It’s time for spring! The weather is warming up, plants are blooming, and there’s more daylight! This time of growth and renewal is represented below in this list of new spring picture and toddler books. As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.
Picture Books
Bunny Made Tea written and illustrated by Amanda Baehr Fuller
A cozy story about sharing, showing gratitude, and a fondness for tea
One soggy spring morning, Bunny decides to make a cup of tea. Before they can take a sip, Opossum arrives for an impromptu visit. Like a good host, Bunny kindly offers the unexpected guest their tea and gathers ingredients to brew another cup. But just as they’re settling in to enjoy it, Opossum returns with their babies in tow. They all want tea too! Ingredients are gathered, and more tea is made—enough for Opossum’s babies, but not enough for Bunny. Disappointed, Bunny goes to bed without tea, until a knock at the door the next morning reveals their hospitality has been repaid: one of Opossum’s babies has made tea for Bunny in return!
With charming illustrations, simple text, and hilariously expressive characters, this cozy tale invites readers to practice generosity and meet acts of kindness with gratitude. – Owlkids Books
Escargot and the search for Spring story by Dashka Slater, pictures by Sydney Hanson
After a long winter spent indoors, Escargot can’t wait to look outside for the first signs of Spring. Will he find a new friend in the fluffy white bunny he meets along the way?
From New York Times–bestselling author Dashka Slater and former Pixar animator Sydney Hanson, Escargot and the Search for Spring is an irresistibly sweet and charming story about unlikely friendship, changing seasons, and springtime fun. This hilarious and interactive addition to the award-winning Escargot series is the ideal read aloud for story time and animal lovers alike. – Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Everyone starts small by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Dominique Ramsey
Sun and Grass, Water and Tree, Fire and Rain—nature’s cycle of creation unfolds in a compelling lyrical text and striking illustrations.
Sun grows beams
and Grass grows blades
and Cloud cannot contain herself.
Spring rains change Water from a tumbling creek to a roaring river and bring Tree nutrients it needs to stretch toward the sky. As Sun’s rays intensify, the sprouts and fruits and insects of the forest grow and bloom and develop, all working together in harmony. Even Fire, whose work causes Tree to ache from the inside, brings opportunity for the next generation of flora and fauna. Paired with the vivid, organic imagery of Dominique Ramsey, Liz Garton Scanlon’s poetic tribute to our planet’s resilience is a resonant story of life, death, and regeneration. – Candlewick
The First Day of May written and illustrated by Henrique Coser Moreira
Here is a book to celebrate firsts. That first magical day of spring, when it seems the whole world is bursting with life. That first time bursting out of your house after being cooped up for SO long. Your first time on the swingset. Your first time seeing a butterfly. Your first time exploring the world with someone you love. From Henrique Coser Moreira comes a wordless ode to joy and discovery that will stir readers young and old. – Levine Querido
Grumpy Monkey Spring Fever by Suzanne Lang, illustrated by Max Lang
Everyone’s favorite grump, Jim Panzee, star of the bestselling Grumpy Monkey series, has caught a bad case of spring fever and wakes up feeling very silly in this delightful new picture book.
When Jim runs through the jungle laughing and shouting with glee, the other animals are very concerned. This just isn’t the grumpy Jim they know. Soon Norman diagnoses Jim with a bad case of spring fever and tells Jim that he needs to find a cure. The other jungle animals offer suggestions: Take a calming breath! Sniff lavender! Take a nap! Try a time-out! Jim tries everything to get his grump back, but when nothing works, it becomes contagious and the other animals catch spring fever too. Soon the jungle erupts into a silly celebration of springtime as they all join in the fun.
From the bestselling team Suzanne and Max Lang comes another fun filled adventure starring the beloved chaacter Jim Panzee. Lively illustrations offering a belly laugh on every spread will delight the many Grumpy Monkey fans. – Random House Studio
Something on the hill written by Jane Kohuth and illustrated by Sonia Sanchez
Celebrate the arrival of Spring with this picture book that follows a small field mouse as she rallies the larger woodland animals to join her on a journey up a hill, sensing that something is about to happen at the top…. What could it be?!
When Field Mouse wakes from her nap, the air is no longer chilly, and she feels like there’s something has changed. Something is out there, calling to her…. Something is on the Hill.
She spots her friend, Squirrel. “Help me find the Something,” Mouse tells him. And so the two scamper through a clearing. Soon, they spot Doe. “Where are you hurrying today?” Doe asks them. “We’re going to the Hill,” says Mouse.
And so it goes, as Turtle, the Ducks, and the Bears join the group, all making their way to the Something on the Hill. As they climb to the tippy-top, this parade of animals will discover just what that Something is: a leaf shoot, tiny and green.
Just in time for spring comes this delightful picture book–perfect for storytime–that reminds us that the smallest of things can matter just as much as the big ones. – Anne Schwartz Books
Spring Seeds written and illustrated by Mirka Hokkanen
A funny and informative nonfiction picture book introducing the life cycle of seeds and exploring the season of spring, including interactive back matter.
Discover how seeds spring into action! As winter warms into spring, the amazing life cycle begins—seeds root and sprout and start to grow. From tiny carrot seeds to big avocado seeds and everything in between, discover what seeds can do in this pitch-perfect picture book for younger readers. With clear, informative text and bright, charming illustrations, as well as a removable interactive matching card game at the end, this is an exciting start to a new nonfiction picture book series exploring life cycles and the seasons. – Odd Dot
This Little Kitty in the Garden by Karen Obuhanych
Spring is blooming, and what better way for rascally kittens to celebrate than by causing mischief in the garden in this charming picture book!
Spring has sprung on Sakura Way.
The five little kittles will garden today!
Read along as these frisky felines plant seeds, pounce and play, claw and climb, and splish, splash and swirl—until they end their day asleep in the garden bed. Filled with bright and playful illustrations, here is an adorable picture book that introduces kids to the wonders of spring as they spend time in the garden with these delightful cats—all brimming with cattitude. Here is a picture book sure to charm cat lovers and kids alike. – Knopf Books for Young Readers
Toddler Books
The ABCs of Spring written and illustrated by Jill Howarth
A is for ants hiking the Alps. B is for bunnies biking to baseball practice. C is for chipmunks camping with caterpillars.
Featuring plenty to discover on each charmingly illustrated page, this board book perfectly pairs seasonal art with the letters of the alphabet for the youngest of readers. – Tinker: An Imprint of Penguin Workshop
Little Bunny, spring is here! Written and illustrated by Deborah Marcero
Little Bunny and his friends are looking for the first signs of spring, but as hard as they try, they can’t seem to find them. But when a spring rain comes, at last the rivers flow, the flowers bloom, the birds sing, and the bees zoom. It’s finally time to let everyone know that spring is here!
Readers will fall in love with Little Bunny and his friends in this gorgeous celebration of the changing seasons. – G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Spring! Written and illustrated by Leslie Patricelli
Puddle, puddle, puddle, MUD! Our favorite bald baby celebrates a new season with an adorable friend.
Squish! Squoosh! Squash! It’s raining, but that’s OK, because rain means that spring is here! Baby and a best buddy love to be outside, enjoying the tulips and daffodils, the leaves on the trees, the butterflies and bumblebees. Look, there’s a bunny hopping! And a froggy plopping! Best of all is playing together in the slippery mud . . . oops! Good thing the rain is coming down to clean everyone off! Little fans and big ones alike will skip along with Baby in this salute to the season of everything new. – Candlewick Press
Spring ABC by Jannie Ho
Have some springtime fun with this colorful, stylish, and sturdy ABC board book for babies and toddlers.
A is for apple blossom, B is for bird, C is for caterpillar, of course! This sturdy board book introduces simple words to get children excited about the start of the spring season. It’s the perfect book to introduce first letter sounds to say out loud and letter recognition. – Candlewick Press