When I think of spring, I think of vibrant colors. So, when I choose picture books to read for a spring storytime, I like to choose books that also have vibrant colors.
In addition, I think of babies, either plant or animal, as representative of spring. I have chosen a couple of books about baby animals and planting.
The following titles are sure to get the attention of little ones. ALL of the titles I have listed here are at the top of my favorite picture books list.
One of my favorite spring titles that I take to outreaches is an update of The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone (one of folk and fairy tale's greatest authors!)
Picture Books for Spring Storytimes
Tippy-toe Chick, Go George Shannon
Children will be encouraged to discover that size may not be the solution to all problems. Watching and thinking outside the box might get you farther!
Shannon's clever take on The Three Billy Goats Gruff is humorously illustrated by Laura Dronzek. Dronzek illustrates another favorite spring picture book of mine, Kevin Henke's When Spring Comes. The pastel colors used in When Spring Comes is perfect for spring!
This is a great book to take to outreach. The children will love it when you use different voices for each character and add some drama to Dog.
Preschoolers will giggle and enjoy this title about the smallest but bravest chick!
Tap the Magic Tree Christie Matheson
Christie Matheson's Tap the Magic Tree follows the interactive "touch the picture book to advance the plot" innovation that began with Herve Tullet's Press Here.
Matheson's "touch the picture book to advance the plot" interactive books have become her signature style in children's books. Stories about planting, bees, and night all involve tactile interactions with the book. This is a great book for large group read-alouds for older children. Inviting a few helpers to assist with the book interactions is sure to be a hit!
Simple and colorful illustrations guide children through a tree's annual cycle of spring, summer, fall, winter, and spring again.
Matheson's books are a wonderful choice for a class read-aloud to elementary-aged children.
Abracadabra, It's Spring Anne Sibley O'Brien
Spring is a magical time when many beautiful transformations occur from winter bareness to spring colors!
Anne Sibley O'Brien's Abracadabra, It's Spring, uses the lift the flap format to show the transformation from winter to spring with the lift of the flap, abracadabra!
Illustrator Susan Gal's work melds a bland, wintry scene into a world of color with the lift of a flap. A great book for young children who are experiencing their first spring.
Toddlers will enjoy the simple language and vivid illustrations.
Who Says Woof? John Butler
John Butler's Who Says Woof? instantly draws your eyes to the gorgeous and realistic illustrations of baby animals.
The simple game of guessing the sounds that baby farm animals make is sure to engage the toddler crowd.
Butler includes the Pre-reading skill of print awareness deftly by moving the text from left to right, with each page spread showing the answer to the question on the left and the question for the next animal on the lower right-hand side of the page.
Butler's specialty is baby animals. You can find all of his baby animal books by searching for Butler as author and illustrator.
Butler's books are great for older babies and toddlers. The large illustrations are great for baby's developing vision!
Hurry! Hurry! Eve Bunting
I came to know Eve Bunting for her historical picture books. One of my favorite pictures by Bunting is A Picnic in October, a story about Ellis Island and immigration.
Bunting is a prolific and versatile author. She writes animal stories for younger children, historical and religious fiction for elementary-aged children, tweens, and young adults.
Hurry! Hurry! is an especially valuable book for older children who are waiting for the birth of a newer sibling. Older children may be apprehensive, but this book shows toddlers and preschoolers that the birth of a child is a joyous time to be celebrated.
Older babies and toddlers will enjoy the story of the birth of a new animal at the farm!
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