I’m a HUGE fan of finding picture books with similar themes, characters, and challenges and having students analyze them. They work so well for both academic and character goals, so at any given time, you will likely find a similar chart on our board as we compare books! For the fall season, I have selected four EXCELLENT fall picture books that help teach students about perfectionism, accepting change, and more.

The four fall picture books books include the following, all linked in my Amazon Storefront HERE.

1. “The Very Last Leaf“: In this heartwarming tale, a determined young leaf named Leif refuses to fall from his tree, despite the changing seasons, and despite excelling at everything else he has ever done. Through courage and friendship, he discovers the beauty of letting go of perfectionism and making way for new beginnings.
2. “Leif and the Fall”: Follow the charming adventures of Leif, a curious leaf, as he embarks on a journey through the fall season. Along the way, he learns about the magic of transformation, the joys of exploration, and the importance of embracing change.
3. “The Leaf Thief”: Join the young detective, Max, in his quest to solve the mystery of the missing leaves in his neighborhood. Through a blend of humor and wit, this story teaches children about problem-solving and the value of working together to uncover the truth.
4. “A Very Big Fall“: When the leaves in the forest begin to fall earlier and larger than usual, the animal inhabitants must work together to adapt to their changing environment. This delightful story explores teamwork, resilience, and the wonder of nature’s surprises during a particularly big fall.

Fall Picture Books Anchor Chart Example

Here is a glimpse of the anchor chart we made. The focus of the anchor chart here is more on the academic piece — writing one-sentence main idea summaries of each book, determining the overarching topic, and then identifying the theme of each story.

This is super easy to implement into your classroom, and your students will LOVE these beautiful fall picture books! You can also visit this post for even more fall picture books and fall literacy activities!

5 Days of FREE Thanksgiving Lesson Plans

Enter your email below to download 5 days of FREE lesson plans to use anytime before Thanksgiving break! You’ll receive a free week of Moving Mountains and daily lesson plans for Morning Work, Morning Meeting, Math, and Literacy. The plans also include my favorite Seasonal Read Alouds with related activities.