If you’re planning a pumpkin unit this fall, start with a cozy stack of read-alouds. This list of pumpkin books for preschoolers has something for everyone — sweet stories, silly adventures, seasonal science, and just a dash of Halloween fun.
Whether you’re teaching in a classroom, homeschooling at the kitchen table, or simply snuggling up before bed, these preschool books are a great way to build background knowledge, introduce fall vocabulary, and spark curiosity.
You can grab your favorites on Amazon or reserve them at the library. Many of these are preschool classics, and a few might be new favorites in the making!
Pumpkin Books for Preschoolers
From sweet stories to silly adventures, these pumpkin-themed books for preschoolers are perfect for the fall season. You’ll find nonfiction reads, Halloween tales, and classic picture books that pair perfectly with your pumpkin theme.
Browse the list below and see which titles you can grab from the library or add to your home collection.
Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin
The grinning, glowing fun is now available in a Classic Board Book edition! Young readers can join Peter as he searches for a perfect pumpkin!
Henry knew he could grow the biggest pumpkin in town, but he didn’t expect it to be twice the size of his house! On the day of the Pumpkin Fair, Henry tried to move his pumpkin, but it was much too big for just one mouse…
Jamie plants a pumpkin seed in the spring and, after watching it grow all summer, carves a face in it for Halloween! But best of all, he saves some seeds that he will plant again next spring.
With countless unwelcome pumpkins to deal with, Rebecca Estelle turns disaster into a celebration. One day, years and years later, white-haired Rebecca was busy not eating pumpkins when–SPLAT–a giant pumpkin fell off an overloaded truck and smashed into her yard. She buried the mess so she wouldn’t have to look at it, and, as you might imagine, she witnessed a bumper crop the following fall, “Too Many Pumpkins”.
Desmond the field mouse wants to carve the biggest jack-o’-lantern in the neighborhood with his pumpkin. Clayton the house mouse wants to win the Biggest Pumpkin contest with his. But when they discover that their choice pumpkins are actually the same one, Desmond and Clayton decide to work together to grow the biggest pumpkin ever!
J.T., Allie, and Corey are hard at work on the farm. We follow them as they do their chores-like collecting apples, bailing hay, and setting up their farm stand. As small hands turn the step-back die-cut pages, the images and scenes get bigger and bigger, finally revealing the entire farm and discovering a surprise-the biggest pumpkin ever!
Splat goes to a pumpkin patch with Seymour, and he is determined to find the biggest pumpkin ever. But when he finally does, Splat finds out the real challenge isn’t the pumpkin picking—it’s how to get the pumpkin home!
Colorful pumpkins, crunching leaves, crisp breezes―celebrate the abundance of the harvest season through charming illustrations and sweet rhymes that are perfect for young hearts.
Pumpkins! Who can resist the sight of big, round, orange pumpkins ripening in a field? Children piling off school buses to pick one out. Making room for that last piece of pumpkin pie after a delicious Thanksgiving feast. In this book, pumpkins aren’t just a fruit, they’re a symbol, a scent, a flavor of the entire season.
On a windy autumn day, Marla Little comes running down the hill yelling, “Help! My giant pumpkin is rolling away! Onward it goes, rolling and turning, with no sign of stopping! Diddle-dee-doo! Oh, what shall I do?” A little girl chases her giant pumpkin all over town with some help along the way. It’s the perfect autumn bedtime story to read with your little pumpkin.
Mrs. Connor’s first-grade class is going on a field trip! They’re headed to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins. Katie dreams of finding the perfect pumpkin. But the one she chooses isn’t perfect at all. It’s too small! But then her father shows her that wonderful things often come in small packages.
It may be round like a pumpkin and even orange like a pumpkin, but this is NOT a pumpkin! If it’s not a pumpkin, then what is it? Preschoolers and toddlers will love knowing the answer and enjoy the fun, “unexpected” ending!
What happens when a town has an accidental abundance of pumpkins? What do José and his well-intentioned brothers do with a mountain of pumpkins? An EXPLOSION of pumpkins? Step into Pumpkin Town and see!
Every year, giant pumpkin contests take place at fairs across the country—the 2012 record-holder weighed over a ton!The latest craze is to carve the most enormous pumpkins into racing boats. But what’s next? Why not think really big?
Pumpkins can be baked in a pie, carved into jack-o’-lanterns, and roasted for a healthy snack. But how does a tiny seed turn into a big pumpkin? With clear text and detailed, colorful illustrations, this book explains what a pumpkin seed needs to help it grow! This book also includes delicious pumpkin recipes and easy experiments to do with pumpkin seeds.
P is for Pumpkin celebrates the wonders of the fall season. With help from the alphabet, preschoolers journey through God’s harvest blessings―in the process discovering just how much there is to be thankful for! The fun is infectious as they learn to appreciate autumn for its beauty and bounty and more.
Growing up on Mimi and Papa’s farm, Peter knows a lot about caring for pumpkins. One summer Peter finds a lonely pumpkin all by itself in the field, and with his tender care, the pumpkin flourishes.
This charming story for children illustrates how a loving farmer can turn a simple pumpkin into a simply glorious sight. In the same way, God’s transforming love can fill each of our hearts with joy and light.
Pumpkin season is the perfect time to slow down and enjoy a few extra read-alouds with your little ones. Whether you’re exploring the life cycle of a pumpkin, getting ready for Halloween, or just soaking up the season, these books are a great way to spark curiosity and conversation. Don’t forget to grab your free printable library list so you can check off each title as you go!
Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.
Well many of these still have to do with Halloween. I purchased the too many pumpkins book and the end of the book still ended up talking about Jac-o-lanterns which very much have to do with Halloween. The title of this post should just say cute pumpkin books for Halloween.
Well many of these still have to do with Halloween. I purchased the too many pumpkins book and the end of the book still ended up talking about Jac-o-lanterns which very much have to do with Halloween. The title of this post should just say cute pumpkin books for Halloween.