Best Reads of Fall 2025

Click on the titles to read plot summaries. If you'd like to see all of my books, you can follow me on Goodreads.

Picture Books

Everyday Bean by Stephanie Graegin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So stinking cute!
I can use in a fiction/nonfiction lesson re: hedgehogs.
And then slide into "Not a Box" the next week.

 

The Wombats Go Wild for Words by Beth Ferry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My students' vocabulary has become smaller every year. They need more words.

 

Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The ghost is a brat ... but he did come with the house. But then, most ghosts are content to just float around the attic rather than stealing socks and EATING THE CHEESE!! Unforgiveable.

My pedantic side questioned the tic tac toe game, but I think I will add this to the Mock Caldecott list and let the kids cut out their own game pieces from this printable from the publisher.

Go, Sloth, Go! by Toni Yuly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not sure that I will use for Mock Caldecott, but will definitely add to my sloth lessons. And it's short and rhyming and has a chorus, so a good PreK readaloud as well.

Early Readers

A Great Fall: Three-and-a-Half Stories by Ame Dyckman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the words of our characters, I love it! It's perfect! Exactly the kind of book I need more of in my library. A "chapter book" for early readers with repetition and sweet silliness. I want to buy them all.

 

Kat & Mouse: I Like Cheese! by Salina Yoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Early reader graphic novel with a sweet message about friendship. Lovely.

Chapter Book

 

Troubling Tonsils! by Aaron Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yes yes yes yes!!!! Exactly what we need!!!

Twilight Zone for the elementary set.

Fantastic vocabulary, tons of illustrations, creepiness and grossness and I cannot wait to get it and share with the students!

 

Nonfiction

  

When Tree Became a Tree by Rob Hodgson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as good as "When Cloud Became a Cloud."
Factual, adorable, love it.

 

This Book Bubbles Over: From the Ocean to Mars and Everywhere In Between by Nora Nickum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So much cool information!

 

Meanwhile Back on Earth by Oliver Jeffers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Definitely for older kids or even adults ... could be a great kickoff to a history class. Sobering. I often say that I can't believe in this day and age, we are still killing each other as a way to decide who wins.



Rewriting the Rules: How Dr. Kathleen Friel Created New Possibilities for Brain Research and Disability by Danna Zeiger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really good portrayal of a person's life and purpose ... although I would like to know a little more detail about her experiments and discoveries.

 

Butt or Face? Volume 3: New York Times Bestselling Series by Kari Lavelle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pretty disgusting facts this time around - reminded me of Haiku, Ew! Like so disgusting I don't know that even I who laughs at poop jokes would be able to read it out loud. I did mention it to some 2nd graders as we kicked off our Mock Sibert unit, and they begged me to bring it in. I'll let them be the test readers. And will still definitely buy.

For Grownups

   

The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just don't overthink the details.