You can teach your children about spring in many ways. You can watch trees and shrubs leaf and bloom, explore a patch of bluebonnets and dance in a spring rainstorm. In quiet moments, you can also read some great children’s books about the season.
“Books are a great way to teach young children about the cycles of the year,” says Early Childhood Program Manager Cheryl Potemkin. “Especially if you follow them up by spending some time together outside looking for signs of spring.”
Members of the Early Childhood Education team will be reading one of their favorite books about spring on April 22 at Saturday Storytime at 10:30. If you’re visiting the Japanese Festival, make sure you stop by and share the story with your family.
The book selected for April 22 is Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre. “We chose this book because the Japanese Garden is designed around water,” says Potemkim. “Raindrops Roll not only investigates rain, which is fitting for spring showers (and storms!), but also the way water sounds, reflects and moves.”
A few other good early childhood books about spring include the following:
Bloom Boom! by April Pulley Sayre. “When spring arrives, flowers of all kinds sprout and grow buds and bloom. Sometimes, they bloom a few at a time. But other times, many will bloom at once in a colorful flower boom! This photographic exploration of flowers goes from the desert to the woodlands and beyond, celebrating their beautiful variety and the science behind these colorful displays.” — Publisher’s description.
Spring Stroll in the City by Cathy Goldbert Fishman, illustrated by Melanie Hall. “Take a stroll through the city in springtime and experience the sights, sounds, colors, and smells of the multitude of different holidays we celebrate this season. From St. Patrick’s Day and Easter to Nowruz and Cinco de Mayo, everyone has a reason to celebrate. With simple rhymes, a counting pattern, and stunning papercraft art reminiscent of Ezra Jack Keats, this diverse board book is the perfect introduction to the cultural melting pot that makes the city so special.” — Publisher’s description.
Spring is Here: A Bear and Mole Story by Will Hillenbrand. “Mole can smell that spring is in the air, but Bear is still asleep after his long winter nap! Excitedly he taps on the window and knocks on the door– he even tries playing a trumpet to wake his friend so they can celebrate together. But Bear keeps snoozing. But Mole is determined, so he milks and gathers and bakes a special springtime surprise for his friend– the perfect way to wake up!” — Publisher’s description.
And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Erin E. Stead. “Following a snow-filled winter, a young boy and his dog decide that they’ve had enough of all that brown and resolve to plant a garden. They dig, they plant, they play, they wait . . . and wait . . . until at last, the brown becomes a more hopeful shade of brown, a sign that spring may finally be on its way.” — Publisher’s description.
Join us for Saturday Storytime on April 22, and enjoy spring!
