The months of March and April are filled with the promise of spring – although that promise is sometimes broken with showers that provide a wonderful excuse for bright umbrellas and puddle jumping. Rabbits sensed the good news that winter is retreating. Baby animals of all kinds are born, tree leaves are out and flowers in bloom. Here are six books your children are sure to enjoy this season!
Rabbit’s Good News by Ruth Lercher Bornstein (comes in book, bilingual Spanish version, and book & cassette)
This book begins with the rabbit waking and peeking outside her burrow. She feels something in the air, but isn’t sure what it is. What is it that’s calling to her? Rabbit leaves her dark hole and scampers out to find a flower, a worm, a bird, and a butterfly. Suddenly rabbit knows what the soft, green sound is saying. She rushes home to share the good news with her family, “Spring is here!”
The Puddle by David McPhail
What better time than a rainy spring day would be best to read this book. A boy looks out the window at the rain and asks his mother if he can go out and sail his boat in the puddles. She agrees, if he will promise to stay out of the puddles himself. Dressed in his rain slicker, hat, and boots, the boy goes out and finds a perfect puddle. His imagination supplies him with a whole group of unusual friends who make the outing far more interesting and a bit wetter than it otherwise would have been.
Why Does It Rain? By Marian B. Jacobs
This might be a great time to share a nonfiction book that answers the question, why does it rain? This 24-page book is illustrated with photographs and answers many of the questions young children have about the weather. How does water get into clouds? What makes thunder and lightning happen? Do all clouds make it rain? It also suggests an experiment and provides a simple explanation of the water cycle.
The Spring Rabbit by Joyce Dunbar
This story follows the adventures of a little rabbit called Smudge. Smudge desperately wants brothers and sisters, but his mother says he must “wait until spring.” Smudge tries to make siblings for himself. He makes a leaf rabbit from broken twigs; he makes a snow rabbit and a mud rabbit. But these rabbits can’t play with him and spring seems to be taking an awfully long time to arrive. Finally the little rabbit notices baby mice, eggs in the robin’s nest, and tiny tadpoles. When he gets home, he is overjoyed to learn it is finally spring, and he now has baby brothers and sisters.
A Child’s Calendar by John Updike
This book has a beautiful poem and drawing for every month of the year. March describes an unsettled month of kite flying and leaf buds peeking out from twigs, interspersed with raw days when mittens are still needed. The crocus peep up as the ground thaws and the mud “smells happy on our shoes.”
In April, spring is presented in all of its glory. The Earth is alive with jonquils, tulips and daffodils, birds are singing, and clouds prance across the blue sky like a herd of sheep.
Animal Babies A to Z by Chuck Murphy
From bears, lions, apes and elephants, to lizards, snakes and fish, various creatures and their young are discussed. Full-color illustrations enliven the text, and special facts of unusual interest are highlighted.
Spring is a wonderful time for children to enjoy the outdoors and see nature at its best. Reading takes children into imaginary places and lets their creativity unfold. One of the most important jobs as a parent is to help children fall in love with books. A person who loves to read will be a lifelong learner. As you read these 6 children’s books about spring- watch a smile come on their faces. “Hooray for spring!” And, “Hooray for books.”
Personal Experience
Books are available at libraries, bookstores and online.
Other Literary Articles From this Writer:
6 Valentine Children’s Books
Preschool Storytime: Thanksgiving Books for Children
Preshool Storytime: The Books of Don Freeman
Preschool Storytime: From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
