It’s spring time and the trees and flowers are in bloom. It’s the most beautiful and interesting weather time of the year! The bugs are coming out, birds are back, baby animals are being born and it’s time to get your garden in order. Here are some great picture books that are good for all ages (except for the last book) and that help celebrate this time of year.
When We Go Walking, by Cari Best, and painted with oil and using collage by Kyrsten Brooker, is a celebration of seasons as young Wendy walks along her “Rambling Road” with her family. The observations made by family members, and Wendy’s collections of roadside artifacts, continue through the seasons. When it becomes too cold in winter for their stroll along the lane, Wendy reconstructs those memorable walks by placing the found objects around her room. This lovely story invokes appreciating all the beauty that surrounds us in the outside world.
Nibbles’ Garden: Another Green Tale, by Charlotte Middleton, is a colorful story about Nibbles, a guinea pig, and his friend and the garden he is growing. But when he discovers his garden is being devoured by enterprising caterpillars, he captures them. But being the nice guinea pig that he is, he decides to make them pets and place them in nice jars with food and water. However, they suddenly go missing and Nibbles is about to find a surprise. And so will you! Every page in this book is gloriously colorful from top to bottom and is delightful to read.
The Apple and the Butterfly, by Lela and Enzo Mari, is a wordless book with a story to tell. A caterpillar crawls out of an apple and soon is spinning its cocoon. Upon turning the pages, you find the seasons are changing through fall and winter. Spring brings abut the transformation of a butterfly from that caterpillar. The backdrop is completely white so the eye is easily drawn to the miraculous events of this insect. This book was originally published back in 1969 but still has the same impact today.
Farmer John’s Tractor, by Sally Sutton, and beautifully painted in hues of brown and yellow with watercolor by Robyn Belton, hails back to the classic stories of “Mike Mulligan Steam Shovel” and “Katy and the Big Snow” both by Virginia Lee Burton. Farmer John’s tractor has become dormant and locked away due to its old rusty age. But when it begins to rain and the rain doesn’t let up, a car, jeep and even a tow truck gets stuck. Can Farmer John’s old tractor do the job? This rhyming and fun read-aloud story will engage all!
It’s Our Garden: From Seeds to Harvest in a School Garden, by George Ancona, is a documentary of sorts about a school garden and students preparing, planting and reaping the rewards of their garden. The photos, found throughout, are large, bright and inviting as the reader will begin to appreciate the work and benefits of growing a garden.
I Spy On The Farm, by Edward Gibbs, features a die-cut hole throughout as the reader attempts to guess what animal they are spying on before they turn the page. There are clues along the way to help the young listener discover which animal it could be. The pages are completely full of color and showcase each animal in a large picture. This book is great fun for toddlers up to age 5.