Spring is for Strawberries review

This illustrated tale follows the budding friendship between two girls who meet at their local farmers market and reminds us that food is the great unifier of all humankind.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

There are many things to look forward to with the arrival of a farmer's market. After reading this book, I cannot wait for the season to begin here next month.  

 

This story is about a friendship between two young girls and the four seasons while they attend the neighborhood farmers market.  They meet up in spring finding themselves bonding over delicious red strawberries, sugar snap peas and leafy greens.  Summers arrival brings sweet juicy fruits, colorful peppers and corn on the cob.  As the autumn season approaches, a bounty of apples and pumpkins are ready for the picking.  The girls say goodbye for the winter but know they will reconnect in the spring when the first strawberry pops again.  There is so much a farmer's market can offer everyone.  The produce is fresh, nutritious and delicious.  An added bonus are the wonderful smells and the various colors making it a feast for our senses.  

 

The rhyming text is short and easy for reading aloud and the illustrations have so many things to look at in beautiful colors of the seasons.  This book is a celebration of those who farm and sharing all their hard work with the community.  In turn, it teaches how the community helps support their local farmers so the markets can continue each year.  I think this is a "just right book for ages 3-7.~ 

Title: Spring is For Strawberries

Author: Katherine Pryor, illustrated by Polina Gortman

Pub. date: March 2023, Schiffer Kids

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Escargot and the Search for Spring review

 

Bonjour! 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?(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

Escargot is tired of winter and seems to be suffering from a bit of cabin fever.  He is ready to find signs of spring and asks the reader to come along to help him search.  What he thinks is a snow bank is actually a very cute fluffy bunny who wants to be friends. Escargot seems to be a bit annoyed with her until he sees the bunny brought him a basket full of goodies.  He realizes that his rudeness and sadness must have been caused by hunger. 

 

A cute interactive book that makes for a good read aloud.  Some of the French words need a little practice though because there a few tricky ones to pronounce.  The illustrations are colorful and the bunny is so sweet with the most adorable eyes.  Escargots french flair is mixed with humor that kids will find funny and good for a few giggles.  Good opportunity to talk about feelings since Escargot seems a bit grouchy towards the bunny. But all-in-all, a nice story to welcome in spring for the little ones.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 

Title:  Escargot and the Search for Spring

Author: Dashka Slater, illustrated by Sydney Hanson

Pub. date: February 2024, Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Genre: picture book, spring

Hardcover, 40 pgs.

 

 

I Spy with my Little Eye Easter Hop & Find

 

Follow along with the Easter Bunny and his helper, Chick, as they deliver treats on Easter morning!(book cover)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter is right around the corner and this book would be a fun addition to the kids baskets.  Readers will search and find items while the Easter Bunny travels around town delivering special treats. Kids will count, learn shapes, match objects and find various items throughout the story.  The text is rhyming and the illustrations are in bold Easter colors.  Older kids would be able to do this book on their own but younger ones may need help as the pages do seem a little busy with a lot to look at.  Some of the items were a bit tricky to find, so kids will need their thinking caps on for a few of them.  All-in-all, it is a fun holiday interactive book which also sneaks in some educational opportunity without them realizing.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7.~

Title:  I Spy with My Little Eye Easter Hop & Find

Author: Rubie Crowe, illustrated by Melanie Demmer

Pub. date: November 2023, Cottage Door Press

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Bear Finds Eggs review

 

Bear and his friends hunt for missing eggs in this new picture book adventure.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Bear and his friends are out in the forest spotting different types of eggs in their nests.  Suddenly, they hear Mama Meadowlark calling out and in need of help to find her missing eggs.  Bear and his friends search high and low in hopes of finding them.  When each egg is found, they decide to paint it so they will not get lost again.  But after the last two are found, Bear hears a cracking sound and to his surprise new baby chicks arrive. 

 Here is delightful springtime story to add to the Bear and friends collection.  The bright bold colors and simple rhyming text makes for a good read aloud.  The story is about friendship and working together to help others.  I love the wonderment in the eyes of the forest animals when they found eggs in various nests.  It offers an opportunity to teach young readers how we should touch with only our eyes when we do see birds nests in nature.   It has a sweet ending as Bears friendship circle keeps growing and he is ever so welcoming.  This story would go perfect as a science or crafting project, making your own bird nests and learning about the different types of eggs.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

Title: Bear Finds Eggs

Author: Jane Chapman

Pub. date: January 2024, Margaret K McElderry Books

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs.

What's Inside a Flower review

 

From the creator of the New York Times bestseller Women in Science, comes a nonfiction picture book series ready to grow young scientists by nurturing their curiosity about the natural world(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

April showers bring May flowers!  Here is a great nonfiction science book that teaches about the plant life cycle and flowers.   

Kids will learn the steps it takes for a seed to flourish into a beautiful flower. The text is simple to understand without being overwhelming.  It also has very detailed illustrations about seeds, soil, the role of decomposers, water/minerals, sun and pollinators.  All the many important things needed that make a flower bloom.  The artwork is captivating and in beautiful, earthy hues with so much information to view on every page.  Whether it is read in a large group, small group or one-on-one, there are numerous things to learn and discuss from beginning to end.  It makes a wonderful accompaniment for a plant unit or even planting your own flower or vegetable seeds to watch them grow.  Kids would be excited to document their findings.   It encourages them to think about science, nature and the importance of flowers to our planet.  This is the first book in a new series from this author and I am really looking forward to reading many more from her.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-9.~

Title:  What's Inside a Flower

Author:  Rachel Ignotofsky

Pub. date: February 2021, Crown Books for Young Readers 

Genre: nonfiction

Hardcover, 48 pgs.

 

 

The Little Rabbit review

 

From beloved author/illustrator Nicola Killen comes an enchanting spring story about a magical friendship between a little girl and her stuffed rabbit who comes to life.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

Ollie and bunny are waiting for the rain to stop so they can venture outside.  It finally clears and the two head outdoors for a very magical afternoon.  Suddenly the breeze blows and bunny seems to come to life.  He runs with some rabbits but finds himself in a dangerous situation. But Ollie has an idea of how she can help him.  

This sweet story has imagination, adventure and a little bit of springtime magic.   The pages are beautifully illustrated.  The simple color palette of grey, green and yellow is soothing and some pages have surprise cut outs and shimmers of gold.  The story is gentle and calm making it a wonderful quiet read for bedtime.  It inspires getting outdoors and letting your imagination flow.  Perfect book for the spring season and I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

 

Title:  The Little Rabbit

Author:  Nicola Killen

Pub. date:  February 2019, Simon & Schuster

Genre:  picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs. 

The Bears Shared review

 

A rollicking picture book that celebrates finding warmth and shelter during a springtime storm.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Mama bird borrowed the bears hair from the lair for her nest.  A sudden storm sends the sweet bird family tumbling down to the ground and into the bears lair.  The groggy bears awake from their sleep to unexpectedly find the birds in their home.  The two mamas check each other out and decide it is all good to share the warm and cozy lair together.  The rhyming text flowed easily during reading with no stumble on words.  The illustrations are in bright colors and the animals are so sweet.  The end of the book has an author note about birds and an easy project with pine cones and cotton balls you can make and share with the birds for nesting.  This is a cute story  that would be a great read aloud for springtime and an easy project to do for the little ones.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-5.~

Title:  The Bears Shared

Author: Kim Norman, illustrations by David Walker

Pub. date: January 2023, Farrar Straus Giroux

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

The Winter Bird review

 

Forest animals help an injured nightingale survive the winter in a comforting story of friendship and resilience, lyrically told and gorgeously illustrated.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

When a nightingale is unable to fly south for the winter because of her injured wing, the other forest animals help her prepare for the cold weather.  The rabbits showed her how to make a warm bed from leaves and twigs.  A little grey squirrel shares its stores while the woodpeckers showed the song bird how to watch for the children to fill up the feeders.  Even though it was a scary time for the bird, she found there can be beauty in the harsh winter. 

 

This is a wonderful story that transitions between seasons.   The digital illustrations of the autumn evenings moving into a snow covered countryside onto an emerging spring are beautiful.  Many caring forest animals come to nightingale's aid showing her how to survive and become a winter bird.  I loved how rabbit and squirrel stuffed a nutshell with rabbit fur to keep bird's feet warm when the blizzard came.  The story is about compassion, caring and overcoming hardships with a little help from others.  It also shows readers how animals prepare and survive through harsh elements adapting until spring arrives.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 

Title:  The Winter Bird

Author:   Kate Banks illustrated by Suzie Mason

Pub date:  October 2022, Candlewick Press

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

 

Too Many Carrots review

 

Rabbit has too many carrots, which overtake his house. When he tries to move in with friends, more chaos ensues. Will Rabbit learn to change his selfish ways?(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

This is a charming story with brightly colored illustrations and important messages about friendship and sharing.  Rabbit loves carrots but when he has too many in his house, he has nowhere to sleep.  So his friends offer their homes to share but they just don't have enough room to squeeze in Rabbit and his many carrots.  After each of their homes falls apart, Rabbit realizes what he needs to do. All the characters are so cute even when they are a bit angry with Rabbit and his hoard of carrots.  The story is gentle, shows kindness and sharing among the friends.  After a little problem solving, Rabbit comes up with the perfect solution to everyone's dilemma.  I think this is a fun story for the little ones and a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

 

Title:  Too Many Carrots

Author:  Katy Hudson

Pub. date:  February 2016,  Picture Window Books

Genre:  picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs.

 

 

 

 

 

Finding Spring review

A baby bear cub named Maurice is curious about spring--and he's upset when Mama tells him that before he can experience his first spring, he has to hibernate through his first winter! Mischievous Maurice decides to leave their warm den and go find spring for himself. He asks all his friends for help . . . and finally finds something beautiful and full of magic and light. Spring!(goodreads summary)


Little Maurice is so impatient waiting for his first Spring that he does not want to hibernate as Mama Bear suggests. So while she is taking a winter nap, he sets out on his own to look for it. Along the way, he runs into his friends who seem to be too busy to think about Spring. He eventually finds what he thinks is Spring and wrapping it up, takes it back to his den . After he awakens, he is excited to show everyone that he finally found Spring but when he opens his scarf it is gone!  When he returns to the spot where he found it, there is a beautiful surprise waiting for him that is even better. 

This was a nice story about waiting and having patience. The illustrations were made from hand-cut paper and are definitely intricate with plenty of detail.  Looking at all the different pieces of paper added a fun element to the story. It was quite creative turning the forest and its creatures into original cut-out artwork making it visually appealing. The story was a little predictable but with the illustrations they make it worthy of a quick read-a-loud. It would be fun for kids to write their own Springtime storybook and make paper collage illustrations to go along with it. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~ 

Title:  Finding Spring
Author:  Carin Berger
Pub. date:  January 2015, Greenwillow Books
Genre:  picture book
Hardcover, 40 pgs. 

Such a Little Mouse review

 

Every season of the year, "such a little mouse" pops out of his hole and goes out to explore the wider world. (goodreads summary)









This cute little mouse is curious and hard working!  Each morning he pops his head out of his hole and goes exploring. He stops to investigate many things while out and about. When his day is done, he always brings home something special for his store room.  One morning when he sees snow, he goes back down to his warm and snuggly house all ready for the winter. The illustrations are not only sweet and delightful but the bright bold colors depict the change of seasons nicely as we follow along during his busy year. His effort pays off when he gets to enjoy his cozy home he has prepared for the winter.  Kids will want to point out what he has taken back at the end of the day to add to his store room.  This cheerful spring to winter story is simple and would make a wonderful read-a-loud. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

Title: Such a Little Mouse
Author:  Alice Schertle, illustrated by Stephanie Yue
Pub. Date:  March 2015, Orchard Books
Genre: picture book
Hardcover, 32 pgs.