Spring is a hectic time in elementary libraries: in cold places, cabin fever is at an all-time high, and false starts to the warm weather are messing with everyone’s peace. Add in standardized test prep, and you can start to feel the pressure that has nothing to do with weather systems. How can I try to introduce a little calm? Well, read alouds, of course.
Nature-themed spring picture books help students slow down and look closely. They spark conversations about growth, change, and the small details that are easy to miss. Stories about outdoor adventures promise that our period of enclosure is about to end, and not a second too soon. Below, I’ve pulled several picture books about spring so perfect you can almost smell the fresh-turned earth. Read these when the sunlight is finally warming your skin, when the season is teetering on the edge of change, or when spring is so far away you can only find it in books.
 Have You Ever Seen a Flower? by Shawn HarrisShawn Harris is a frequent Caldecott contender for a reason. His dreamy, slightly sketch-like illustrations make even his newest books feel like nostalgic classics. As we’re celebrating spring, what better subject than delicate, magical flowers? Experience spring through all five senses in this lovely picture book. |
 Busy Spring: Nature Wakes Up by Sean Taylor, Alex Morss, and Cinyee ChiuI grew up on a tree farm, and this cover brought me powerfully back home. Celebrate spring with turned earth and walks through the damp backyard. Written with an ecologist, this book mixes narrative with annotated nonfiction illustrations to awaken curiosity and answer questions. |
 Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard PakThis series includes four books celebrating the transitions between seasons, and I return to it as a teacher, as a parent, and as a giver of bookish gifts. Kenard Pak matches lush, detailed illustrations with understated text. The repetitive goodbyes and hellos allow the reader to explore the scenes of fading winter and blossoming spring, finding something new every time they return. |
 Outside In by Deborah Underwood and Cindy DerbyContinuing my nature theme, I had to include a second Caldecott Honor winner. There is truly something about spring that lets illustrators capturing it shine. Underwood’s poetic text makes this book a meditation on the magic of the outdoors and the endless possibilities waiting for us there. |
Hopefully, you’ve found some spring books to help you celebrate the changing seasons. Looking for more? Check out these spring books for preschoolers. Happy reading, and happy spring!
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