Spring is just around the corner and there are little glimmers of new life in our neck of the woods. I have always loved spring! It might be due to the fact that many moons ago I was born on the first day of spring. So when I was younger, spring meant a birthday … but now my anticipation is more about nature in full bloom and warmer days.
As you anticipate the arrival of spring, I’ve pulled together five recommendations to help you get excited about warmer weather and longer days. This short list also includes a little something for ages 0 to 8.
Spring is Here by Taro Gomi
This book includes simple text and illustrations that make this the perfect choice for reading aloud to the very young, especially the board book version. With no more than four words on each two-page spread, this delightful book starts in spring, goes through the four seasons, and ends back in spring. Spring is Here is also a great choice for an emergent or new reader, who is ready to explore simple text on his or her own. Although this book was published in 1989, as a personal favorite, I just had to include it in my short list of spring must-reads.
The Little Rabbit by Nicola Killen
The illustrations for The Little Rabbit were the first thing that stood out to me about this book! Killen uses muted tones and limited colors, with splashes of golden petals throughout this delightful story. There are also little peek-a-boo cutouts on some pages that add a fun element. Spring has arrived, so Ready for Ollie and her bunny go outside on a magical adventure that includes some impossible twists and turns that leave the imagination soaring.
The Song of Spring by Hendrik Jonas
When spring arrives, all the birds sing their special songs to attract their friends. But little bird has a problem. He can’t remember his song. Each time he attempts a sound, he makes the noise of another animal … which, of course, attracts other animals. This fun storyline will be a delight to preschoolers. Originally, written and published in German, this book has been translated into English. As a result, be sure to look for the interesting response from cow (I love books that include these little teachable moments and expand our world ever so slightly). I particularly enjoyed the use of mixed-media art in the illustrations and found them to be engaging and fun!
Spectacular Spring: All Kinds of Spring Facts and Fun by Bruce Goldstone
Bright and colorful, this book is truly full of spring fun facts! The amount of text on each page is not overwhelming, which also makes this a potential read-aloud to younger kids. Topics include everything from what you will find in nature to how umbrellas work. In fact, there are even craft ideas with instructions at the end. For those who want to explore beyond spring, Goldstone now has a book about summer, autumn, and winter too!
TheWorld is Awake: A Celebration of Everyday Blessings written by Linsey Davis with Joseph Bottum and illustrated by Lucy Fleming
I have to admit, this is not a book about spring … but this is exactly how I feel when the world starts waking up after a long winter’s sleep. The book begins “This is the day the Lord has made,” then moves into a lyrical, rhyming text that takes note of the simple, everyday blessings in the world around us. I love spring and the new life, but I also love summer … and this book reminds me not only of the blessings of today, but of the simple blessings to come!
All reviews are completely my own and I only recommend books I truly believe are worthy of sharing with others. (Believe me, I read many books I do not recommend, which means you won’t see me writing about them!)
This post contains affiliate links. This means if you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.