Get your kids excited for exploring the great outdoors with these fabulous spring books that celebrate the changing seasons, the magic of growing plants, and the beauty of nature.
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After a long, cold winter, I am always sooo ready to welcome spring!
Spring is the time for jumping in puddles and hunting for worms after a storm.
The time for planting seeds and watching the magic of new life emerging through the soil.
The time for sitting on a picnic blanket with your face turned toward the sun, soaking in the warmth.
And…the time for reading a stack of spring-themed picture books to your kids on that same blanket while they munch on a tray of snacks.
I’m looking forward to backyard story time sessions as soon as it stops snowing here in Utah! In the meantime, we’ll read our spring books on the couch and look forward to the warmer weather that surely is just around the corner…I hope.
If you, too, are getting excited about blossoms and green grass, check out this list of picture books about spring. It’s filled with books about gardens, rainbows, birds, and the world coming back to life after a long winter.
Enjoy!
Picture Books about Spring
A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston. This is a fabulous non-fiction book packed with interesting facts about seeds, but with a poetic flair. The beautiful illustrations drew me in, and I found myself googling the several of the seeds referenced in the book to learn more. I mean, a seed that weighs 60 pounds?! I had to look up a photograph of that! It is a more text-heavy book, so keep that in mind, but my five-year-old happily listened to the whole thing.
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt
This is one of a series of books that cleverly contrasts what we can explore above and below in various places on earth, in this case the hidden world under the surface of the dirt we see each day. It’s both entertaining and informational, and my kids love examining all the details of the pictures to see what surprises they will find.
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert. This springtime classic follows a mother and daughter through the process of planting a garden and watching it grow into a rainbow of flowers. Simple text and bold, colorful illustrations make it fun to read with young children, especially those who are in the process of learning colors. I also love that all the different flowers in the book are labeled, so now my boys can identify when they see crocus, tulips, and daffodils in the real world, too!
When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes. I love how the simple, lyrical text of this story captures the transformations that occur all around in nature as winter turns to spring, especially the idea that spring “changes its mind a lot.” The colorful illustrations and brief text make it a perfect choice for toddlers and preschoolers.
Look and Listen : Who’s in the Garden, Meadow, Brook? by Dianne White. This book is a fun search-and-find style story that my kindergartener absolutely adored! He gave it one hundred stars when I asked him to rate the book. It’s a great choice for wiggly toddlers who need something interactive to keep them engaged in reading time.
Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson. Oh, how I love the charming bear books by Karma Wilson. If you’re not familiar with them, you should probably go request all of them from the library right now. In this one, bear is famished after hibernating all winter long, so his friends help him find more and more food until his hunger is satisfied.
Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson. I love this story about a little fox who sees white blossoms floating to the ground and mistakenly thinks that winter is returning. Concerned, he runs to warn all his friends (it has a bit of a chicken little feel). In the end, everything gets sorted out, and the friends celebrate spring together.
And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano. If the illustrative style of this book feels familiar as you read, it might be because they were done by Erin Stead who is best known for the Caldecott winner A Sick Day for Amos McGee (which happens to be one of my all-time favorite books). I love the poetic feel of this sweet, simple story about a boy planting a garden with his trusty animal friends, and there are lots of fun little touches sprinkled throughout the illustrations (like planting cookies).
Spring is Here by Will Hillenbrand. When Mole wakes up and sees that spring has come, he wants to share the good news with his friend Bear. But bear won’t wake up! Full of simple words and lots of repetition, this book is a perfect read-aloud for toddlers and preschoolers. Plus, I love the sweet and funny twist at the end.
Plants Can’t Sit Still by Rebecca Hirsch. This book is packed with interesting facts about all the various ways that plants move, from creeping vines to exploding seed pods! The bright illustrations will captivate preschoolers, and older kids will enjoy reading the extra information at the back of the book that gives more detail about each of the plants mentioned.
Nesting by Henry Cole. After reading it, you won’t be surprised to learn that this book was written by a former science teacher. Kids will learn all about robin birds and animal science facts, all taught through the beautiful illustrations and narrative tale of two robin birds who start a family in the springtime.
Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson. If your kids like interactive books like Press Here, they’ll love this spring-themed book that gets kids involved in the process of growing a garden. It’s a perfect introduction to plant science for wiggly toddlers and preschoolers.
Want more book ideas for kids? Try these!
- My absolute favorite children’s picture books of all time
- Terrific dinosaur books for kids (that actually teach you about dinosaurs)
- 10 Laugh-out-loud funny children’s books
- Favorite short chapter book series for kids that will keep them reading
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