As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. See my full disclosures, Terms of Use, and privacy policies on my "privacy" page.
We are big-time book lovers in this family. Ok, well, maybe that needs a slight modification — my daughter and I are big-time book lovers, and we’re working on the boys!
With spring in full bloom, we wanted to share some of the spring picture books we’ve been enjoying this year. My kids are {nearly} 4 years old and 2 years old, and unless otherwise noted, these are books that both of them are enjoying.
Favorite Spring-time Picture Books
1. Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms (by Julia Rawlinson, illustrations by Tiphanie Beeke) — This is such a cute book about a fox named Fletcher who, while enjoying the newness of spring, stumbles across snow in the orchard! Withsnow so late in spring, he is very worried about all of his springtime friends. Snow would be much too coldfor the buds and the butterflies and the birds! He rushes off to warn them, and each thinks of another creature that needs to be warned. After all of the warnings but before they settle back down for the last of winter, they decide to play in the snow. Upon arriving at the orchard, they discover that it is not snow after all; it’s blossoms!
With the animals, sounds, sights, and beauty, this is a great book for spring. Though this book is recommended for ages 3-7, even my two year old enjoyed it. The illustrations are delightful: full of life and color but still soft, reminding me of watercolors.
2. The Listening Walk (by Paul Showers, illustrated by Aliki) — As the weather warms in our area, we are spending much more time outside, and we are loving it! We spend a lot of time observing with our eyes and exploring with our hands, but as spring brings so much to life, there is much we can hear with our ears. That is why we loved the idea of this book. The story tells of a girl, her dog, and her dad as they walk outside and by listening, discover all that is around them. Unless you are an expert with sound effects, this one is a little hard to read aloud because there are so many sounds to make!
For my two and three year old, the story dragged on a little bit, and they became disinterested. It’s a great one to check out from the library, though, because it does help develop an awareness of all that we can hear around us. We even used this book as a launching pad for “I Spy” types of listening games while we played outside.
3. Planting a Rainbow (by Lois Ehlert) — This is one of our all-time favorite spring books, perhaps partly because the text and illustrations remind us of Eric Carle, one of our favorites author/illustrators! The story is simple, but talks about all different types of bulbs, seeds, and seedlings that are planted in the spring. We enjoy planting and tending a garden each year as a family, so this book brings up all sorts of discussions about the different types of flowers planted in the book compared to what we have and will plant. Both of my kids love talking about the different colors of the flowers, too, and we have taken this book outside with us on many occasions to compare flowers and also draw them with sidewalk chalk!
Waiting for Wings is another by Lois Ehlert that looks great! We haven’t read it yet, but we have it on hold at the library!
4. The Tiny Seed (by Eric Carle) — As I mentioned above, we really enjoy Eric Carle books. This was no exception. With bright, fun illustrations, this book follows seeds carried from a flower. The seeds fall on all different types of soil–some good and some bad. The seed that falls on good soil and takes root then grows into a new flower, and the cycle continues. We’ve had quite a few dandelions popping up in our yard, and we used the ones that have turned to seed and look like big cotton balls to demonstrate the concept in the book (Shhhh, don’t tell my husband we spread dandelion seeds all over our yard!). This book, and our experiment with the dandelion seeds, was also a perfect launching pad for talking about the parable of the sower (Luke 8:5-8) and how important it is to 1. guard the “soil of our hearts” and 2. plant the “seeds” of the Word of God in our lives.
5. In My Backyard (by Don L. Curry, illustrated by Erin O’Leary Brown) — This is a “Rookie Reader” book, so as a read aloud, it is extremely simple. Our family enjoyed it, however, because it talks about many of the things we begin to see and hear right in our own backyards as spring arrives. My two-year old especially loved pointing out what the illustrations he recognized and had seen in our own backyard.
6. Spring: An Alphabet Acrostic (by Steven Schnur, illustrated by Leslie Evans) — This is a great book when you are talking about poetry or doing a poetry unit, but we still enjoyed it, even without a study of poetry. Each page has a different acrostic poem using a word common to the seasons of spring or summer: April, May, Parade, Kites, Nest, Outside, Buds, etc. The concepts in each acrostic are concise but descriptive, like they should be in an acrostic poem; simple enough for even the younger readers to enjoy.
7. Mud (byMary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Lauren Stringer) — This book was new to us this year, but we have really enjoyed it. One of the kids’ favorite activities, especially in the spring, is digging in the mud to look for worms and grubs, so having a book all about mud is a fun one for them! The illustrations in the story are large and seem “zoomed in,” similar to what you see on the cover photo. This made some of the illustrations a little hard for my kids, especially the two-year old, to understand. The simple text and inviting descriptions, however, made us want to run out and play in the mud!
8. That’s What Happens When It’s Spring! (by Elaine W. Good, illustrated by Susie Shenk Wenger) –Unfortunately, it looks like this one is out of print, but we found a copy at our local library and really enjoyed it. When the child in the story asks his mom, “When is it spring?” she takes him outside to show him. The story shows and describes many of the different signs of spring — from the “tiny green knobs…peeping out of the ground” that will be tulips and crocuses to the new calf in the barn which they named Lilac because she was born in the spring. The illustrations are colorful and inviting, and the descriptions open our eyes to all of spring coming up right around us. My kids also really enjoyed the repeating refrain, “That’s what happens when it’s spring!” after each new observation.
9. Sugar Snow (by Laura Ingalls Wilder, illustrated by Doris Ettlinger) — We are huge fans of the “My First Little House Series.” It may be a little late in the season for this one, but because it’s a “Little House” book, it was more than welcomed by my kids! In this story, the girls learn what “sugar snow” is after Pa describes how he and Grandpa worked so hard to turn sap into sweet syrup and make hard, brown maple sugar. We also enjoyed reading Maple Syrup Season at the same time as this one. It describes in a more modern way the process a family uses to tap the trees all the way through bottling the syrup.
10. Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! (by Candace Fleming, illustrated by G. Brian Karas) — If my kids knew that I listed this one as number 10, they would say that I saved the best for last! It is one we read at nap time, bed time, and any time in between. They love this book! From the rhyming patterns and repeating phrases sprinkled throughout the text to the search for the bunnies in the illustrations, my kids love every part of this book!
It is a fun story about Mr. McGreely, who after years of dreaming of planting a garden, finally decides to do it this spring. The only problem is three pesky bunnies who would also like to fill their tummies with his “crisp, fresh veggies.” Mr. McGreely goes to great lengths to keep the bunnies out, but they always seem to find their way in! It is a fun and engaging story with a great lesson about sharing!
Question for You:
What spring books are you and your children enjoying? Do you have any other favorites we could add to the list?
Jesus’ Focused Easter Books for Christian Families
Audiobooks for Families :: How One Family uses Audiobooks to Deepen Conversation and Build Relationship
Great Audio Stories for Christian Kids and Families
The Best Bible options for Kids (Based on Age)
Kids’ Books to Help you Address Sexual Abuse, Porn, and other Scary Topics
5 Books Young Families Need on their Bookshelf
Praying for your Marriage :: Recommended Books
Thankfulness :: Books for Kids that Teach Gratitude
Thanksgiving Books for Kids
The Best Prayer Books and Books on Prayer
Saying ‘Yes,’ Even in My Mess
Favorite Classic Children’s Books Every Family Should Own
How do You Parent?
Cleaning House: A Mom’s 12 Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement {A Review}
When Your Momma Heart Feels Desperate
It is kind of a summer book, but always makes me feel warm. The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown.
I just realized that I haven’t brought our Spring books out yet! :) The Easter books got put away, so now there’s plenty of room for our pile of Spring books. One of my favorites is The Big Wide-Mouthed Frog (although I can’t remember the author).
Jessica
we like Mouse’s Fiurst Spring! A great little story about a mommy mouse introducing spring to her little baby mouse.
We love The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
For very young children I like Splish, Splash Spring.