Best Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers to Welcome Spring
Winter: The world is cold and often blanketed in snow. Days are short; nights are long. But… if you wait… and wait a little longer … and a little longer…. spring will spring to life. Green buds will tickle tree branches, flowers will bud and then bloom, hibernating animals will wake from their winter naps, and the world will welcome the birth of animal babies. Yes, spring is a bright, brilliant, colorful time. One way to celebrate the joy of the season with your child is to share wonderful books that highlight this special time of year.
written and illustrated by Kenard Pak
Goodbye, Winter, Hello Spring is a pure delight. A boy and his dog take a walk on a cold evening, observing their wintery world. The boy greets snow, and snow answers him from high in the sky. He greets a frozen pond, a brook, rocks, trees, and a nest. He even greets a winter storm. The next morning, though, winter thaw begins under the brilliant sun. Now, the boy and his dog observe the loveliness of spring: flower blossoms, meadows covered with dew, and returning birds. Time to say, “Goodbye, winter. Hello, spring.”
written and illustrated by Wong Herbert Yee
Who Likes Rain is a completely adorable picture book that describes the joyous and not-so-joyous aspects of April showers. Wong Herbert Yee, cleverly turns this rumination on rain into a guessing game, tasking young listeners to figure out who or what likes rain. Rhyming words and animal sounds aid listeners in their guessing, allowing them to shout answers even before the right word is revealed. Who likes showers? Could it be flowers? Who likes rain? Croak, croak… a frog, of course! Rain, though, is not universally enjoyed –cats, dogs, and an old truck are not fans! Young children will want to hear this book over and over and will, no doubt, be as eager to jump in with the answers on the 100th encounter as the first. The lovely illustrations add to the pleasure this book so amply provides.
written by Mélina Mangal, illustrated by Ken Daley
Inspired by his love of nature and the beginning of spring, Jayden, with the help of his elderly friend, Mr. Curtis, creates a garden in the middle of the city. His mother thinks it can’t be done; after all, there is no nature in cities. But Jayden believes, and so does Mr. Curtis. Together, they plant flower seeds in old jugs and coffee cans. Step by step, they create a magical garden with plants, caterpillars, a nesting dove, and even a resident hummingbird. Jayden’s mother and all the neighbors now delight in the impossible garden that turned out to be …. possible and completely wonderful. Jayden’s story not only glorifies nature, celebrates spring, and acknowledges the power of cross-generational friendship, it also tells children to believe in their dreams and that, with work and perseverance, dreams can become reality. At the end of the book, an author’s note gives information about the plants and animals in the story, along with instructions for making your own coffee container planter. Perhaps, using this idea, it’s time to create your own garden—which could even be inside the house.
written by Patricia McKissack and Fredrick McKissack, illustrated by Dana Regan
It’s Springtime! Time for Messy Bessey to plant seeds for her garden! Bessey knows what to do. She digs holes and puts in seeds. She waters them. But her garden does not thrive. Messy Bessey did not give the plants enough care to help them grow! This is how Bessey discovers that she must work harder to create a beautiful garden. Lesson learned, she now regularly waters the plants and pulls the weeds. Her hard work pays off! When fall comes, Bessey’s garden proves to be a big success! One nice aspect of this short but sweet story is that Bessey does not seek or need adult help. On her own, she figures out what she must to do to have a flourishing garden, and she happily performs the needed work. Messy Bessey turns out to be a wonderful role model for children! Without moralizing, the story’s lesson is clear. The illustrations allow children to focus on each step Bessey takes, from her failed efforts to her final victory. Messy Bessey’s Garden is a delightful way to show children that failure is sometimes a necessary step toward success.
written by Albert D. Marshall and Louise Zimanyi, illustrated by Emily Kewageshig
Each page of this enchanting storybook begins with the words: “When we walk together in a good way.” Page-by-page, the authors highlight the language of the land, exploring the sights and sounds of all who fly, swim, and crawl as readers follow a family walking through the woods. The book expresses a love of nature, as well as our responsibility to nature. The words are poetic, simple but evocative, ideal for young children. The delightful illustrations perfectly complement the story. What should you do after reading it to your child? Why, walk together in a good way and enjoy your own exploration of the world in springtime.
written by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
This delightful story begins with the nursery rhyme: “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary,” Lola’s favorite poem in her beloved book of garden poems. No surprise, then, that Lola, with her mother’s help, wants to make her own garden! It takes work, patience, and creativity to make this happen, for by adding silver bells, shells, and even a Mary, Mary doll, her garden becomes a tribute to her favorite poem. When her garden is in full bloom, Lola invites her friends to a garden party! The book ends with a new poem that praises Lola: Lola, Lola extraordinary, how does your garden grow? With flower seeds and shells and beads and happy friends all in a row.” The story is a celebration of spring, nature, and gardens, but most of all, it is a celebration of a child’s power to transform the world in a small but significant way. Maybe it will inspire your child to do likewise!
SPRING! Time to Build a Nest, A Story about Trumpeter Swans
written by Barbara Renner, illustrated Rita Goldner
It’s spring, and a pair of trumpeter swans, Pen and Cob, must build a nest so that Pen can safely lay her eggs. The first spot they find won’t work because it is the home of Mr. Beaver. Next, they try a mud pile that seems perfect, but Mr. Muskrat says it is his home, so Pen and Cob must find a new place for their nest. Finally, they land in the perfect spot, and Pen lays not one, not two, not three, but FOUR eggs. Cob and Pen keep the eggs nice and warm until…. they hatch, and four cygnets, baby swans, emerge ready for…. summer! Trumpeter swans are magnificent birds, and this book, both in text and illustration, does them justice. The tender relationship between Pod and Cob models the best of parenting, highlighting the commitment parents have to their children even before they are born! It is also a reminder that spring is the time when so many animal babies are born.
written by Il Sung Na
A short, sweet board book about baby animals born in the spring. There are noisy ducklings, there are babies who walk right away, and babies whose parents carry them. Some babies are born with fur, while others are born with smooth scales. What do all babies have in common? At the end of their first day, all babies need their rest. This is a perfect before-naptime or before-bedtime book. It is also a wonderful way to introduce young children to the wide variety of animals – and baby animals—in our world. The illustrations work perfectly with the words to create a special visit to the world of animal babies.
In Spring / En Primavera (Seasons/Estaciones)
Written by Susana Madinabeitia Manso (Author), Emily Hanako Momohara (Illustrator)
In this dual-language Spanish/English book, a young boy notices the wondrous ways spring fills his world and is eager to participate by painting a rainbow, growing like a seed, hopping like a bunny, and singing like a bird. The book is illustrated with photographs against plain backgrounds showing the boy as he engages in springtime actions, encouraging children to do likewise – so prepare for hopping and singing and stretching as you turn the pages! The book is short, the photos are lively, and it probably won’t take long for your child to memorize each page – in English or in Spanish—and to “read” along with you.
Laughing Tomatoes: And Other Spring Poems / Jitomates Risuenos: Y Otros Poemas de Primavera
by Francisco X. Alarcon, illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez
Francisco X. Alarcón, an award-winning poet, teamed up with illustrator Maya Gonzalez to create a very special book of poems, dynamically illustrated, that celebrate spring. Some of the seventeen poems, plus one afterward bonus, are short. The first “Dew” reads: Dew/ the fresh/ taste/of the night. And then there is “First Rain” which, in its entirety, reads: “First Rain/ is it raining/ or/ is the sky crying?” While others, like “My Grandma’s Songs” have many verses. “Laughing Tomatoes,” the poem that doubles as the book’s title, declares tomatoes to be the happiest of all vegetables. The “Ode to Corn” announces that corn is a gift of the sun. The metaphors are so rich and so evocative they offer a chance to think poetically with your child. Which vegetable or fruit do you think is the happiest? The silliest? The angriest? Which one is a gift from the sun? Might one be a gift of the moon? Some poems will be favorites your child will want to hear again…. and again. I think my favorite is, “Words are Birds,” which begins: “Words/ are birds/ that arrive/ with books/ and spring.” A union of birds, words, books, and spring, what could be more wonderful? Each lively illustration is as imaginative, colorful, and unique as the poems they accompany. This book is a wonderful way to make poetry a powerful part of your child’s life.
