March 29, 2025 By Maria
A week or so ago, my younger two kids eagerly told me to come outside to see something amazing. I slipped on shoes and stepped out the door to see them excitedly pointing out a flowering crocus they had found. “The first flower, Mommy!” Spring’s here!” They exclaimed.
Every year when crocuses start to peek through the leftover snow or brown grass, I get a rejuvenated feeling. Winter is ending! Warmer weather and more sunshine are on their way. I do enjoy winter and snow and am a bit sad to see them go. Still, spring puts a little energy into my step and walking in warm spring weather with a light breeze is exuberant, at least until the allergies start. Flowers and less scarves and hats are in the forecast. . .plus lots of rain. Rainy spring days are great for a couple of my favorite things, tea and a stack of books.
When spring comes around, I always pull a few of the same seasonal books off the shelf at the library. The first couple books are perfect for the glimmer of very early spring. Stacey Schuett’s beautiful illustrations of snow scenes glitter with happy colors in Spring Thaw by Steven Schnur. This story follows the spring thaw from its arrival at night to the first crocus appearing in the final illustration. This story takes the reader on a peaceful journey noticing the little seasonal changes in what appears to be a New England farm.
Cold Little Duck, Duck, Duck by Lisa Westberg Peters also brings a hope of spring to cold days. Illustrated by Sam Williams, this book rhythmically tells of a duck who returns from migration too early. Her hopeful thoughts of spring and its prompt arrival rescue the cold little duck . She is happily frolicking with her flock by the end of the story. The illustrations are so cute and suited for a young audience.
Another great book for young audiences is When Spring Comes written by Kevin Henkes and illustrated by Laura Dronzek. I always love finding books created by married couples, like this one. I grew up loving Kevin Henkes’ mouse stories and I love sharing them with my kids. It was fun to discover that his wife makes books too. This book takes you through the slow changes of spring to find that when it finally arrives, we will have to wait for summer. The couple has made a book for every season and they are all wonderful. My favorite illustration is of kids in boots and umbrellas playing in puddles with the question, “Do you like mud? Do you like puddles?” My kids always love puddles, and sometimes mud. We used to go on “puddle walks” after a heavy rain. Dressed in raincoats and rubber boots, they wouldn’t wait to go splash in puddles.
Another book about waiting for spring is And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano. Erin E. Stead’s illustrations of a boy and his dog tending to and patiently waiting for spring and their garden to bloom are so sweet and detailed. There are lots of tiny things to look for and discuss while reading this book. We always enjoy watching the hilarious things the dog tries to plant in the garden. Going outside and planting some seeds is a great way to get kids outside and excited about learning.
If these books don’t get you outside and looking for spring, try Look What I Found in the Woods. Moira Butterfield’s book follows three kids exploring the woods. The illustrations by Jesus Verona are full of details for kids to find and ideas for your own nature walks. This book is jammed with lots of information and makes it a great book for a nature study unit or botany study.
If you are looking for a scientific explanation of spring, The Reasons for the Seasons by Gail Gibbons is a fantastic and detailed explanation of why we have seasons. This book contains a lot of information and is a longer read, which makes it great for older kids. Gail Gibbons’ science books are fantastic. I love incorporating picture books into science lessons and this is definitely a favorite.
I hope you find some good spring stories here and maybe even a few new favorites. Whether you are stuck in a delayed spring or are ready to charge outdoors, stories can help little ones understand and appreciate the seasonal changes. Returning to these beloved books and illustrations (and discovering new ones) helps me appreciate and not dread the seasonal changes as well. So, get out there! Stamp in some puddles, read some books and smell the flowers!
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