Children’s Books to Read this Autumn
By Rosie Pinder and Emma Rogers
Now that we are nearing the end of September, it is well and truly time to cast aside the summery beach reads and embrace some autumnal books. Perfect for reading on crisp days with hot chocolate, here are our top autumnal recommendations for children of all ages – including some exciting new releases.
Picture Books
The Boy Who Lost His Spark by Maggie O’Farrell, illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini
Set to be published on 6 October, this is a fantastic picture book to add to your autumn collection. The book follows Jem as he struggles to settle into a new town and encounters strange happenings caused by a small magical creature living inside a nearby hill. It’s a heart-warming story that is full of mischief, and the cover illustration certainly looks fitting for this time of the year now that the leaves are starting to change.
Fox & Son Tailers by Paddy Donnelly
Foxes with their russet tails are brilliant characters for autumn books, and Fox & Son Tailers, released earlier this month, is a perfect example. Rory the fox helps out his dad in their tailers shop, measuring the wide array of customers which range from mice to giraffes. But Rory has his own ideas for the tails as readers of this beautifully illustrated picture book will soon discover.
The Baddies by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
From the author of The Gruffalo comes The Baddies, a picture book that follows a group of the nastiest characters in the land. When a little girl arrives in town, the ghost, witch and the troll are ready to scare her. But she proves harder to frighten than they first imagined. Published on 1 September, Julia Donaldson teams up once again with illustrator Axel Scheffler to prove why they are such a dynamic duo.
Middle Grade
The Book of Stolen Dreams by David Farr
Published earlier this month in paperback, The Book of Stolen Dreams is the perfect autumn read for book lovers. Rachel and Robert are given the stolen book by their father and are tasked with tracking down the last missing page while protecting the book at all costs. With Charles Malstain hot on their heels, the siblings must do everything they can to stop the book from falling into the wrong hands.
Project Fairy by Jacqueline Wilson
From the critically acclaimed children’s author Jacqueline Wilson comes a brand-new novel about fairies, families and friendships. Mab’s mum is obsessed with fairies, but when Mab’s teacher gives her a book about Victorian fairies, they are surprised that these fairies are nothing like the ones they imagined. However, the biggest surprise of all tumbles out of the pages of the book. The mystical elements of this book are perfect for the new season and teemed with Rachael Dean’s beautiful illustrations. This is one is not to be missed.
Young Adult
On the Subject of Unmentionable Things by Julia Walton
Released at the end of August, this is a really important read – especially for young adults who recently returned to school this autumn. The novel follows Phoebe, a school student with an anonymous online blog: Rewriting Sex Education. Her identity and message soon come under threat, and Phoebe must navigate the fallout.
Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus
The queen of young adult mysteries is back this autumn with Nothing More to Tell. Brynn’s beloved teacher was murdered and after five years the case remains unsolved. When Brynn gets an internship at a new true crime show, she decides to do an investigation on her own. But the deeper she digs, the more secrets she uncovers that threaten to shake the community. This murder mystery is the perfect read for the spooky season.
The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Following the success of They Both Die at the End on Tiktok, Adam Silvera is set to publish a prequel to the book next month. Orion and Valentino have a chance meeting in Times Square and immediately feel a connection. But, when Death-Cast goes live for the first time, one of them receives a phone call and one of them does not.
We hope you like some of these autumn recommendations. As always, there are lots more classics and new releases that we haven’t talked about here. But whatever you choose to pick up, this is the perfect season to get stuck into a great book. (We could definitely make a case for all four of them though!)