Sheila Welch, our resident book reviewer, has trawled around for kids books for Spring. Here are her recommendations.
By Sheila Welch
Spring has arrived officially, and our very own “host of daffodils” made a splash of sunshine yellow that we enjoyed for a brief few days. You and your children will discover more enduring brightness in the books I'm recommending for spring reading.
RACHEL AND SAMMY VISIT THE FOREST by Jannifer Powelson is illustrated by Kalpart with charming, colorful paintings of the fictional characters, Rachel, a young raccoon and her friend, Sammy, a skunk. The interaction between these two appealing creatures forms the basis for a story designed to introduce kids to an array of spring wildflowers. Jannifer's own photographs enhance the detailed floral paintings of this unusual field guide that's part of a continuing series. So, pack a snack, gather children ages three through ten, and head for the nearest forest preserve. Don't forget the book!
Robert McCloskey's MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS is a classic and winner of the Caldecott Medal for its wonderful, expressive illustrations done in sepia tones. A pair of Mallard ducks look for the perfect home to raise their family and settle on the city of Boston. McCloskey based his fictional account, told from the ducks' point-of-view, on some real ducks that disrupted traffic on their march to the river. This is a perfect spring story of babies and parental love. For all ages!
Spring is the season for ducklings and kittens and, well, very old cats, too. In Judith Byron Schachner's THE GRANNYMAN, Simon is an ancient and decrepit feline. Two thirds of the way into this whimsically illustrated book, readers and listeners will assume that Simon has passed on. But a quick page turn reveals the arrival of a tiny kitten who saves Simon's life by giving him a reason to live. This is a great read-aloud for little ones in kindergarten through second grade and will win the hearts of many a grandparent, too.
SNOW TOWARD EVENING: A Year in a River Valley/ Nature Poems Selected by Josette Frank is a book to keep and treasure. You might be wondering how this fits in a post about spring reads. Since it includes a child-friendly poem for each month, three are spring-themed. Some poems may be very familiar, such as Wordsworth's “Daffodils,” while others may be totally unknown. Each poem is beautifully complemented by a full page reproduction of a painting by landscape artist Thomas Locker. This collection is appropriate for any age child or adult. Enjoy!
Next time, I'll have some reading suggestions for the lazy days of summer.
Sheila Kelly Welch is a mother, grandmother and retired teacher. She’s been writing all her life and counts among her children’s fiction books Little Prince Do-It-All and A Horse for All Seasons. You can learn more about Sheila on her web site.
