seasons and most are from well-known children's authors and illustrators. They are a lovely way to spend an afternoon with your child.Fall:  the seasonFall by Maria RuisIt's Fall by Linda GlaserThe Autumn Equinox by Ellen JacksonLeavesAutumn Leaves by Ken RobbinsRed Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois EhlertWhy Do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy MaestroLeaf Man by Lois EhlertPumpkinsThe Pumpkin Patch by Elizabeth BergToo Many Pumpkins by Linda WhitePumpkin Jack by Will HubbellPumpkin Moonshine by Tasha TudorMiscellaneous Fall ThemesHello Harvest Moon by Ralph FletcherScarecrow by Cynthia RylantThe Apple Pie Tree by Zoe HallWaltz of the Scarecrow by Constance W. GeorgePicking Apples and Pumpkins by Amy HutchingsThe Little Scarecrow Boy by M.W. BrownThe Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail GibbonsThese and many other beautiful fall books wait for you at your local library or bookstore. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy cozy fall reading times with your young children. Just before naps or at bedtime are often the best times to do so. You will be building a strong relationship with the child at the same time that you are building important pre-reading skills and that's a winning combination!For more information about the authors and for more wonderful books for children go to the following author's websites:Lois Ehlert: http://www.lesliepreddy.com/yhba/08-09/PictureBook/LeafMan-Duncan.pdfTasha Tudor:  http://www.tashatudorandfamily.com/Gail Gibbons:  http://www.gailgibbons.com/