With spring well on its way and life emerging all around us, it truly is a glorious season and the number of wonderful books that you can enjoy alongside it is equally inspiring.
Here's a selection of some of our favourite Montessori friendly books to accompany springtime.
Flower Garden by Eve Bunting is the story of an urban African-American girl and her father. They go out to buy plants, potting soil, and a window box at the supermarket, ride the bus to their apartment, and put together a colourful gift for the child’s mother. Rhyming verse carries the brief story, while wonderful, warm, full-color illustrations present scenes from novel angles, and depict a loving family with a sense of intimacy, sincerity, and joy.
Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak is one of a series of books he's written about the changing seasons. In a simple, cheerful conversation with nature, a young boy observes how the season changes from winter to spring. As days stretch longer, animals creep out from their warm dens, and green begins to grow again, everyone knows―spring is on its way! Join a boy and his dog as they explore nature and take a stroll through the countryside, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with everything from the melting brook to chirping birds, they say goodbye to winter and welcome the lushness of spring.
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle. Sadly Eric died recently and he will be missed by book lovers and children around the world. Eric Carle’s classic story of the life cycle of a flower is told through the adventures of a tiny seed. Everyone will cheer for the seed’s progress as it floats across the sky, nestles in the ground, and finally grows into the giant flower it was always meant to be.
And then it's spring by Julie Fogliano is the tender story of anticipation is brought to life by the distinctive illustrations Erin E. Stead, recipient of the 2011 Caldecott Medal.
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.
Grandpa's Garden by Stella Fry is a beautifully told story which follows Billy from early spring to late summer as he helps his grandpa on his vegetable patch. They dig the hard ground, sow rows of seeds, and keep them watered and safe from slugs. When harvest time arrives they can pick all the vegetables and fruit they have grown. Children will be drawn in by the poetry of the language and the warm illustrations, while also catching the excitement of watching things grow!
Fabulous Frogs by Martin Jenkins. I just love Martin Jenkin's books. This time he has teamed up with the equally great Tim Hopgood. Martin has always been obsessed with frogs and this book is essentially his love letter to them. My son adores this book and it's hugely entertaining and well as informative. Huge frogs, tiny frogs, hairy frogs, and flying frogs hop through the pages of this colorful nonfiction book. Discover the Goliath frog, biggest in the world, and the Darwin’s frog, which has a pointy nose and holds its tadpoles in its mouth. Learn why some frogs are brightly colored and which one can bury itself in the desert until rain comes. There are so many kinds of frogs in the world — more than five thousand! — and all of them are fabulous.
Bird Builds a Nest by Martin Jenkins. Yes again. I know, I did say I love his books. It’s time for Bird to build her nest! Follow her as she pulls a worm out of the ground, lifts some twigs that are just the right size, and pushes the twigs into place. Uh-oh — one of the twigs fallsto the ground! But after a day of hard work, Bird’s nest is ready and waiting. Can you guess what it’s waiting for? Using simple, clear language and beautiful illustrations, this engaging story is the perfect introduction to physical forces for very young readers. A final spread with some simple questions promotes discussion with parents, teachers, or caregivers and encourages readers to think about the concepts introduced.
Animal Babies in Ponds and Rivers by the editors at Kingfisher. Ponds and rivers are home to an amazing variety of animal life including amphibians, mammals, and water birds. Hippos, otters, ducks, and tree frogs are among the multitude of creatures covered in Animal Babies in Ponds and Rivers both on top of and below the water.
Everything Spring by Jill Esbaum. Surround yourself in Everything Spring. Stunning photography and detailed imagery capture the uplifting spirit of spring in this counterpart to the National Geographic bestseller A Tree for All Seasons. We think of spring and we feel warmer, sunny days, we smell the freshness of nature's flowers blooming again, and we picture little chicks and furry bunnies. These adorable baby animals are fun to look at and they represent the spirit of renewal and life that is spring. Every young creature finally ventures outside to play as the dreary days of winter fade away and color surround us all. Spring is about being outdoors enjoying all that our wonderful planet has to offer-it's about living life to the fullest. In Jill Esbaum's beautifully photographed picture book, young children can see, hear, and feel the warmth of springtime by reading and learning all about chicks, bunnies, and the other baby animals that come out to play in springtime.
How a Seed Grows by Helene J Jordan illustrates the journey of how a tiny acorn grows into an enormous oak tree in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.
This is a clear and appealing environmental science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Plus it includes a find out more activity section with a simple experiment encouraging kids to discover what a seed needs to grow.
Step Gently Out by Helen Frost. What would happen if you walked very, very quietly and looked carefully at the natural world outside? You might see a cricket leap, a moth spread her wings, or a spider step across a silken web. In simple, evocative language, Helen Frost hints at the many tiny creatures around us, while in stunning close-up photographs, Rick Lieder captures a katydid's eye, a firefly, and many more living wonders awaiting discovery. Back matter amplifies the descriptions of the insects and spiders in the book.
It Starts With a Seed by Laura Knowles. With lyrical text, enchanting illustrations, and a beautiful fold-out scene to complete the story, this award-winning picture book takes you on a journey through the seasons and years as you follow a seed’s transformation from a seedling to a sapling, then a young tree, until it becomes a large tree with its branches and roots filling the page.
As the tree grows, it is joined by well-loved woodland creatures—squirrels and rabbits, butterflies and owls—who make it their home. A rhyming poem builds page on page, echoing the rings of a growing tree. The story culminates with a foldout page showing a mature tree shedding seeds to continue the beautiful cycle of life. At the back, find the full poem and facts about the specific tree, a sycamore.
Beautiful and evocative, It Starts With a Seed is a factual story that will touch children with its simple, enchanting message of life and growth.
It's spring by Linda Glaser. Simple text and bold, beautiful paper sculpture convey the animal life, plant life, weather, colors, clothing, and feelings associated with the spring season.
What Can You See in Spring? by Sian Smith. This is part of a series of books on the different seasons. In Spring, children are taken on a tour of things they can see in spring including typical spring activities and new life and growth in the natural world. Beautiful photos, very simple repeated text, high frequency and decodeable words and strong photo-to-text matching make this a perfect book for early readers to enjoy.
What are you looking forward or enjoying to this spring? Do you have any books you are reading to help you prepare? Let us know if you've any favourites which aren't on the list.
Co-authored and edited by Mie Mari Sløk Rusdal and Jude Saffron
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