Spring is almost here! Even though we’re still foot deep in snow, the weather on our side of the country is FINALLY starting to warm up a bit and the recent days of sunshine we’ve had have been magical, giving us a glimpse into the not-so-distant spring season approaching. I, for one, cannot wait to open all the windows again (without freezing), hearing the sound of the birds chirping, watching everything turn green again, and warmer weather. When it comes to books, we like to rotate K’s display shelves with seasonal stories. I just finished putting away books about winter, animal tracks and hibernation, and replaced them with children’s books about spring. Planting seeds and seeing a garden grow, watching the magic of thunderstorms, and learning about bears emerge from their dens are all fun spring-time topics for kids that inspire great learning and teaching opportunities. Along with them, you can create some fun activities, like planting a garden, creating homemade bird feeders, helping the bees or making butterfly crafts. We often choose books based on both the story as well as the illustrations, so here is a list of some of our favourite children’s books about spring.
Children’s Books About Spring
If You Hold a Seed – Elly MacKay
Elly MacKay is one of my favourite children’s books authors/illustrators. We love all of her books for their magical stories and beautiful artwork. If You Hold a Seed shows the magic that can happen when you plant a dream with a seed – it blossoms into an amazing gift.
And Then It’s Spring – Julie Fogliano
This is such a cute book about a boy and his dog waiting for the brown to give way and become spring. They dig, plant, play and then wait.
Waiting out the Storm – Joann Early Macken
Sensing the storm, a mother and her child run into the safety of their home and wait out the storm, keeping warm and cozy inside. Waiting Out the Storm is a great book to go alongside the many rain showers that often accompany the spring season.
It’s Spring – Linda Glaser
It’s Spring is a great book about a child observing the arrival of spring and the changing plants and animals. It also includes some suggestions for nature study projects.
Waiting for Wings – Lois Ehlert
This beautifully illustrated collage book shows butterflies emerging and enchanting the world. Kids can learn all about butterflies – where they come from, how they’re born and turn into butterflies and what they eat. It’s a perfect book to learn about the metamorphosis of butterflies. Lois Ehlert’s other spring-time book, Planting a Rainbow, would also be a good accompaniment.
Spring board book – Gerda Muller
The Spring board book is one of four seasonal picture books that are just beautiful. We love to display these on our seasonal nature tables and both my preschooler and baby girl adore them.
Baby Bear Sees Blue – Ashley Wolff
This is a book that can appeal even to really young kids. K has loved it since he was really little. This sweet book is all about a baby bear exploring the outside with his mama. Green leaves, blue jays, brown trout and red strawberries – kids can learn all about colours as you read through the book together.
Maple Syrup Season – Ann Purmell
We are BIG maple syrup fans in this house and love to visit a sugar bush each spring to taste the local goodness and stock up. Maple Syrup Season describes a family collecting sap from their trees, boiling it and turning it into maple syrup. It’s a great book to learn about the long process that goes into making syrup and has some wonderful illustrations.
Do you have any other favourite kids books about Spring?
Thanks for this list! I’m excited to put them on our library list for next week.
Lovely list, welcoming spring. The click of the book covers is warm and inviting. Should read them.