Children's Picture Books to Read in October
Welcome to my blog series where I share my favourite children’s picture books for every month of the year.
I’m mum to a 3-year-old and we’ve been enjoying picture books since he was around 6 months old. (No, he probably had no idea what was going on at that stage, but they were slow old days and picture books helped to break up the day as well as starting a good habit!)
If you follow me elsewhere, you’ll know as well as painting and drawing, I love a bit of seasonal living and following the months of the year.
In the last year or so we’ve been creating a seasonally themed book display for every month of the year. As well as being a great seasonal visual, it’s great practice to rotate books (and toys) and to have a reminder to read something every day.
October SHELFIE
Book display of the month
October | True Autumn book display ~ knitwear, indoor games, Halloween and woodland adventures
THEMES FOR OCTOBER
Here are the themes and keywords for October, the most autumnal month of the year.
These themes and words can be used as starting points when visiting the library, creating toddler activities or simply for things to observe and chat about.
Pumpkin picking and carving
Autumn and Halloween crafts and decorating
Spooky topics
The clocks falling back and darker nights
The dark
Mushrooms and toadstools
Cottagecore
Golden leaves
Getting cosy and warm
Knitwear
The moon
Hot drinks
Spiders
Bats
Picking apples
Energy levels slowing down
Picking and planting acorns
True Autumn colour palette: warm, muted and mostly dark including all warm and neutral tones such as oranges, browns, olive greens, gold and teal
BOOKS FOR OCTOBER
Jolly Tall ~ Old Bear Series
Jane Hissey
I usually recommend one of the Old Bear stories every month! I guess they’re nostalgic for me as I read them as a kid but they’re also a nice visual of the pre-screen and pre-internet era. A slower time when there seemed to be a lot more creativity and imagination.
In this story, the toys are curious as to what is inside a mysterious new parcel. Little Bear hopes for treasure while the others fear it might be something dangerous. They eventually discover it’s a new soft toy and Little Bear decides a new friend is much better than any treasure.
I guess I’ve dumped this one into October’s list because Bramwell Brown is knitting at the beginning. I’m very much a beginner at knitting but it’s definitely a seasonal thing for me that I’m not really in the mood for until late autumn!
Age 2 to 5 years
Longer, slower-paced text
Daytime or bedtime read
Part of a classic 1980/1990s series - Old Bears Stories
Freddy the Frog
Axel Scheffler
Our little one really enjoyed this in his earlier infant and toddler years. As usual, Scheffler illustrates the book with brilliantly bold colours and quirky characters.
The text is rhyming but short and has a very basic storyline.
The push, pull, slide and turn elements are great for the fine motor skills in the earlier years.
The story is set in a pond, at night by the light of the moon.
6 months to 3 years
Very short and simple rhyming text
Daytime or bedtime read
Push, pull, slide & turn boardbook
The Cat in the Hat
Dr Seuss
We’ve been reading Dr Seuss’s books for years and they’re a firm favourite in our household. They’re great if you’re looking for a long and fun read-aloud story.
The Cat in the Hat is probably the most iconic Dr Seuss book. It’s entertaining with playful and rhythmic rhyming.
The two siblings are bored as they’re stuck inside on a wet day. The Cat in the Hat brings fun and chaos into their house along with Thing 1 and Thing 2.
There always seems to be a subtle learning objective within every Dr Seuss book. This one’s theme is probably about finding fun on a dull, wet day, setting boundaries, tidying up the fun and generally being responsible.
12 months to 5 years +
Short, clever rhyming text but a long read
Daytime read (too long and entertaining for bedtime!)
Prequel to The Cat in the Hat Comes Back
Teddy & Grandma’s Cottage
Ken McKie
I had these Teddy books as a kid and I’m not sure whether they were very well known even then… look out for them secondhand book sales! They were written in the early 90s.
These Teddy books are typically one of my favourites with their cute animal characters and rhyming text.
Grandma’s cottage has fallen down and been washed away in a storm. Teddy and his friends help to rebuild her cottage with the help of the beavers recovering the blanks of wood from the water. Of course, their reward at the end is more of Grandma’s homemade cake and tea!
Sweet, (fairy budget and indicative of what picture books were generally like in the early 90s) but still enjoyable, warm and simplistic!
Age 12 months to 4 years
Medium in length with rhyming text
Daytime or bedtime read
Part of a Teddy series
Little Goose’s Autumn
Elli Woollard & Briony May Smith
This is one of my favourite children’s picture books along with its companion, Little Bear’s Spring.
It’s the perfect partnership of beautifully worded rhyming text and a lovely storyline with incredibly stunning illustrations.
The story is a seasonal one about a goose finding her place in the world and learning what she must do when the seasons change. The illustrations are so detailed and warm with an amazing colour palette.
I look forward to reading these every year! Our toddler is now 3 and I think this is the third year running of reading this book.
Age 18 months to 5 years and above
Fairly long story with beautifully rhyming text
Daytime or bedtime read
Part of a series of two - its companion being Little Bear’s Spring
A Little Bit Brave
Nicola Kinnear
I think this is the first in the series by this author and the first one we read. As you’ve probably guessed, we usually opt for the older books as I’m an old-fashioned gal! This is a modern one but it has definitely won me over.
The illustrations are digital, which I’m honestly not usually a huge fan of but they are done in such a detailed and clever way that they don’t really seem digital (if that makes sense…). I adore the colour palettes and unique style of the animal characters and natural elements.
The text is great, too. It’s definitely an easier read than a lot of the older books we usually go for but it’s certainly not boring or cliche. The story is about a stay-at-home bunny who loves his indoor hobbies and is too scared to go outside. One day he has to face his fear to rescue his daring friend from being eaten by a wolf. It’s about being brave, friendship and facing your fears so you’re not missing out on exciting adventures!
This one’s in October’s list as it’s got a lovely autumnal feel to it with its warm colour palette and woodland setting.
Age 18 months to 4 years +
Fairly short sentences and a fairly long story
Daytime or bedtime read (as long as not frightened by a fairly scary wolf!)
Part of a series of different stories by Nicola Kinnear
Fox’s Socks ~ Acorn Woods Series
Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
We still read this one now at 3 years old. It’s meant for younger readers, however, make sure you’ve got glue and sellotape as the flaps tend to get ripped out the earlier you start…
This one is part of a series and all of them are great.
Fox has lost his socks and so the book is a mission to find them in the most random of places with the help of the mouse.
This is a very loose connection to autumn and October via knitwear and socks.
I’ve loved this book series and hopefully we can still get a bit more use out of them!
Age 12 months to 3 years +
Very short and simple rhyming text
Daytime read (as it’s lift-the-flap)
Lift-the-flap board book
Part of the Acorn Woods book series
The Gruffalo
Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
An obvious and, perhaps over-read, story but a clever one nonetheless!
I don’t think you can go wrong with any Donaldson and Scheffler book. The rhyming text is always great to real aloud and the illustrations are bold and eye-catching.
This one has a craftiness feel to it, similar to Brer Bear. It’s about a mouse who doesn’t want to be eaten by various woodland predators so he creates a creature called a gruffalo who he later ends up confronting.
This isn’t our favourite by the author and illustrator but as it’s slightly scary and has a woodland setting I’ve included it in October’s book list!
Age 12 months to 4 years +
Fairly short and repetitive rhyming text, medium length story
Daytime read (possibly too scary for younger ones at bedtime)
Part of a series - followed by The Gruffalo’s Child
Sleep Tight, Little Bear
Martin Waddell & Barbara Firth
If you read this blog a lot you’ll know I recommend this book series whenever I can. They are probably my favourite children’s picture books.
The author’s writing style is simplistic, repetitive but clever and heartwarming at the same time. This marries up perfectly with Barbara Firth’s cosy and incredibly beautiful illustrations. The storylines are all based on the relationship between an infant or toddler and their parent. They’re basic storylines that are all very relatable.
This one is based on toddlers moving into their own bed in their nursery and sleeping on their own. I love how the story ends. I won’t spoil it but I’ll tell you it’s certainly not a sleep training book! It’s absolutely perfect in every way.
I’ve added this to October’s selection due to the blackberry supper and the talk of sleep as we approach late autumn and winter!
Age 12 months to 4 years
Clever, repetitive and fairly short text
Daytime or bedtime read
Part of a series: Big Bear & Little Bear books