9 Classic Children’s Books to Revisit This Fall

As the title suggests, Pearl S. Buck’s timeless collection of stories is a delight for children, showcasing the wonders to be found in adolescence. 

From thunderstorms and starry nights to journeys into different cultures and countries, these tales are all “selected with the intention of warming hearts” (Kirkus Reviews). 

Although not entirely autumnal-themed, this treasure trove from a Pulitzer Prize-and Nobel Prize-winning author leans into the cozy, comforting feelings of the season. 

You can’t celebrate fall without the classic coming-of-age novel Anne of Green Gables!

Set on Prince Edward Island as the leaves begin to fall, this heartwarming story follows the newly arrived eleven-year-old Anne—with her red pigtails, wild imagination, and big heart—who has captured readers for generations. 

Anne soon learns that the Cuthberts—that is, the elderly Matthew and his rigid sister Marilla—had hoped to adopt a boy, not an outspoken redhead. 

But as time passes, they will come to embrace one another, serving as a beautiful reminder to your young one of the power of chosen family and unconditional love. 

Widely considered one of the most beloved children’s characters, Arthur the aardvark first appeared in 1976’s Arthur’s Nose—and has since starred in more than 25 books. 

In Arthur Jumps into Fall, he’s put in charge of raking all the leaves in the backyard, but one small issue remains. 

He can’t help but jump into the leaves instead of cleaning them up! To help, Arthur enlists some of his friends in what is sure to be a rolicking autumnal adventure. 

From the married duo Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell comes the true story of Roy and Silo, two male chinstrap penguins at New York City’s Central Park Zoo. 

When the zookeeper noticed their bond, he helped make their dream of a family come true—and Tango was born. 

Love comes in every shape and size, as this bestselling story reminds young readers. A perfect read to cozy up with under a blanket, warm cider in hand. 

Winner of the 1980 Caldecott Medal, the Ox-Cart Man is “like a pastoral symphony translated into picture book format” (The Horn Book). 

Following the changing seasons with a New Englander and his family, the story begins in October, as they pack everything from his sheep’s wool to the mittens his daughter knitted. 

From there, the father takes their goods to a market, where they earn money to buy what they need for the next year, showing young readers the self-reliant lifestyle of farming and the beauty of simplicity.

There’s something especially comforting about returning to stories rooted in family—the award-winning The Patchwork Quilt is just that. 

One day, Tanya finds her grandmother sitting by the window, making a patchwork quilt to replace the old one her mother made. 

What follows is a cozy, multi-generational story that will “leave children moved and satisfied” (School Library Journal, starred review).

Members of the Cherokee Nation use the word otsaliheliga (pronounced oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) to express gratitude—a sentiment deeply connected to autumn. 

Told by Cherokee author Traci Sorell, We Are Grateful begins in fall and moves through the seasons, depicting a full year of Cherokee celebrations. 

“A gracious, warm, and loving celebration of community and gratitude,” this accessible book is for all kinds of budding readers and offers a look into modern Native American life (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

What is more nostalgic than the childhood wonder evoked by reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for the first time? 

And although there is still some time before director Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the series hits the big screen, really, the magical world of Narnia can—and should—be entered whenever you and your little ones like! 

Growing up can feel scary, but author C.S. Lewis tackles the bittersweet reality with plenty of heart—and four English siblings at the center of it all. 

They must come together to find their way through their wardrobe and to Narnia, where Aslan, a golden lion, needs their help to beat the White Witch. 

Inspired by the Mid-Autumn Festival, a harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture, Thanking the Moon is a “warm and glowing modern myth” about the phases of the moon (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). 

Little Star loves to eat the yummy Mooncake she bakes with her mama—so much so that she finds it hard to resist taking a nibble. Find out what happens when she eats the cake before she’s supposed to in this whimsical tale.