7 Children's Books Celebrating the Arrival of Spring
/Celebrate the arrival of today’s Vernal Equinox with these great spring themed books for kids specially selected by Holiday House.
Happy Springtime! by Kate McMullan, illustrated by Sujean Rim
When winter is at its coldest and darkest, take heart! Every day the sun shines longer, Spring is on its way!
All winter, the days grow a little bit longer,
The nights grow a little bit shorter,
until the day becomes exactly as long as the night.
On that day we say...
HAPPY SPRINGTIME!
This bright, bouncy, and deliriously colorful picture book is an ode to the joys of spring, encouraging everyone who waits out the slow lengthening of days through the end of winter. From earmuffed crossing guards to sweater wearing dogs, from painters of flowers to planters of seeds, Happy Springtime! celebrates the burst of life following the thaw of winter.
The Passover Guest by Susan Kusel, illustrated by Sean Rubin
Muriel assumes her family is too poor to hold a Passover Seder this year— but an act of kindness and a mysterious magician change everything.
It's the Spring of 1933 in Washington D.C., and the Great Depression is hitting young Muriel's family hard. Her father has lost his job, and her family barely has enough food most days, let alone for a Passover Seder. They don't even have any wine to leave out for the prophet Elijah's ceremonial cup.
With no feast to rush home to, Muriel wanders by the Lincoln Memorial, where she encounters a mysterious magician in whose hands juggled eggs become lit candles. After she makes a kind gesture, he encourages her to run home for her Seder, and when she does, she encounters a holiday miracle, a bountiful feast of brisket, soup, and matzah.
But who was this mysterious benefactor? When Muriel sees Elijah's ceremonial cup is empty, she has a good idea.
Pippa’s Passover Plate by Vivian Kirkfield, illustrated by Jill Weber
Pippa the Mouse has been working hard all day— cleaning her house, setting the table, cooking the meal. Everything looks great— but her special Seder plate is missing!
Searching through her tiny house turns up nothing, so Pippa ventures out to ask her neighbors if they can help. Bravely, she asks the other animals for help, but the snake, owl, and cat haven't seen her plate, either. But it's almost time for the Seder to begin, so she keeps looking— and when she finds it, she invites all the other animals home to join her celebration.
A charming story with a happy ending, Pippa's Passover Plate pairs simple, rhyming text with bright paintings by Jill Weber, illustrator of The Story of Passover and The Story of Esther. In bravely facing her animal neighbors, this adorable little mouse finds not only her missing Seder plate— but new friends.
Bunnies by Gail Gibbons
Hop...hop...hop into spring with a cuddly board book all about bunnies!
Bunnies have fluffy coats, and remarkable instincts, and adorable wiggly noses; it's no wonder the Easter Bunny is so popular! But how did it get to be such a big part of Easter? This information-packed but easy-to-read board book teaches toddlers and parents about rabbits and how they came to be a major tradition in Easter celebrations.
Over in the Meadow by Jane Cabrera
One, two, three— count-along with this bright, bold rendition of a classic song, from read-along master Jane Cabrera!
Animal moms and their babies learn and play together on a beautiful day over in the meadow. But each family is a different size. Can you number them all?
Perfect for going over numbers and counting with very young readers, this colorful reinvention of Over in the Meadow includes several spreads to sum up all the count-able animals in easy-to-read groupings. Jane Cabrera's uniquely textured art and whimsical lyrics will have readers singing and counting along in story hours, or one-on-one settings. A fun way to bring learning home!
A New Green Day by Antoinette Portis
If you listen, nature speaks. Explore nature through evocative riddles and bold imagery that take the reader from day to night and back again in this perfect read aloud.
From the author of the Sibert Honor-winning title Hey, Water! comes a book of poetic riddles that encourage young readers to explore the natural world.
Who scribbles on the sidewalk with glistening ink? Snail!
Who's a comma in a long, long sentence of a stream? Tadpole!
On each spread, children will solve riddles about the familiar animals, plants and the weather that one child encounters outdoors throughout a whole day. Active readers will delight in the clever language and striking illustrations.
In My Garden by Charlotte Zolotow, illustrated by Philip C. Stead
Welcome the outdoors inside for story time with this classic tale of a garden changing through the seasons.
A young girl and her older companion watch birds, fly a kite, plant flowers, and play in the snow, watching flowers bloom and leaves fall as the year passes.
This quiet story celebrates the simple joys found close to home, and the importance of sharing those experiences with the ones you love. A perfect story time pick for any season, In My Garden explores the natural marvels of the world around us and encourages young readers to think about what they love best throughout the year.
