Written by contributor Jen from Forever, For Always, No Matter What
After we packed up our Christmas decorations for the year, I displayed some of our favorite winter time picture books on our mantel. It made me stop and think about some of our other seasonal picture books. I realized we had a big pile of Christmas books, a good showing of fall/Thanksgiving books, but we were lacking in the spring and summer area. I guess because at that time of year we are actually outdoors rather than just reading about the out of doors. However, spring in the midwest still offers plenty of rainy days to enjoy some good reading.
I used the opportunity to peruse Amazon and see what family favorites I could come up with. I made sure to choose books that are readily available from Amazon or your local book seller. Nothing worse than having someone say what an awesome read something is only to have them say “sorry, it’s out of print!”. Here are some of the winners:
1. Make Way for Ducklings – While this isn’t technically a story about spring, baby ducklings are certainly born at that time, and this is just a classic no child should miss out on.
2. Miss Rumphius – One of my all time favorite stories. A good reminder to leave beauty where ever you go.
3. The Easter Swallows - a charming retelling of the passion of Jesus Christ as told through the eyes of a couple of swallows.
4. Freedom Summer – a picture book for a little bit older crowd as it is a bit of a heavy topic, but one that should be discussed in every family.
5. How Robin Saved Spring – Beautiful illustrations. A fairy tale like story about Sister Winter reluctantly giving way to Sister Spring.
6. A Butterfly is Patient – A gorgeous book the life cycle of the butterfly. A book that gives plenty of detail about butterflies, but in short enough spurts to not be too much for a younger reader. Part of a series of books, An Egg is Quiet as well as A Seed is Sleepy
7. Thunder Cake – Grandma helps to ease a young girls anxious mind as a thunder storm approaches. We love this book as the author weaves in touches of Russia, plus includes a recipe for a real Thunder Cake!
8. North Country Spring – spring has finally sprung and the animals are waking up and stretching their legs.
9. Night in the Country – city folk might not appreciate this book as much as those who have actually experienced a night in the country, how still and quiet it really can be.
10. Fireflies – catching fireflies is a rite of passage for any child. So is taking them inside to observe. A young boy decides it more interesting to watch them in their natural habitat, rather than stuck in a jar.
I look forward to having these books displayed on our mantel as we anxiously await spring in our neck of the woods! What are your favorite picture books for spring and summer?
Jen is a wife to one amazing husband and mom to six energetic kids. Visit Forever, For Always, No Matter What where she blogs about their Catholic faith, homeschooling, adoption, and of course reading!
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown and Lost in the Woods by Carl Sams
Polly´s last [type] ..God’s Names Book Giveaway
Polly, we enjoy those books too! Thanks for reading.
Jen´s last [type] ..Carnival of Homeschooling :: If I Had a Million Dollars
What a neat idea to have “seasonal” books! I’m embarrassed to say, our bookshelves are lacking. We have plenty of “text” readers, but not many fun books. I need to work on this. Thanks for the suggested titles.
Robin´s last [type] ..How Tight Is YOUR Ship?
I’ve always had a love of picture books! Even my big kids still love them too.
Thunder Cake is neat and the cake is good too. There was a homeschool weather day at our library and they read the book and had the cake!
My daughter has always like Mouse’s First Spring.
Jenny, we read Thunder Cake yesterday as it was rainy here in MI, we love the book but have yet to make the cake! Definitely on my to do list for this spring. Thanks for reading and your comment.
Jen´s last [type] ..10 Favorite Spring and Summer Pictures Books
I love your list of books! We have read the Firefly one, but we don’t actually have fireflies where we live, so my boys did not get it at all. For me, it brought back great memories.
I have never done a spring/summer themed display, but I used to keep a bag of books handy for my one son who loved to read with me at the beach when he was little. (kind of random, but he just did) I had all sorts of beach titles- anything that had to do with the beach including Clifford and Curious George. I also kept identification books for when he found treasures in the sand or critters among the rocks.