Fall is finally here, which means it’s time to take full advantage of these fleeting days of cooler weather. The New Orleans Public Library has tons of great ways to make the most of the season, including these fun fall reads.
Children
Readers follow three best friends as they go on exciting autumnal adventures in Bat, Cat & Rat: A Great Fall by Ame Dyckman & Mark Teague. From leaf-raking romps to peculiar pumpkin picking, to the trials of trick-or-treating, children are sure to love these sweet, silly stories.
It’s Almost Time for… Halloween! by Maisha Oso & Tom Knight is a rhyming picture book celebrating the endless possibilities Halloween brings.
Families can learn about what fall looks like in other cultures with The Moon Rabbit: a Celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Before Meifung and her family bring their paper lanterns to join their neighbors for this Chinese tradition, Meifung wants to hear the story of Chang’e and the moon rabbit, which Eva Wong Nava and Jason Chuang bring to life in this beautiful picture book.
Middle Grade
Masks: A Graphic Novel by Margaret Rae, Brian Nathanson & Beck Kubrick follows Poe, Rice, and Shelley—three monster kids who hide from the outside world. But when they learn about “Halloween,” they realize it’s their one night of the year where they can be their true selves, scales and all.
Budding artists will love How to Draw Fall Things for Kids by Alli Koch, which is chock full of fun five-minute drawing lessons for kids, featuring all things fall, ranging from pumpkins and scarecrows to turkeys and footballs.
For scary-story lovers, check out It’s Watching by Lindsay Currie, a spooky adventure following Josie and her best friends, Jackson and Alison. When the group sneak into a haunted cemetery on Halloween night hoping to prove the existence of a famous ghost, they must discover who is terrorizing them with sinister memes and other frightening antics.
Teen
Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson is a great cozy read to curl up with this season. Readers meet Ellis as her plans to apply to Columbia’s journalism program are upended by her family’s move from New York City to Bramble Falls, Connecticut, where she runs into her one-time best friend and first kiss, falls for the quaint town, and confronts her future.
For a spookier option, try The Graveyard Club: Revenge Game by R.L. Stine, Carola Borelli & Francesco Segala. Parker West lives in the sleepy town of Grave’s End, a town surrounded by cemeteries, prompting his group of friends to form The Graveyard Club. What starts off as mostly harmless practical jokes and tricks escalates into attacks that might put these kids in real, life-threatening danger.
The Witch’s Wardrobe: Sew Your Own Witchcore Wear by Raechel Henderson is perfect for crafty kids looking to create personalized garments that match their unique spirits. With 30 spell-binding projects like wrap-around pants and fingerless gloves, these will bring you closer to the clothing collection of your dreams.