Books for a springtime story hour

After a soggy and treacherous start, it’s now safe to say that spring has officially SPRUNG here in Rhode Island. The forsythia and daffodils are popping, tiny green buds dot the trees, and suddenly, the world around us is awash in a sea of spring color!

Here are a few of my favorite springtime children’s books this season.

"Planting A Rainbow," by Lois Ehlert (Sandpiper)
This large format board book takes the reader through all the steps of growing a garden—from planting autumn bulbs, to ordering seed packets, to sowing the seeds, to watching them grow into a rainbow of beautiful blossoms. Preschoolers will enjoy turning the tactile die-cut pages, and slightly older readers will have fun exploring the names, shapes and colors of a variety of garden plants and flowers.


"My Garden," by Kevin Henkes (Harper Collins)
The little girl in this sweet springtime tale enjoys working in the garden with her mom, but if she had her own garden, she'd grow chocolate bunnies, everlasting flowers, jellybean bushes—and definitely not carrots. In a soft pallet of spring hues, Henkes creates a world that will inspire kids to think up all the silly, creative things they might grow in their own “imagination” gardens.


"We Planted A Tree," by Diane Muldrow; illustrated by Bob Staake (Random House)
"We planted a tree, and it grew up," begins this delightfully simple story of all the wonderful benefits of planting a tree and watching it grow. Trees provide shade, bear fruit, clean the air, make homes for the animals and generally just make us all happy. With sweetly stylized illustrations, this a great choice for “springtime,” "green" or “Earth Day” themes.


"Rose's Garden," by Peter Reynolds (Candlewick)
Rose travels in a teapot to a distant city in need of color. She plants seeds and waits for them to grow. And waits. And waits. But nothing happens. When word of Rose's determination spreads, children from near and far bring paper flowers to adorn her garden. Finally, as if summoned from this outpouring of support and love, real flowers begin popping up. Reynolds ("The North Star"; "The Dot") as always, displays just the right touch with a gentle story, and illustrations that morph from a landscape of inky brown, to a field of brightly dotted color.

This column was originally published on 4.7.10 in "East Bay Life" an East Bay Newspapers publication.