 Finding Spring
by Carin Berger
Ages 4–8
Maurice is a little bear cub anxious for spring, though not quite sure what it is. Though his mother explains that he must first hibernate through the winter, Maurice can’t wait, and sneaks out of their warm den, enlisting his friends in the search for spring. He finally finds something bright and clean and light and fills his sack with the snowflakes he is sure is spring to share with his mother. Since she is fast asleep, Maurice joins her, and awakens months later to discover his sack is empty, but real spring awaits him. |
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 The
Easter Egg
by Jan Brett
Ages 3–5
All the rabbits in this charming
book are busily decorating eggs, hoping to win the
prize of being named the Easter Rabbit’s helper.
Hoppi would really like to win, but he is discouraged
by the wonderful creations by the other rabbits.
Then a robin’s egg falls from the nest, and Hoppi
is too busy keeping the egg safe and warm to worry
about the contest. When the egg hatches, the Easter
Rabbit rewards his kindness by choosing the discarded
blue eggshell as the winning egg. This sweet story
celebrating spring will enchant young readers. |
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 And
Then It’s Spring
by Julie Fogliano, Erin Stead
Ages 4–7
A boy and his animals endure
the late winter doldrums, anxious for spring to finally
arrive. The boy plants seeds in a barren farmland and
waits for the plants to grow, worrying that the seeds
won’t survive the birds and the bears. The final change
to green is worth all the wait and worry. |
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 The
Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah
by Leslie Kimmelman, Paul Meisel
Ages 4–8
This Jewish Little Red Hen
asks her friends for help making the traditional Passover
matzah. Unfortunately her friends aren’t too eager
to help. Couldn’t they at least help schlep the wheat
to the mill? In this hilarious version of the traditional
tale, a hard-working hen finds the true meaning of
Passover. |
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 P. Zonka Lays An Egg
by Julie Paschkis
Ages 4–8
P. Zonka is too busy admiring the world around her to lay a daily egg like the rest of the hens. She is captivated by the pale blue sky of morning, the stripes on the crocuses, the shining center of the dandelion. Finally P. Zonka gives in and lays an egg, a marvelous multicolored creation celebrating the beauty she sees all around her. An author’s note explains that a pysanka is a Ukrainian decorated egg. |
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 Fletcher
and the Springtime Blossoms
by Julia Rawlinson, Tiphanie Beeke
Ages 3–8
When Fletcher the young fox sees
the first spring blossoms flying through the air, he
is sure that the snow has returned. At first annoyed
by the false alarm, Fletcher’s friends soon join him
in romping through the petals. Tiphanie Beeke’s beautiful
illustrations celebrate the season and give each animal
a distinctive personality. (follows Fletcher
and the Falling Leaves) |
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 The Longest Night: A Passover Story
by Laurel Snyder, Catia Chien
Ages 4–8
The young slave girl narrating this book is one of thousands of children forced into hard labor by the Pharaoh of Egypt. Suddenly plagues break out, afflicting the Egyptians but leaving the Jews untouched, allowing Moses to lead his people to freedom by parting the waters of the Red Sea. Striking watercolor illustrations accompany the rhyming text. |
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 Here Comes the Easter Cat
by Deborah Underwood, Claudia Rueda
Ages 3–5
Cat decides that he is the perfect animal to take over the Easter Bunny’s job. He selects a red motorcycle to make the egg delivery task easier, but is horrified that the pressures of the job will leave no time for naps. Cat doesn’t talk but conveys his emotions clearly through his expressions, while the unseen narrator asks all the right questions. |
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 Baby
Bear Sees Blue
by Ashley Wolff
Ages 2–6
It’s Baby Bear’s first spring,
and everything is new to him. Each new object Mama
Bear introduces him to brings a color with it: the
yellow of the sun, the brown of a trout, the red of
a strawberry, the blue of a jay. Beautiful watercolor-tinted
linocuts accompany the simple text. |
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