Spring feels like the season of childhood: the germinating of seeds, life blooming vibrantly, everything is new and inspiring, which makes it a fabulous season for children’s books. That said, I don’t subscribe to the idea that kids’ books should be cheery and sentimental. Kids deserve books that reflect their experiences — and those experiences are just as complex as they are for adults. They also appreciate good art, and thankfully there are plenty of books written for children that are innovative and thought-provoking.
The books I chose are not implicitly about spring (one is about all the seasons), but there is something about them that evokes a spring-like feeling. I like to curate a library of old and new — and like my library — this list contains books from all different time periods. Many fantastic books didn’t make the cut, but these are the ones we’re currently enjoying.
Rain! by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Christian Robinson.
My favorite style of art is cut-paper collage. It helps add depth to stories with little to no words. A picture book with few words is like a poem. Every word is chosen carefully — allowing the child to make their own interpretations. Rain! is the story of a grumpy old man and a young child who both wake up to a rainy day. We see how they react very differently to their circumstances. They end up in a chance encounter, and you find out how these two opposing perspectives will interact.
Carson Ellis is my favorite author/illustrator working today. Every one of her books is unlike any book I’ve seen before. Du Iz Tak? is written in bug language (Yup! You read that right.). It’s challenging and fun to read aloud — giving children opportunities to decide what the story is about. (We think it’s a story of the lifecycle of a flower, but what do you think?)
This was one of the very first picture books I bought after my daughter was born. I was browsing the books at Mapamundi, one of my favorite kids’ shops in San Francisco, and this stunning book immediately struck me. Its vibrant artwork depicts each season and the things you might observe and experience. For example, in spring, you may have allergies or see cherry blossom trees. It’s also a subtle reminder to pay attention to your surroundings. We pull it out at the start of each season.
This is another one of my daughter’s first picture books. I admire Julie Morstad’s style. Her stories are often simple and whimsical but also strange. This book shares examples of “how to go slow,” “how to be brave,” and “how to be a mermaid” — but in creative, unexpected ways.
Snail, Where Are You? by Tomi Ungerer
Tomi Ungerer is another one of my favorites. His work is witty and satirical. Snail, Where Are You? is a (mostly) wordless, conceptual picture book that invites the reader to find hidden snail spirals in objects and nature. The book is wonderfully vibrant and perfect for snail-lovers like me.
This is a popular board book in my house because my son is obsessed with cows. Like many of the books on this list, it’s beautifully simplistic. The illustrations are vivid, and the writing has a hypnotic lyricism. It’s perfect for keeping young kids’ attention.
The Old Truck by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey
I was blown away by this debut picture book by the Pumphrey Brothers. First, every detail is beautiful and thoughtful. Second, I’ve never seen stamp art done like this before. It’s a touching story of the life of a family and an old truck. It shows how each change and grow. It’s also about the young girl’s imagination and how she eventually uses that cleverness to breathe new life into the old truck.
Rain by Robert Kalan, illustrated by Donald Crews
I’m not familiar with Robert Kalan’s work, but I love Donald Crews. One of the main reasons I like this book is that it’s straightforward without losing its innovativeness. For example, when the rain comes, the word “rain” is written repeatedly as raindrops. It’s approachable and poetic — which is great for toddlers.
A Life Made by Hand, The Story of Ruth Asawa by Andrea D’Aquino
Ruth Asawa was a remarkable artist and sculptor from the Bay Area in California. I admire her work immensely, and this picture book biography did an excellent job portraying Asawa’s sense of wonder, her imaginativeness, and her passion for arts education. It’s wonderful for my little, aspiring artist.
Bonus short story:
“The Garden” from “George and Martha Encore” by James Marshall
It’s difficult for me not to include James Marshall in every roundup of my recommended children’s books. He’s an author whose work delighted me as a young girl and even more so as an adult. Now, when I read his books, I see the complex relationship dynamics happening, but as a kid, it was just funny. Creating a short story with very few words that’s hilarious and deep is extremely hard to pull off, and Marshall does it again and again. The story “The Garden” in George and Martha Encore is perfect for spring. Martha is despondent over her messy weed garden, but George finds an ingenious way to cheer her up!
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