Utah is being sneaky right now and surprising us with sunny days and temperatures in the 70s — followed, of course, by snow again. I have a post of favorite Easter books already, but I felt spring needed its own post as well. If you’re like me and love seeing the tulips and crocuses pop up, you’ll enjoy these stories about nature and the beautiful colors of the season. Here are 13 picture books for spring.
Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak. I absolutely love everything this wonderful author/illustrator creates, and his books about changing seasons are my favorite. A boy and his dog take a walk in nature and watch how winter is ending and spring is beginning. The illustrations are so pretty!
The Hidden Rainbow by Christie Matheson. We have enjoyed all of Christie Matheson’s books because they’re interactive and fun for kids. In this one, bees need the reader’s help to find different plants to pollinate. Each page showcases brightly colored flowers in rainbow colors and also teaches kids how gardens work. I also love her book Plant the Tiny Seed for spring.
Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman. If you told me five years I would love a book about an earthworm, I would have laughed at you. Don’t be deceived by the cover and the idea that an earthworm is explaining the meaning of life, though. This story is all about how we all have a purpose, even earthworms, and also helps you better understand science and ecosystems.
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal. I find all of the books in Kate Messner’s botany series so interesting, and I don’t even like gardening! In this one, you learn what happens above ground in the garden that you can see (plants growing) and what’s also happening in the dirt below (insects are moving). I have learned so much from this book and her others, and my kids love them, too.
Singing in the Rain by Arthur Freed and Tim Hopgood. Normally I would not enjoy a picture book that is literally the lyrics of a famous song, but I make exceptions sometimes. This one has the most beautiful and happy illustrations, and I love the images of children with many different skin tones. If you’re looking for a book that makes rain seem fun, this is it.
The Forever Garden by Laurel Snyder and Samantha Cotterill. This book will tug at your heartstrings. It focuses on a little girl named Laurel and her friendship with Honey, the woman who lives next door. Honey and Laurel spend a lot of time together tending the garden, until Honey has to move away to take care of her mother. Laurel worries about what will happen to the garden when Honey is gone and comes up with a solution.
We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines and Julianna Swaney. I am not a fan of Joanna Gaines’ other book, but this one is really sweet and made me want to garden with my kids! (Remember how I said earlier that I don’t enjoy gardening?) It’s about the journey her then-four kids went on to create a garden at their home and offers tips on creating your own.
Bloom Boom! by April Pulley Sayre. You will want to plant a million flowers after reading this gorgeous book full of amazing photographs. The text is sparse but has a great rhythm and rhyme, and at the end of the book you learn more about the flowers pictured. This would be so pretty on a bookshelf in your home or library. I like April Pulley Sayre’s book Full of Fall as well.
When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek. If it’s got Kevin Henkes’ name on it, you can bet that I will read it and probably buy it. His wife also illustrated this one, and it’s so sweet. Each page describes what you can look forward to as winter leaves and spring arrives.
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert. Is it obvious yet that I am drawn to bold illustrations? Lois Ehlert’s beautiful paper collages are SO fun. In this story, a mother and daughter plant seeds, seedlings and bulbs and watch as they grow into flowers. If you like this one, you’ll love her other books, like Leaf Man.
Rain! by Linda Ashman and Christian Robinson. Raise your hand if rain makes you grumpy sometimes. I’ll admit that I identify more with the grumpy old man in this story who is cursing the rain and the puddles. On the other side of the city, though, a little boy is excited about the rain — and then he meets the grumpy old man. This is also a book about how a positive outlook can help cheer others up, and I love it. I also love Christian Robinson’s illustrations!
In a Garden by Tim McCanna and Aimée Sicuro. This book has such great rhythm and also explains the way gardens grow and how insects and soil contribute to that. SO many books are clunky to read aloud, but this one is actually fun. The illustrations are so pretty, too. I would even give this to an adult who loves gardening. It’s got to be included on a list of picture books for spring.
The Little Lamb by Judy Dunn and Phoebe Dunn. As I was thinking about books I loved as a child, this one came to mind. I ADORED this book because of the beautiful photos of a little girl taking care of her lamb. It may be hard to find at your library since it’s 40+ years old now, but there are plenty of used copies available on eBay and Amazon.
What are your favorite picture books for spring? Do you ring in the season by planting new flowers?
