Spring is almost here! While for some people, the season can be fraught with allergies, for many others, spring heralds a new season of growth, life, and escape from winter. These picture books about spring capture that feeling. I love this selection of spring picture books because they’re so colorful, whether they’re focusing on growing plants or a new burst of rain. Kids will love these spring books that cover a variety of topics: overcoming the winter blues, catching “spring fever” and spreading joy among friends. You’ll also find books about spring holidays and celebrations in spring. There’s something for everyone in these spring book picks. Overall, prepare to be delighted!
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Picture Books About Spring
Here are 20 lovely picture books about the spring season:
Spring In The Forest
Published: February 17, 2019
This deluxe lift-the-flap book will delight toddlers who love learning about springtime wonders. Readers follow a doe and her fawn as they travel the words, observing the sights and sounds of spring. The interactive flaps and popups will keep the attention of even the most wiggly toddlers.
Bunny with a Big Heart
Published: March 22, 2022
Bunny wakes up one morning with happiness in her heart and decides to spread her joy throughout her community. She helps her woodland friends prepare for the Spring Fair, but soon becomes bogged down by her own to-do list. Will Bunny’s friends help her when she needs it the most? A simply sweet story about the importance of teamwork and community.
Little Homesteader: A Spring Treasury of Recipes, Crafts, and Wisdom
Published: March 22, 2022
The Little Homesteader books are beautifully illustrated guides encouraging children to embrace each season. In this spring treasury, readers can learn to care for baby chicks, create surprise May baskets, blend a healthy green smoothie, and more. Each craft is broken down into steps and clearly explained, so even younger children can feel successful.
Little Mole Finds Hope
Published: February 4, 2020
Little Mole feels sad in his dark underground home during the winter, so his mother shows him how noticing signs of spring can help him feel hopeful. Little Mole learns that the nature around him isn’t dead, rather– the trees, plants, and butterflies are just getting ready to bloom and grow.
Elijah’s Easter Suit
Published: January 23, 2024
Elijah wants to find the perfect spring suit for Easter services, determined to be the first kid to earn a nod of approval from the reverend and applause from the congregation. Despite initial disappointment, Elijah learns about the significance of Easter traditions to his family, community, and the Black church. Kids will love this upbeat, rhythmic story that celebrates culture and history in a decidedly non-preachy way.
Llama Llama Very Busy Springtime
Published: February 11, 2020
Llama Llama loves keeping busy, especially on the first day of spring. He has plans with two of his friends, and Mama Llama warns him that it might be a bit too much in one day. However, Llama is so excited that he keeps adding plans–until he realizes he’s in over his head. Toddlers will love this spring story.
Escargot and the Search for Spring
Published: February 4, 2024
After a long winter, a little French snail named Escargot is ready to search for signs of spring. Along the way, he meets a fluffy bunny and forms an unlikely friendship. Young kids will love this latest Escargot book. The illustrations are beautiful and the dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny.
A Little Book About Spring
Published: January 15, 2019
From best-selling author and illustrator Leo Lionni comes an adorable board book all about spring. Children will love following Lionni’s classic mice characters as they say “hello” to budding flowers, buzzing bees, and baby birds.
Grumpy Monkey Spring Fever
When typically grumpy Jim Panzee wakes up feeling very silly, his friends worry. This isn’t the grumpy monkey they know and love. Jim Panzee is eventually diagnosed with “spring fever”,and suddenly all the animals in the jungle are infected! Kids will love this silly celebration of spring.
Construction Site: Spring Delight
Published: March 15, 2022
Spring at the construction site means that when the sun melts all the snow away, the team finds signs of new life all around them. Children will love lifting the flaps on each page to reveal blooming flowers, baby animals, and a special Easter surprise. The energetic rhyming text will keep young construction lovers engaged.
Spencer Knows Spring
Published: January 18, 2022
Spencer knows all about his favorite season–spring! Young readers will love following along with this inviting main character as he happily notices signs of spring all around. Spencer explains the importance of spring in an entertaining, informative way that children will enjoy.
Bad Kitty Does Not Like Easter
Published: December 19, 2023
In this Easter edition of the best-selling Bad Kitty series, Bad Kitty doesn’t want just any Easter egg–she wants the GOLDEN Easter egg. So she goes on a hunt, finding blue eggs, purple eggs..but no golden egg. Children will laugh along with Bad Kitty as she searches for the elusive egg, sure it will hold “the best thing ever”!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Spring
Published: February 15, 2022
There’s so much to do on a bright spring day, and readers will love following along with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and his friends as they explore the season. They’ll learn all about seasonal sensory experiences, like feeling cool rain, watching trees grow new leaves, and noticing the clouds as they float by. This classic series would make a great Easter gift.
The Spring Book
Published: February 16, 2021
New York Times bestselling author Todd Parr is known for his warm, inclusive storytelling, and The Spring Book captures the spring spirit across cultures. My children loved the bright illustrations and I loved that the book includes Mother’s Day as part of the spring celebrations.
Fiona and the Easter Egg Hunt
Published: January 9, 2024
Children will love reading about Fiona, a real hippo living at the Cincinnati Zoo. In this fictional tale, Fiona and her porcupine friend Rico plan an Easter egg hunt for the other animals at the zoo. However, one of Mrs. Swan’s eggs gets mixed in with all the Easter eggs, and Fiona must find the egg before it hatches! The Fiona books are adorably illustrated and would make a great Easter gift.
William Wakes Up
Published: February 5, 2019
William Wakes Up is an adorable picture book about spring and friendship. William (a human child) and his animal friends have slept all winter. Now they must get ready for a very special guest, but William’s friends won’t wake up! The warm illustrations are the perfect complement to the rhyming text.
Uni the Unicorn: Easter Bunny Helper
Published: January 23, 2024
Uni the Unicorn is visiting the little girl–a friend from earlier books–when she joyously tells him all about the Easter bunny. She’s especially excited for the Easter egg hunt, but Uni learns that all the Easter eggs are missing. Can Uni help? This book, part of the Helper series, is a perfect Easter gift for children who love unicorns.
Springtime Babies
Published: January 9, 2018
This Little Golden Book depicts an adorable farm getting ready for new spring babies. Pony and Grey Goose lead a barnyard parade to search for baby bunnies, ducklings, lambs, and piglets. But the animals are in for a surprise when they discover the farmer and his wife with their own new additions.
A Garden Called Home
Published: February 6, 2024
When a young girl and her mother visit family in a warm climate, the girl notices her mother’s happiness. Instead of staying inside, as she does at home, her mother engages with nature, showing her daughter trees, bushes, flowers, and birds. When they return home, the girl is determined to show her mother that nature is wonderful everywhere.
A Friend for Bear
Published: February 4, 2020
When Bear wakes up from hibernation, she’s full of energy and excited for spring. She befriends Tortoise, but she moves too quickly for him: rolling down hills, running through the forest, jumping in the water. Finally, Tortoise helps Bear realize the importance of slowing down and appreciating the moment. A great book about friendship.
Join our Patreon community to get the printable version of this list! You’ll also get access to other kid lit resources, like our seasonal guides and educator interviews, to inspire you.
There they are: 20 excellent picture books to prepare young readers for spring! Which of these have you read and loved? Which ones did I miss?
What do you think? Leave a comment