The Season of Autumn (inspiring book choices)
Autumn season in England casts a golden hue and chill in the air, as nights draw in, birds prepare for migration and animals prepare for winter hibernation. Trees lose their leaves and , and horse chestnut trees drop their seeds (keep conkers and leaf mould away from dogs).
Here are some lovely books to enjoy, as the weather cools:
A nature poem for every autumn evening
A Nature Poem for Every Autumn Evening is a beautiful anthology of verse for chilly nights. As sweet as pumpkin spice and warming as a roaring log fire!
The perfect literary companion as the days begin to shorten, keep this on your bedside table for some evening reading, or in your bag for when you come across the perfect cosy coffee shops. Bound to make you feel ready for big scarves and crunchy leaves!
Includes classics from Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Katherine Mansfield, Percy Shelley, William Blake and William Morris. You won’t be sad that summer’s over with this book – you’ll be celebrating that autumn has begun!
Falling into Autumn: A Printmaker’s View
Falling into Autumn is a beautiful book of prose and art from a printmaker, who inspires others with her personal encounters with nature, inspired by watching jays gathering acorns, and hearing owls hooting.
I am inspired by watching jays gathering acorns, owls hooting and the joy of hearing nightingales. In the shady part of my garden, ferns grow. By the autumn, these same leaves are starting to go brown at the edges.
This seems to be at the same time that the swallows gather to leave. Together with the ferns, they are markers that the summer has gone; that one season has finished and another is about to begin.
A perfect book for anyone who loves art and nature, with beautiful illustrations and evocative imagery. The book features over 30 of Angela’s favourite prints, alongside observations taken from her previous books.
An Autumn Day for Bear (not in England!)
An Autumn Day for Bear is a charming book, to teach children of the seasons. Bear and Mouse are best friends. But ready to go for a picnic, Bear is concerned when his little friend does not tap on his front door.
So he goes outside to find him sitting on a stump. Both agree that this is the worst day ever – the leaves are falling, the flowers are going and the birds are leaving..
But once they discover slippery puddles, wonderfully messy mud (and tea with pickles in front of a crackling fire), Bear and Mouse realise that this preposterous day, may not be so bad after all.
Bear liked the cold in the air.
He liked the wind in his fur.
He liked the rustle and tumble of the leaves.
He especially liked the feeling, that something was about to happen!
This beautiful story covers the triple themes of autumn, friendship and even bird migration. A charming read for rainy days!
Bonny Becker has written several award-winning picture books and lives in Seattle, USA. Kady Macdonald Denton has illustrated several children’s books, and lives in Ontario, Canada.
Bedtime blessings (seasonal stories for children)
Blessings for Bedtime is a calming and joyful prose collection for the over-stimulated child. Bedtime can now be a time of peace and relaxation, also for parents. Organised by four seasons, the book offers night-time stories to inspire children to sleep well.
Empower children to feel safe, whilst building an emotionally healthy relationship. Whether you read one blessing to your child at night or many, you’ll both end the day with love and light. Take a peak at a few of the powerful blessings inside:
No more work and no more play, ended is the lovely day. In the night sky, stars are twinkling. To their homes mice are creeping. Your bed is made and ready for sleeping. Good night, my love, good night!
Dear Sun and Moon and Stars, bless my little one. May (they) sleep in peaceful dreams, all night long. And in the morning, let (them) wake with a smile, ready to greet the new day.
Beautifully designed and carefully organised, this lovely bedtime book has soothing illustrations of seasonal and nature imagery.
