Favorite Books About Spring for Kids

Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail

Picture Book Field Guide. Non-Fiction. Ages 3-9.

By the Editors of Storey Publishing. Published 2018.

A perfect book for the fact-gathering vibe that is so common with emerging and independent readers. Full of nature information, with some facts in words and others in images. This fun book offers something for every type of learner, and is part of a set that includes many other topics to explore. Durable hardcover format is designed to be stuffed in backpacks and used outdoors in nature! Includes stickers, a map, and a magnifying glass!

Gold Mom’s Choice Award Winner

Discover more and see inside photos in my feature article on this book!

Eric Sloane’s Weather Book

Picture Book. Non-Fiction. Ages 5-14.

Written and illustrated by Eric Sloane. Originally Published 1949. I recommend the Dover Publications edition published 2005.

I often recommend field guides as reading for even very young children. Eric Sloane’s Weather Book is a perfect example. While not presented in the typical field guide – this book is a fascinating guide to the weather! Filled with fantastic illustrations and answers to common weather questions. First published in 1949 and still completely valid today. Great to have your very-own-copy of!

Fun Fact: Eric Sloane is a pen name. The author’s real name was Everard Jean Hinrichs.

“The books of Eric Sloane celebrate the time-honored traditions of early America and remind us of the ties that forever bind us to them. A prolific artist, Sloane created nearly 15,000 paintings and drawings over his lifetime, many of which enhance his delightful books of bygone days.” ~ Bookshop.org

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms

Picture Book. Fiction (with science content about spring). Ages 3-8.

Writtne by Julia Rawlinson. Illustrations by Tiphanie Beeke. Part of the “Fletcher” series.

Publishers Weekly called this story “Captivating” in their starred review of the book … and indeed it is. Children adore the character of Fletcher the fox; they relate to his misadventures, explorations, and discoveries, as he explores the world around him. It’s all mostly new to him because he is quite a young fox, just like the little ones in your home. If you find this story is a success with your kids, you’ll be glad to know it’s part of a lovely series (12 books as of the writing of this booklist).

The world of Fletcher is full of fun – visit the author’s website at www.juliarawlinson.com to discover it all! Books, Fletcher’s diary, many coloring pages and other activities, even educator guides are all in the Resources section!

I wrote a feature article about one of the other Fletcher books where you can learn even more about this delightful character. Read it here!

The Gardener

Picture Book. Fiction (with science content). Ages 3-8.

Written by Sarah Stewart. Illustrated by David Small. Published 1997.

A young girl discovers the difference she can make in the world when she finds herself leaving her country home and moving to the big city. I will give you a hint – she brings many plant seeds with her.

Winner of multiple awards including the Caldecott Honor.

Fun Fact: Author Sarah Stewart and illustrator David Small are married! They create many beautiful, award-winning picture books together. You might also enjoy reading The Library, The Friend, The Quiet Place, and This Book of Mine.

Go! Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals

Picture Book. Non-Fiction (includes set of 4 rocks). Ages 3-12.

Written by Sarah Nelson. Illustrated by Maya Hanisch. Published 2023 by Barefoot Books.

This rocks and minerals guide from Scholastic is very well done. While not a living science book, I have noticed that kids really enjoy the format of this book, the text and the images. It elicits a lot of reading and exploration.

Bonus – it comes with rocks! Do you have a kiddo who loves to collect rocks? Get them this book … it’s a great way to show your support for their interest in the subject of geology.

“While I recommend Scholastic-published books less and less, they still produce some gems in the children’s literature world and this title is one I wholeheartedly encourage for anyone with little lovers of rocks in their family!” – Sarah Galbraith Laucks, Beehive Books and Art

I Like the Rain

Picture Book with End Material. Non-Fiction. Ages 3-9.

Written by Sarah Nelson. Illustrated by Rachel Oldfield. Published 2021 by Barefoot Books.

It can rain an awful lot in early spring – and that is not always the easiest thing to deal with. But April showers bring May flowers! This book does a lovely job of helping kids celebrate the rain! Full of rhyming text (loved by preschoolers and emerging readers), hand-painted illustrations, and an end section full of facts. This book works well as a supplement to school or for homeschoolers.

Included in the four-book “I Like the Weather” series on the weather for little ones and emerging readers (includes Wind, Rain, Sun, and Snow). Same author as Follow the Flyway (see my “Favorite Books About Fall” book list for details).

Visit Barefoot Books (the publisher) for extras they created for this book, including a poetry activity, a make-a-kite activity, and a discussion guide.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Picture Book. Fiction. Ages 3-11.

Written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. Published privately in 1901 by the author and published publicly in 1902 by Frederick Warne & Co.

Meet the original Peter Rabbit and discover the sorts of misadventures he gets himself into and out of with a little help from his friends! This book revolutionized the world of children’s literature – it demonstrated that children wanted colorful illustrations and that families would pay to buy such books.

After you finish the story, expand your book adventure by watching the 2018 film of the same name. The film is not the same as the book, and that’s okay – it’s an interesting experience to see what the filmmakers created from the source material.

If you’re really up for a challenge you can read all 23 books written by Beatrix Potter. I find this adventure works best when you read one book every other week (some of them are quite long!). It’s a great experience and one your kids will remember always. See if you can find how many of Potter’s characters are included in the 2018 film!

The world of Beatrix Potter is vast. From her books to films, TV series, the largest national park in England, and The Beatrix Potter Society. There’s so much to explore and enjoy!

Special Note: Ensure the best experience of this and other stories by Beatrix Potter by purchasing editions published by F. Warne & Co (the original publishers of all the Beatrix Potter books).

A FIAR (Five-In-A-Row) Book

The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies

Picture Book. Fiction. Ages 3-11.

Written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. Published 1909.

In addition to reading The Tale of Peter Rabbit (see above), continue the story of these darling rabbis and read this sequel to find out what happens next in their lives. Personally this tale was my most favorite as a young child. It is a read-aloud for young children, but watch and see how they master the vocabulary as you read and re-read it to them :).

Tweet!

Board Book Seek-and-Slide (Tactile). Non-Fiction. Ages 2-7.

Written by Maria Jose Ferrada. Illustrated by Magdalena Pérez. Published 2020.

Children are drawn to birds and during spring will be interested in baby birds, eggs, and nests. Tweet! is an excellent book to accompany those interests. It’s quite unique and I have found that children as old as age 8 and second grade enjoy and learn from this book. It is expensive due to its unique construction, but well worth the money and can be asked for as a gift. Part of a series that includes three other titles.

“The interactive element of the book―sliding the picture of the bird, open and closed―means that there’s a certain ‘playability’ to it, which adds an extra element of fun, especially if you want to play peekaboo with the birds.” ~ BookTrust

What Are Clouds: Very First Questions and Answers

Picture Book. Non-Fiction. Lift-a-Flap (Tactile). Ages 4-9.

Written by Katie Daynes. Illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens. Published 2023 by Usborne.

Superb lift-a-flap tactile book for little ones! All about clouds and the weather.

Tip for Parents: “Lift-the-Flap books are very beneficial for young children. These books foster fine motor skills, dexterity, and problem solving. They make learning fun! Parents often have a big concern with these books – which is that children will ‘damage’ the books by pulling too hard and ripping the flaps. It can be helpful to purchase these books used at first, so you don’t spend much money on the book, and can feel free to allow your child to explore the book. It will take them some time to become comfortable with how these books work – and that process in and of itself is good and healthy. Be okay with some damage to these books!” ~ Sarah Galbraith Laucks, Beehive Books and Art

A Walk in the Woods: Into the Field Guide

Field Guide. Non-Fiction. Ages 4-9.

Written by Emily Laber-Warren. Published 2013 by Downtown Bookworks.

Field guides are excellent for kids because these books are rich with illustrations and photographs, as well as lots and lots of words. It’s okay when children can’t read all the words – these are books they use for many years and grow in their ability to read. Field guides are also typically content appropriate for all ages although it’s always good to check each guide first. This book and its companion guide A Walk On the Beach are designed specifically for children. Get both and keep them handy for walks at parks, along streams, at the beach or the lake, and more. Built to be durable and withstand years of being carted around, stuffed in backpacks and read while out of doors!

This series also includes A Walk On the Beach and is available as a set with field guide. Spring is a time when kids love to explore. Take these guides and go on an adventure!