A pumpkin can be a noun. So can a squirrel, a scarf, or a steaming mug of cocoa, but what happens when we add crisp, fluffy, or delicious? Suddenly, writing gets a whole lot more interesting! Nouns and adjectives are the basic building blocks of grammar and writing.
Grammar Concepts: Nouns and Adjectives
Nouns and adjectives are grammar concepts taught at every elementary grade level and reviewed at the middle school level as well. Nevertheless, even the simplest grammar concepts can be taught in countless fun, creative, and engaging ways.
One of our favorite ways to teach grammar is through mentor text. A mentor text is real-life, authentic writing, usually from a book, that teachers use as an example to help students understand writing.
It is a model that students can learn from, explore, and use as inspiration and understanding for their own writing.
7 Autumn Picture Books to Help Teach Nouns and Adjective
Here are 7 autumn picture books that are best used as mentor texts for teaching nouns and adjectives.
Stay tuned near the end of the blog for some fun activities to teach nouns and adjectives as well!
#1 In November by Cynthia Rylant
The beautifully poetic descriptions of fall make it perfect for identifying nouns and adjectives.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
In November, the air grows cold, and the earth and all of its creatures prepare for winter. Animals seek food and shelter. And people gather together to celebrate their blessings with family and friends. Cynthia Rylant’s lyrical language and Jill Kastner’s rich, cozy paintings capture the cherished moments of this autumn month–the moments we spend together and the ones we witness in the world around us. This beautifully illustrated picture book is a perfect way to celebrate the quiet magic of autumn.
#2 Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
This is a personal favorite of mine and such a fun read, as leaf collages are used to create animals, landscapes, and autumn imagery. This is a great book for identifying nouns.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Ride the wind and drift east with Leaf Man in this autumnal classic by Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Lois Ehlert, perfect for young readers returning to school in the fall. Fall has come, the wind is gusting, and Leaf Man is on the move. Is he drifting east, over the marsh and ducks and geese? Or is he heading west, above the orchards, prairie meadows, and spotted cows? No one’s quite sure, but this much is certain: A Leaf Man’s got to go where the wind blows. Ehlert crafts each illustration out of actual fall leaves on every spread to reveal gorgeous landscapes. This playful and whimsical book celebrates the natural world and the rich imaginative life of children.
#3 Apple Cake: A Gratitude by Dawn Casey
Especially wonderful for finding nouns, this sweet picture book captures the importance of gratitude and the appreciation of nature.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
In this simple rhyming story from the author of Held in Love, a child says thank you for the gifts nature provides, from hazelnuts in the hedge to apples from the tree, eggs from the hens to milk from the cow. Eventually, the family has enough ingredients to make something special…a delicious apple cake! With captivating illustrations that brim with emotion, this sweet picture book encourages children to be grateful for the world around them—the perfect read for Thanksgiving. A recipe for apple cake at the end allows you and your child to share in the joyful gratitude.
#4 Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler
Here is another beautiful picture book that teaches the theme of gratefulness, appreciation for the simple things in life, and seeing the positive in every situation, which is especially wonderful to read at Thanksgiving. With a plethora of nouns, descriptive adjectives, and sensory words, this book is perfect to read as mentor text.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Eliza Wheeler’s gorgeously illustrated book tells the story of what happens when six-year-old Marvel, her seven siblings, and their mom must start all over again after their father has died. Deep in the woods of Wisconsin they find a tar-paper shack. It doesn’t seem like much of a home, but they soon start seeing what it could be. During their first year it’s a struggle to maintain the shack and make sure they have enough to eat. But each season also brings its own delights and blessings–and the children always find a way to have fun. Most importantly, the family finds immense joy in being together, surrounded by nature. And slowly, their little shack starts feeling like a true home–warm, bright, and filled up with love.
We have a book companion resource for this amazing book. Grab it here.
#5 Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Henry Devlin
This book is a fun mystery wrapped into a Thanksgiving classic. Cranberry Thanksgiving offers rich opportunities for character and setting descriptions, food vocabulary, and sensory language.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Every year Grandmother invited a guest for Thanksgiving dinner and allowed Maggie to do the same. “Ask someone poor or lonely,” she always said. Thanksgiving was Grandmother’s favorite day of the year. The cooking was done and her famous cranberry bread was cooling on a wooden board. But she wasn’t happy to find out Maggie had invited the unsavory Mr. Whiskers to dinner. Would her secret cranberry bread recipe be safe with him in the house?
(Grandmother’s secret recipe is on the back cover!)
Check out our full book companion for Cranberry Thanksgiving here!
#6 Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey
Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey is a hilarious and heartwarming picture book that puts a Thanksgiving twist on the classic Christmas poem. The story is filled with humor, warmth, and Pilkey’s charming illustrations. Pilkey’s lively, rhyming text and colorful illustrations bring energy and humor to each page, capturing the playful spirit of the holiday while encouraging kindness and empathy. This book is amazing for exploring nouns and descriptive language.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
On the day before Thanksgiving, a group of children visit a turkey farm and meet Farmer Mack Nuggett and his coop of cockerels: Ollie, Stanley, Larry, Moe, Wally, Beaver, Shemp, and Groucho. When the kids realize the turkeys are destined to become dinner, they sneak the birds home under their clothes to save them, reminding people and poultry alike that there is much to be thankful for.
Teach the concept of adjectives and figurative language within poetry with these accompanying activities.
#7 Two-List Thanksgiving by Christine Whan
With an abundance of food nouns (turkey, pumpkin, and kimchi!) and opportunities to explore and create even more matching adjectives, this book is great for teaching the basics of grammar. It’s also such an interesting and diverse story!
Publisher’s Synopsis:
A Korean American Thanksgiving story. What does Thanksgiving dinner look like when both sides of the family come together? When it’s time to shop for ingredients, a girl makes two lists–one for the local market and one for the Korean market! Carrots for japchae and turkey stuffing. Whipped cream for the pumpkin pie. Shrimp for pajeon, short ribs for galbi, and cinnamon for the yams.
And don’t forget the kimchi! Thanksgiving is going to be delicious! Thanksgiving Day is full of food and family, football and conversation, and of course, giving thanks. By the end of the meal, she has a newfound love for her family’s two distinct cultures. Two-List Thanksgiving celebrates the beauty of blending traditions of all family backgrounds to create a truly multicultural holiday celebration.
Activities for Teaching Nouns & Adjectives
- Students can become word detectives and “hunt” for nouns and adjectives within stories and write them down.
- Give students various nouns from the book they are reading and have them create their own matching adjectives.
- Categorize. Sort nouns from stories into people, places, things, animals, and ideas.
- Using the book’s illustrations, students write a descriptive paragraph, showcasing the nouns and adjectives they see in the pictures.
- Students draw characters from books and list adjectives to describe them.
- Go on an autumn leaf and challenge students with creating a list of adjectives to describe their leaves.
Play our FREE Autumn Adjective/Noun Word Workshop & Scarecrow Sentence Builder Games!
(Can be played on the computer, tablet, phone, and NEWLINE board!)
Autumn Adjective & Noun Resource
Inspired by our autumn word games, this MATCHING resource will have students sorting, identifying, and writing nouns and adjectives, as well as solving riddles, examining autumn pictures, building sentences, and even completing a Disguise-a-Turkey craft.
Grab this 12-activity resource here:
Conclusion:
Teaching nouns and adjectives can be captivating! With engaging and authentic mentor texts, creative activities, fun games, and a little autumn inspiration, students can build their grammar skills while having fun with words. Grab a favorite fall picture book and let the autumn grammar fun begin!
