April Showers Bring May Flowers- More Spring Books for Kids

The boys and I have been having a wonderful start to spring. Whenever the weather cooperates, we’ve been making the most of it. The past few weeks have included walks, wagon rides, scooters, chalk, power wheels, badminton, hide & seek, playground visits, and more. On our outdoor adventures, #thelittleone loves to look for flowers. He is thrilled with these early signs of spring, and enjoys any chance to touch or smell them.

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On days when the weather won’t let us play outside, #thebigone likes to remind #thelittleone that the flowers need the rain- ‘April showers bring May flowers,’ he sings. Earlier this month, I shared a few of our favorite Easter & spring books with you. In celebration of spring, we’ve been looking through books about rain and flowers. Today I’d like to share a few of those favorites with you. Later this week I’ll also be sharing some accompanying simple crafts we’ve been enjoying.

april showers

Rain Talk
by Mary Serfozo, illustrated by Keiko Narahashi

Rain Talk is an incredible read-a-loud choice for rainy days. The soft, watery illustrations are inviting and colorful. Serfozo uses onomatopoeias throughout the story to bring one girl’s rainy day to life. Words like ploomp, sizzle, and plip can inspire conversation about the sensory experiences of rain. What does it sound like on varying surfaces? How does it feel? What sort of smell does it have? Younger children may enjoy the use of a variety of percussive instruments (ready made or DIY) to explore the rainy day sounds they can create on their own.

The Big Storm
by Robin Reid, illustrated by Kirk-Albert Etienne

Although neither of my kids ever watched the television series, #thebigone loved the Little Bill books when he was younger. The illustrations and stories are incredibly sweet. The character of Little Bill is adorably illustrated, and easy for young kids to relate to. In this story, Little Bill faces his fear of a stormy, rainy evening through the help of his supportive and loving family. It’s the perfect choice to reassure kiddos who are nervous during thunderstorms.

Rain
by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by John Wallace

I believe it’s important for young readers to be exposed to a mix of fiction and non-fiction, even from a young age. Rain is a wonderful non-fiction read-a-loud choice for young children. It’s also ideal for early independent readers – the text is straightforward and the concepts are concrete. Rain presents a simple overview of the water cycle, and would pair perfectly with a science lesson on the subject. It’s part of a early reader series focused on weather, and all the books are great for young learners.

Curious George Rain or Shine
adaptation by Erica Zappy, original teleplay by Chuck Tately

As a child, I was (to put it mildly) obsessed with Curious George. I read the books, watched the television show, and slept with a plush version every night. It’s been so nice to share the older books with my boys, but I also love the way the franchise now tackles bigger subjects. Curious George Rain or Shine features the mischievous monkey learning about predicting weather. Without fail, every time we read this book, #thebigone will remark about the color of the evening sky on our neighborhood walks, and make weather predictions. Thoughts like that make it clear that kids are able to connect to and comprehend the weather concepts found in the book- without it feeling at all school-like.

Come On, Rain!
by Karen Hesse, pictures by Jon J Muth

This tale of a young girl wishing for rain on a hot day in the city is certain to have your kids begging to play in the rain. She pleads with her mother for permission to dance through the rain in her swimsuit like her friends. Muth’s illustrations are hazy and loose, a perfect representation of a humid summer day. Kids will love the freeing idea of running through the rain. Pull this book out for a read-a-loud on a warm rainy day, and then surprise your kiddos by inviting them to play in the raindrops when you finish. They’ll love the chance for some novel, wild playtime. (Rain boots and umbrellas optional!)

The Rain Came Down
by David Shannon

Fans of Shannon’s popular ‘David’ series will love another peek at his lively illustrative style in The Rain Came Down. The book introduces us to a cast of quirky characters as a town deals with a very rainy day. The story is a quick read, filled with characters whose moods vary with the weather. Shannon is skilled at conveying personality and life with his illustrations- The Rain Came Down is no exception.

may flowers

The Tiny Seed
by Eric Carle

Like many moms, I’m a little Eric Carle obsessed. His bright illustrative style, full of color and texture is so interesting and engaging. The Tiny Seed chronicles the journey of a small seed, as it travels and eventually blooms. The book is a perfect introduction to the forces that impact seed dispersal. Kids will have the opportunity to discuss the effects of animals, weather, and other forces on the spreading of seeds.

Flower Garden
by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt

Flower Garden is a charming picture book about a young girl living in the city. She and her father are creating an urban flower garden for her mother, in a window box outside their apartment. The story follows them to the market, on the bus, and back to their apartment- all the while toting their flower garden supplies. The illustrations are bright, detailed, and draw readers in. The urban setting provides a unique twist that adds interest, rather than focusing on the more typical suburban or farmland flower bed.

Dandelions: Stars in the Grass
by Mia Posada

I have fond memories from my childhood of making wishes as I blew on fluffy dandelions. #thebigone has always enjoyed picking the bright yellow blooms for me, and wishing on the white puffs later in the season. Dandelions: Stars in the Grass will tap into that timeless childhood love and appeal to many kids. The text is lyrical and rhyming, describing the life cycles of these notorious weeds. It’s the perfect book to encourage science observations through out the season, as your child watches the yellow flower transition to a white ball. Additionally, the book provides science suggestions for parents to further engage young readers.

The Reason for a Flower: A Book About Flowers, Pollen, and Seeds
by Ruth Heller

This beautifully illustrated book is filled with facts about seeds and plants in general. The vibrant drawings feature clear labels of flower parts, making it ideal for young learners. The text includes some exciting and unusual plant facts, which will fascinate and delight children- plants that eat meat?! Prehistoric flowers?! Parasitic flowers?! Even kids bored by typical flower readings or lessons will love the novel details provided in The Reason for a Flower: A Book About Flowers, Pollen, and Seeds.

Don’t forget to check back later this week to check out the arts and crafts projects these spring books inspired!

What signs of spring have you and your family been enjoying? Let me know in the comments below!