A Wynk, a Blynk, and a Nod to Books about Spring
Spring is right around the corner, and with the winter we’ve had, it can’t get here soon enough! We’re looking forward to those first signs of spring and all that comes with it, from planting the first seeds in the garden to listening to songbirds to celebrating April holidays. We’ve added lots of new books on these topics, and as always, have listed many of our old favorites. Enjoy……and think spring!
New Spring Books
Animals in Spring by Martha E. H. Rustad
This set of books by Rustad also includes People in Spring, Plants in Spring, and Weather in Spring. Aimed at early readers, the books include full color photographs, a glossary, and internet sites.
Biscuit in the Garden by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illus. by Pat. Schories
Biscuit, the puppy, explores all the wonderful things in the garden. This book is part of the I Can Read! series. The Biscuit books are exceptionally good at getting children to read, but they also include information on teaching adults how to read them to their children.
Chester’s Colorful Easter Eggs by Theresa Smythe
This simple Easter story provides an introduction to colors, as Chester the rabbit decorates and hides Easter eggs for his friends. The collage illustrations are quite appealing.
The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes, as Told to Jenifer by DuBose Heyward, illus. by Marjorie Flack
The 75th anniversary edition of this book has just been released. Originally published in 1939, this story remains a classic Easter tale. The Country Bunny’s twenty-one children help her to become an Easter Bunny. The author of this tale actually wrote the novel Porgy on which the Porgy and Bess musical is based.
Flowers and Showers: A Spring Counting Book by Rebecca Fjelland Davis
From flowers to caterpillars to umbrellas, there are so many spring things to count in this book. Vibrant photographs illustrate the book. Facts about spring, a glossary, and internet sites are included.
Have You Heard the Nesting Bird? by Rita Gray, illus. by Kenard Pak
This informative picture book is beautifully done. A boy and girl on a walk encounter many birds singing and calling. They also observe a robin in her nest, alert yet silent, and the following day they hear sounds coming from the nest. What they find explains the mama bird’s silence the day before. The soft watercolor and collage illustrations provide a springtime feel.
Here Comes the Easter Cat by Deborah Underwood, illus. by Claudia Rueda
An attention seeking cat decides that he wants to take over the prestigious role of Easter Bunny, but the job of delivering eggs becomes too exhausting. The story unfolds as a conversation between an unseen narrator and Cat. Cat doesn’t speak, but we learn his thoughts through his expressions and body language. The ink and colored pencil illustrations add humor to the story.
I Can Grow Things: Gardening Projects for Kids Shown Step by Step by Sally Walton and Stephanie Donaldson
Eighteen cute and fun gardening projects for children of all ages comprise this beautiful book. Lots of photographs accompany the detailed instructions.
It’s Raining! by Gail Gibbons
Well known for her nonfiction books for children, Gibbons includes lots of facts about rain in her latest work. She explains the water cycle, cloud formations, and a variety of rain events. She even includes tips on staying dry and safe.
Maisy Grows a Garden by Lucy Cousins
This pull-tab book follows Maisy as she digs, plants, waters, weeds, and harvests her vegetable garden. Simple science concepts for the youngest readers are introduced.
Nest by Jorey Hurley
This simple story, with just one word per double-page spread, chronicles a year in the life of a robin. The crisp illustrations enhance the simplicity of the story. An author’s note includes information about the American robin. This is simply a beautiful book!
999 Frogs Wake Up by Ken Kimura, illus. by Yasunari Murakami
This book is actually a sequel to Kimura’s 999 Tadpoles published in 2011. The baby frogs who were once tadpoles awake from hibernation to enjoy an eventful spring. The bright, bold, and simple illustrations add energy to the story.
The Passover Lamb by Linda E. Marshall, illus. by Tatjana Mai-Wyss
The story is based on an event that took place on the author’s farm and provides a good introduction to Passover. Young Miriam discovers that one of the sheep has given birth to three lambs, but can only care for two. As they are getting ready to leave for her grandparents’ seder, Miriam devises a plan to care for the runt. Charming watercolor illustrations add to the sweetness of the story.
A Perfect Day for Digging by Cari Best, illus. by Christine Davenier
As winter comes to an end, the pleasures of gardening await. Nell and Rusty plant a wheelbarrow full of pansies, bringing life back to the dreary winter landscape.
Pete the Cat: Big Easter Adventure by Kimberly Dean, illus. by James Dean
Join Pete the Cat for another adventure. This time he helps the Easter Bunny decorate and hide the eggs. At the end of the story, he receives an award for a job well done. Typical Pete the Cat humor!
Rooting for You by Susan Hood, illus. by Matthew Cordell
This is the story of the journey of a daisy seed from sprout to bloom. The rhyming text and foldout pages make this a fun read.
Seeds, Bees, Butterflies, and More!: Poems for Two Voices by Carole Gerber, illus. by Eugene Yelchin
Gerber has written eighteen poems designed to be read aloud about the plants and animals found in many backyards. Yelchin’s colorful gouache and graphite illustrations pop off the page.
Sorting through Spring by Lizann Flatt, illus. by Ashley Barron
This second book in the Math in Nature series, has readers creating rhythms, finding patterns, sorting objects, and determining probabilities and ratios in this participation book about spring. The collage style artwork adds visual appeal.
Spring Blossoms by Carole Gerber, illus. by Leslie Evans.
This informational picture book presents ten different spring blooming trees. The rhymed verse is accompanied by lush artwork.
Favorites from the Past
And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano, illus. by Erin E. Stead
Baby Bird’s First Nest by Frank Asch
Bumblebee, Bumblebee, Do You Know Me? A Garden Guessing Game by Anne Rockwell
Bunny and Me by Adele Aron Greenspun
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss, illus. by Crockett Johnson
Caterpillar Spring Butterfly Summer by Susan Hood
Charlie Needs a Cloak by Tomie dePaola
Cold Little Duck, Duck, Duck by Lisa Westberg Peters, illus. by Sam Williams
Flower Garden by Eve Bunting, illus. by Kathryn Hewitt
Glasswings: A Butterfly’s Story by Elisa Kleven
The Golden Egg Book by Margaret Wise Brown, illus. by Leonard Weisgard
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
Have You Seen My Duckling? by Nancy Tafuri
Hoppy Passover! by Linda Glaser, illus. by Daniel Howarth
How Does a Seed Grow? by Sue Kim, illus. by Tilde
In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb by Marion Dane Bauer, illus. by Emily Arnold McCully
In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming
It’s Spring! by Linda Glaser, illus. by Susan Swan
Jo MacDonald Had a Garden by Mary Quattlebaum, illus. by Laura J. Bryant
Max’s Chocolate Chicken by Rosemary Wells
Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson, illus. by Buket Erdogan
Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present by Charlotte Zolotow, illus. by Maurice Sendak
Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming, illus. by G. Brian Karas
Mushroom in the Rain by Mirra Ginsburg, illus. by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey
My Garden by Kevin Henkes
My Spring Robin by Anne Rockwell, illus. by Harlow Rockwell and Lizzy Rockwell
One Naked Baby: Counting to Ten and Back Again by Maggie Smith
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Rain by Robert Kalan, illus. by Donald Crews
Red Rubber Boot Day by Mary Lyn Ray, illus. by Lauren Stringer
A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston, illus. by Sylvia Long
Splish, Splash, Spring by Jan Carr, illus. by Dorothy Donohue
Spring is Here by Will Hillenbrand
Spring is Here by Lois Lenski
The Surprise Garden by Zoe Hall, illus. by Shari Halpern
A Tale for Easter by Tasha Tudor
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr., illus. by Lois Ehlert
Tweedle Dee Dee by Charlotte Voake
Zinnia’s Flower Garden by Monica Wellington