7 books for autumn to delight and spook!

After the excitement and exhilaration (and possible exhaustion!) of September, the arrival of October and autumn can feel a little flat.

It is raining, the sky darkens earlier and earlier, the heating is on, jumpers are out of storage…indeed, as I write this, the weather is simply frightful. Pouring with rain outside my window, I have put my fluffiest of jumpers on and have a warm coffee by my side.

However, it is not all doom and gloom. Autumn is a beautiful season, filled with colour and coziness. For children (and young-at-heart adults) there are conkers to hunt, hot chocolate to slurp, Halloween celebrations to enjoy, and fallen leaves to crunch!

So, instead of looking outside and seeing a deary day both literally and metaphorically, lets enjoy all that autumn has to offer by reading some of our favourite books of the season…

Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper

Age Range: EYFS

Filled with the stunning colours of autumn, this classic story of three friends will enchant your class.

Harvest Days by Kate DePalma

Age Range: EYFS and KS1

How do different communities celebrate the autumn harvest? Find out with this great non-fiction option for younger readers.

Storm by Sam Usher 

Age Range: EYFS and KS1

A beautiful story of the simple joy of kite flying…although perhaps not so simple in this tale! Follow a young boy and his Grandad as they embark on an adventure that takes them through lots of past memories together.

Leina and the Lord of the Toadstools by Myriam Dahman and Nicholas Digard

Age Range: KS1 and KS2

Now, this story isn’t exactly about autumn. However, it has that mystical, atmospheric feeling that you get in woodlands around this time of year. The illustrations are rich and deep with a twisting storyline that grips the reader.

Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue by Paula Harris

Age Range: LKS2

A great option for children new to reading independently and perfectly themed to the spooky season! There are loads to choose from in this series, all with easy to access text and short chapters.

Fungarium by the Royal Botanical Gardens and Ester Gaya

Age Range: KS2

A wonderfully illustrated non-fiction book all about the enticing world of wild mushrooms! Fans of this Royal Botanical Gardens series will know that these books do not disappoint.

Frankenstiltskin: Fairy Tales Gone Bad by Joseph Coelho and Freya Hartas

and Creeping Beauty: Fairy Tales Gone Bad by Joseph Coelho and Freya Hartas

Age Range: KS2

Taking inspiring from fairy tales, these twisted spooky stories will be a hit with any Halloween fans! Paired with illustrations from Freya Hartas and Joseph Coelho’s rich poetry, expect dark and creepy plots to keep KS2 children engaged.