Fall into reading with the East Baton Rouge Parish Library! After a long, scorching Baton Rouge summer, we are ready for lots of outdoor family fun in the cooler temperatures. There are so many activities offered this time of year from pumpkin picking to hayrides to football games, but, of course, we’re never too busy to read a good book! Let these autumn-themed stories get you and your kids in the mood for, what many would say is, the best season of the year!

YOUTH
Introduce your little ones to the wonder of the fall season with these fun picture books!

1. In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes
Take a simple walk through the season of fall from color changes to plants and animals.

2. Bella’s Fall Coat by Lynn Plourde
Bella LOVES her fall coat though Gram thinks she has outgrown it. Bella and Gram have fun together with the fall leaves and apples Bella picked until her coat gets damaged. Bella hopes Gram can repair it before she wakes up to have another fun fall day.

3. The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry
A lonely scarecrow rescues a baby crow and watches it grow through the seasons. Once grown, the crow leaves the nest and the scarecrow is left alone once again. But when something unexpected joins him from the sky, the scarecrow may have found his forever family.

For those families who celebrate Halloween, enjoy these children’s books about the history of the holiday and how to carve the perfect jack-o-lantern.

4. My Family Celebrates Halloween by Lisa Bullard
Want to learn a little about where Halloween came from and why we dress up? Join Hailey as she searches for the best Halloween costume while her family prepares for Halloween.

5. Carving Pumpkins by Dana Meachen Rau
Learn some basic tips in this guide on pumpkin carving with topics such as: picking your pumpkin, making a plan, pumpkin personalities, scooping the goop, and more!

TWEEN/TEEN
Tweens and teens love the spooky mood of late October. Perhaps these middle grade novels will provide the spine-tingling excitement they are looking for!

1. Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
After 11-year-old Ollie’s school bus mysteriously breaks down on a field trip, she has to take a trip through the scary woods and must use all of her wits to survive.

2. City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
Since her near-fatal drowning, Cassidy has been able to see ghosts. When her parents begin filming a TV series, Cass and her personal ghost, Jacob, are about to find out that a city of old ghosts is a dangerous place to be.