11 Books About Spring for Little Ones
by Lindsay Barrett
Each season has its magic, but the renewal of spring is something special — especially when you enjoy it through the eyes of a hoppy, skippy, splashy little one. Whether flowers are blooming where you live or you’re waiting for stubborn piles of snow to melt, books about spring get children excited about the season. From baby animals and wiggling worms to refreshing rainstorms and even “stinky” spring smells, here are 11 favorite books about spring worth checking out.
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A Little Book About Spring (Leo Lionni's Friends)
Available from:“Hello, Spring. I’m so glad to see you.” This delightful board book about spring will be on constant rotation if you have a toddler learning about the delights of this season. Leo Lionni’s iconic mice discover nature’s signs of spring, from chirping baby birds to squelching mud.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar's First Spring
Available from:Tiny readers will love this ode to springtime featuring Eric Carle’s classic illustrations. Everyone’s favorite caterpillar crawls through a quintessential spring day, noticing new plants and baby animals, dodging a quick rainstorm, working in the garden, and playing under the welcome sun.
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An ABC of Flowers
Noticing flowers is a perfect activity for little ones in spring. There’s much to discuss, from colors to sizes, shapes, and textures! This informative board book introduces young botanists to the names of popular flowers they might see in spring or across the seasons.
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A Book of Babies
Available from:When the flowers begin to bloom
and the world starts turning green,
animals everywhere are born . . .Follow a little duck on his journey to see all the other new babies born in the spring. Il Sung Na's vibrant illustrations are a joyous celebration of all that the season brings.
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A Spring Surprise: A Peter Rabbit Tale
Available from:A sign on the old oak tree invites Peter Rabbit and his siblings to an Easter picnic. Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail know what to bring, but Peter isn’t sure. He wanders through the spring woods, looking for an idea, and finds something small, yellow, quacking, and just right. This brief and satisfying story is ideal for introducing classic Beatrix Potter characters to little ones.
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Hello Spring!
Available from:Shelley Rotner’s Hello Seasons! series features gorgeous photographs that celebrate both the natural wonders of each season and the human fun to be had. This title encourages young children to notice the weather changing and new things growing and to get outdoors and enjoy spring. It’s ideal for introducing spring-themed vocabulary to little learners.
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Spring Stinks — A Little Bruce Book
Available from:Everyone’s happy about spring except Bruce. Ruth Rabbit takes it upon herself to brighten his mood by sharing the smells of spring, from fresh grass and sweet daisies to wet moose! As always, young readers will find Bruce’s grouchiness and exaggerated antics hilarious.
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Worm Weather
Available from:Yes, “worm weather” is absolutely a meteorological term. This rhyming romp takes readers through the sights and sounds of a rainy — then sunny! — spring day. After you read it, hop into boots and go outside to splash in puddles and look for wiggling worms.
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Grumpy Monkey Spring Fever
Available from:Uh-oh. Grumpy Monkey has spring fever! He worries about this diagnosis until Gorilla lets him in on a secret: Spring fever is fun! It means having the energy to do spring things like playing, planting, climbing, and splashing. Young readers will want to catch a “spring fever” of their own. Easter references and themed stickers make this a fun title for tucking into a spring Easter basket.
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The Little Gardener
Available from:Planting a garden is a rite of spring passage for many kids. But once you plant, it’s hard to wait for everything to grow! In the meantime, share this imaginative and hopeful story about a hardworking little gardener.
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Snowman – Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations
Available from:This creative look at nature’s transition from winter to spring is fun to share with children learning about earth science and math symbols. From early spring, “warmth + light = alarm clock” to animal wonders like “nest + robin = jewelry box,” this clever and poetic take on the season invites kids and adults to look at spring in new ways.
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