Rhyming Picture Books for the FAll

Last week brought a blast of crisp weather that reminded me autumn is on its way. I love this time of year, but it always passes too quickly! Back-to-school time fades and farmers begin their harvest. Too soon, time tumbles us into the fun of Halloween.

The nudge of cooler weather always propels me to the library, too. Summer distractions are over and I can get back to reading and writing. Today, I'm sharing a few fall finds from my recent haul.

A TREASURE OF MEASURES by Mike Downs, with illustrations by Joy Hwang Ruiz

First up is a back-to-school book, A Treasure of Measures, words by Mike Downs and illustrations by Joy Hwang Ruiz, Chronicle Books, 2024.
This books introduces young readers to the concept of measurement. The author begins with the familiar -- seconds, inches, ounces, years. But cleverly, he moves on to more imaginative ways of measuring, challenging the reader to come up with creative and unique forms of measurement. Yes, reading together can be counted in minutes, but how else might you measure it? (No one should be surprised that the page below is my favorite!) 

Four things I enjoy about this book are:

• repeated use of an appeal to the reader to imagine other ways of measuring
• the use of page turns to reveal the clever alternatives
• changes in meter (usually between anapest and trochee) that speed and slow the pace of reading
• six pages of back matter to extend learning

IT'S CORN PICKING TIME! by Jill Esbaum, with illustrations by Melissa Crowton, Neal Porter Books, 2025.

Next is It's Corn Picking Time, words by Jill Esbaum and illustrations by Melissa Crowton, Neal Porter Books, 2025. If you like to write rhyming picture books, Jill Esbaum is an author to know. She is a masterful poet who has lived this story! I've seen photos of Jill, sitting behind the steering wheel of a combine, harvesting corn. The image below could well be set on her family's farm. 

Can you guess what follows this illustration? Of course, "Thumb-push a button..." is followed by "...and corn WHOOSHES out!"
Four things I enjoy about this book are:

• the use of the poetic device anaphora -- a repetition of words at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses. The repeating "This is the..." phrase evokes the childhood rhyme, The House that Jack Built.
• those big trucks and machines are going to be a hit with transportation-loving readers!
• the farm setting shows working people instead of just animals (a lovely change of pace)
• four pages of back matter to extend learning

THE GINGERBREAD MONSTER, by Dan Gemeinhart, illustrated by Hugo L. Cuellar, Henry Holt & Co, 2025.

If you think it's too early to talk about Halloween, you may not have been in stores recently! If Halloween decorations can already be out, we can certainly talk Halloween books. The third book is The Gingerbread Monster, written by Dan Gemeinhart, with illustrations by Hugo L. Cuellar, Henry Holt & Company, 2025. The author is best known for his middle grade novels, (The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise is my favorite!); this is the first picture book I've read of his.
In this fun mash-up of Frankenstein and The Gingerbread Man, young Frank N. Stine is looking for a sweet treat. But his homemade concoction goes awry and the result is a frightening Frankenbread Monster.

Four things I enjoy about this book are:

• the mash-up approach (Challenge accepted to try and write one of my own some day!)
• its read-aloud potential
• the repetition of Frankenbread Monster snarling, followed by a "Run, run, run" phrase, which invites reader participation
• there's a recipe at the end of the book!

Enjoy these fall reads. I hope they might serve as mentor texts for a picture book you're writing.

Before I sign off, I'd thought I'd share a video of illustrator Jarvis reading Pick a Pumpkin. This Halloween book (words by me, illustrations by Jarvis) is a great read-aloud and introduction to pumpkin carving for the little ones in your life.
~ Patricia Toht