Books about Spring

Welcome the season with these beautiful books about spring!

Each of my seasonal theme packs comes with a list of recommended books to read aloud.  We love putting together our book lists!  I check out stacks of books from the library, and my Four gets a lot of read aloud time.

Only our favorites make the final list!  

And Then It’s Spring, by Julie Fogliano

This beautifully illustrated book is about a young boy and his dog who decide to build a garden.  It’s a tender story of anticipation as they wait for the winter brown to disappear and spring to finally arrive.

The Happy Day, by Ruth Krauss

This is a wonderful vintage book with very few words.  All the forest animals are excited as they come together to see the first flower of spring, poking through the snow.

Poppleton in Spring, by Cynthia Rylant

I adore the Poppleton series, and my only complaint is that Rylant seems to be done writing Poppleton books.  He is such a likable pig, and the stories are so funny.  Like the time that Poppleton decides to take up bike riding, but runs from the store after being asked to make a hundred decisions (including choosing between 15 different shades of red!).  He decides that if he wants to get anywhere fast, he’ll run. 🙂

Mark Teague’s illustrations (he also illustrates the How Do Dinosaurs series) really add to the appeal.  I love Poppleton so much I’ll even pick up on his adventures to read to myself when the kids aren’t around.

Everything Spring, by Jill Esbaum

This is a book from National Geographic’s Picture the Seasons series. We love the big, full-page photographs of baby animals, but the pages are a bit busy and somewhat distracting.

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms, by Julia Rawlinson

This is a creative story about a fox named Fletcher who is alarmed when he sees snow coming at the beginning of spring. He warns all the animals who have returned after their winter sleep or migration that spring hasn’t arrived yet.

All the animals are discouraged until they check out the snow for themselves – only to discover that it’s white blossoms from a spring tree.  The book has lovely illustrations, but it was a little long for us.

Flowers and Showers, by Rebecca Fjelland Davis

This is a bright, bold counting book with a spring theme.  I recommend it for young preschoolers.

It’s Spring! by Samantha Berger and Pamela Chanko

We love the simple rhymes and charming watercolor illustrations in this sweet book.  One at a time, the animals run to each other with the news that spring has arrived.

It’s Spring! By Linda Glaser

We enjoyed the cut paper illustrations of this book.  It has great information, but the illustrations (not the story itself) are the highlight.  The rhymes were inconsistent, which made for awkward reading.  This is one to get from your library, but probably not one to purchase.

Mouse’s First Spring, by Lauren Thompson

I’ll admit that I’m not really into the Mouse books.  Can I say that they’re just too pastel for me?  My kids have always liked them, though, so I do recommend this gentle book for young preschoolers.

My Spring Robin, by Anne Rockwell

This is a cute and simple book about a girl who is waiting for the robin who sang to her last summer.  She sees many signs of spring, but no robin.  I like how the book teaches the names of some common spring plants, flowers, and bushes.  The robin finally returns at the end of the story.

Splish, Splash, Spring, by Jan Carr

This book of cut paper illustrations has short, bouncy rhymes.  “Frilly, silly, daffodilly, willy-nilly down the hill.” This is fun to read and listen to. Recommended!

Spring Is Here, by Taro Gomi

With bright illustrations and simple words, children learn about the four seasons – beginning and ending with spring.

Spring Is Here, by Will Hillenbrand

I love Hillenbrand’s sweet stories.  In this one, Mole is trying to wake up Bear because it’s spring, but with no success. So he works hard to make a wonderful meal for bear – milking the cow, churning the butter, etc.  Finally, Bear wakes up at the end of the story. But it’s  weary Mole who can’t stay awake!

Spring Song, by Barbara Sueling

My Four resisted this one at first, but it grew on him.  It has gorgeous illustrations and is a lovely look at animals in spring.

The Thing about Spring, by Daniel Kirk

This was our favorite from this list, and even my older kids perched on the couch when they heard me reading it.  It’s an adorably illustrated book about Rabbit, who is not enthusiastic about the arrival of spring because he has so much fun in the winter.  He won’t be able to make snow bunnies or snow forts, smelly Bear will come out of hibernation and want a hug, etc.

In the end Rabbit’s fun-loving friends, Mouse, Bird, and Bear, convince him that there’s much to look forward to in spring. Highly recommended!  One to own.

The Twelve Days of Springtime: A School Counting Book, by Deborah Lee Rose

This is a hilarious book that follows the tune of The 12 days of Christmas.  It’s the illustrations which had us laughing out loud.  The enthusiastic teacher becomes more tired and haggard as the book goes on, and we enjoyed finding the same children on each page… the little girl who’s always holding the teacher’s dress, the girl who carries her stuffed gorilla everywhere… even the perpetual nose picker.  SO so funny.  Best of all, it’s a book you can sing.

Bunny’s First Spring, by Sally Lloyd-Jones

This is such a sweet, gentle story about a little bunny who is troubled when the days grow cold and the leaves fall. What is happening to his world? Is his beautiful earth dying?  But “below the snow, hidden in every root, inside every bud, in every seed, a secret was stirring…”  Spring brings a lovely surprise.

When Spring Comes, by Kevin Henkes

This is another beautiful book with a comforting story and gorgeous paintings.  I like the conversational style. This one would make a great introduction to your spring unit.

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