This year, February was the worst weather month EVER recorded in Syracuse, NY, sadly earning us a place on the Weather Channel’s list of top 5 worst winters in the U.S. I was cooped up for the month with a toddler and a newborn, so it was especially excruciating in this household. Even though April is finally here, it’s still cold and rainy. If you’re like us, and longing for spring to arrive, check out these spring themed books for toddlers to get you through to warm weather and sunshine.
1. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, Hardcover, 68 pages
Kicking off this list with a classic Caldecott Medal winner, Make Way for Ducklings, published in 1941, is a perennial spring time favorite. It traces the steps of Mama and Daddy mallard as they trek all over Boston looking for a safe place to hatch their ducklings, visiting easily recognizable sites throughout the city. Once the eggs hatch, Mrs. Mallard leads them from their nest on an island in the Charles River to their new home in the Boston Gardens.
2. And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Erin E Stead, Hardcover, 32 pages
3. Stuck by Oliver Jeffers, Hardcover, 32 pages
Flying a kite is a rite of passage in the spring, and Jeffers’ humorous illustrations (he also illustrated The Day the Crayons Quit), chronicle a boy’s attempts to get his kite out of the tree, only to lose many other things to its branches.
4. If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson, Hardcover, 32 pages
I’m a huge Kadir Nelson fan – his oil paintings in We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball are just so beautiful (this is definitely a middle grade title), so I was pumped to find his brand new book for preschool age children. Featuring a rabbit and mouse, the title simply and sweetly conveys germination, but also addresses kindness and selfishness.
5. Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Steve Jenkins, Hardcover, 40 pages
I personally love nonfiction, so I’m always looking for engaging titles for the Trikester. Steve Jenkins (author of Actual Size) is the master when it comes to awesome science titles, and his collage illustrations for this text are no different. Each two page spread features a different mama bird and her nest, along with a four line rhyme, and more details at a higher reading level on the facing page.
6. Spring Is Here! (Bear and Mole Story) by Will Hillenbrand, Hardcover, 32 pages
Animals ending hibernation is an important aspect of spring, and this cute title does a great job of introducing the concept to preschoolers. Mole wakes up to the spring air, and wants to share the excitement with his friend Bear, but he can’t get Bear out of bed! He proceeds to prepare a breakfast feast for Bear, but when he finally delivers it, poor Mole can’t keep his own eyes open.
7. In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully, Hardcover, 32 pages
In this literal interpretation, a lion stomps through a little boy’s house, bringing cold and snow, and is then followed by a lamb, who delivers spring. It’s got great rhythm and rhyme, so it’s fun to read aloud.
8. April Foolishness by Teresa Bateman, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott, Paperback, 32 pages
The grandkids are visiting the farm, and with Grandma’s help, they’re about to pull an epic prank on Grandpa. Rhyming couplets and fun illustrations make it a good pick.
9. An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Sylvia Long, Paperback, 36 pages
Hatching eggs are an important aspect of spring, and this beautiful nonfiction title introduces all kinds of eggs. The watercolor illustrations look like entries from a naturalist’s field journal, introducing a wide variety of animals and their eggs.
Do you have any spring favorites that I missed?
blogger / apricot / 367 posts
We love Make Way for Ducklings! Great list