Spring is a New Beginning

Spring is here in quiet, sweet ways.   Like the tiny violets that are along the stone wall, or the crowd of daffodils that line our front walk.  As Joan Walsh Anglund says "Then all the world is leafy-tipped and new."  

Spring is a New Beginning

Joan Walsh Anglund 1963

Hi, Mister Robin!

 

Hi, Mister Robin!

Alvin Tresselt

pictures by Rodger Duvoisin

Tresselt and Duvoisin pair up again for a story about Spring.  A little boy is restless waiting for Spring.  He spots a robin who tells him to just keep watching and listening and that Spring is almost there.  The little boy's mother and grandfather encourage him to be patient along the way.

And little by little the day grew soft as a misty rain filled the air.  The trees lost their sharp winter look, a blur of pale green and yellow spread slowly over the tree-tops, and the young leaves started growing.

What to Look for in Spring

 

What to Look for in Spring

E.L. Grant Watson

illustrations by C.F. Tunnicliffe, R.A. 1961

I finally got my hands on another Ladybird "What to Look for" book!  This one is just in time for Spring.  Although the setting is England, many of the same signs, animals, and flowers are popping up here as well.  The book starts in early spring and unfolds through out the season just as Nature does.

(The woods around here are always filled with Marsh Marigolds and I love seeing them!)

Springtime

 

Children, It's Spring

It's Spring indeed and our backyard is covered in tiny purple violets.  I can never get through this season without Mary Oliver...

Children, It's Spring

And this is the lady

whom everyone loves, Ms. Violet

in her purple gown

or, on special occasions, 

a dress the color

of sunlight.  She sits

in the mossy weeds and waits

to be noticed.

She loves dampness.

She loves attention.  She loves especially

to be picked by careful fingers,

young fingers, entranced

by what has happened 

to the world.

We, the older ones,

call it Spring,

and we have been through it

many times.

But there is still nothing

like the children bringing home

such happiness

in their small hands.

-Mary Oliver

Springs Of Joy

Tasha Tudor's ode to Spring.  Her delightful illustrations are embellished with some truly wonderful words celebrating springtime, art, nature and life.  I suppose this could fall into the category of "inspirational" books, but makes a lovely picture book to read to children nonetheless.

The Springs of Joy

Tasha Tudor

The Day Before April

The Day Before April

The day before April

Alone, alone,

I walked in the woods 

And sat on a stone.

I sat on a broad stone

And sang to the birds.

The tune was God's making

But I made the words.

-Mary Carolyn Davies

Gem

Gem

Holly Hobbie 2012

Our friends Soren and Silas were over this week and we "read" this book together.  The charming wordless pictures show the story of a little toad and his adventures.  Soren and Charlotte got quite a giggle out of it. 

Last summer we had our own toad explorer in the backyard.  We held him and passed him around, admiring his bumps and big eyes, then we set him free.  I hope he comes back for another visit this year.

The Happy Day

The first day of Spring and it's cold here and there's talk of snow.  But at least my tenacious crocuses and daffodils are undeterred.

The Happy Day

Ruth Krauss 1989

pictures by Marc Simont

In this book by Ruth Krauss, even the animals are happy to see a sign of spring!  They wake up from their sleep and "sniff and run" to the one bright spot of color in the black and grey illustrations.

Other books with Marc Simont's illustrations:

13 Clocks

The First Christmas