Spring is the perfect time to read and learn about nature. Books are a simple way to help grandparents share the wonders of this glorious season with your grandchildren. We’ve read dozens of books to find the ones we think are the most fun to read, both for adults and kids. We aim for books that will appeal to ages 2-5, though many of these will also engage both younger and older children.

There are several non-fiction titles included. While we sometimes thing of non-fiction as being boring, it’s highly appealing to young children who are just learning about the world. The following picture books about spring meet our criteria for quality stories and outstanding illustrations.

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What’s Inside a Bird’s Nest by Rachel Ignotofsky

With colorful, detailed illustrations and the perfect amount of text, Ignotofsky shares every fact about birds a small child could want to know. What’s Inside a Bird’s Nest is one of those non-fiction books that a child can pour over again and again. All three of my grandchildren, ages four to almost eight, loved listening to this one over video chat. It may just turn you and your grandchild into avid birdwatchers!

​Have You Heard the Nesting Bird?  by Rita Gray 
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While the robin sits quietly on her nest, a pair of children listen to all the other birds as they walk around the neighborhood. With lilting rhymes and lively illustrations, this book will captivate young listeners while teaching them about the variety of birds and their calls.

At the end of the book is an “interview with a bird” that shares even more information for budding birdwatchers!

Getting this book for your grands? Make it a care package! Add an inexpensive pair of binoculars and a kids’ book on birdwatching. 

​Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring  by Kenard Pak

​As a boy and his dog take a walk through the countryside, they welcome all the signs of spring that they encounter.  They say goodbye to winter along the way in conversations with the birds, the brook and more. The gentle, sweet story and lovely illustrations make ​Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring a perfect book to read to a child nestled on your lap on an early spring day. 

​Over in a River: Flowing Out to the Sea  by Marianne Berkes 

As children meet the animals that live on the rivers of North America, they’ll want to slither like the snakes and slide like the otters. They’ll love the rhythm of the text, based on the classic “Over in the Meadow”, and the bright, detailed pictures. They won’t even realize they are learning about geography and habitats in this delightful counting book.
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In the back of the book there is additional information about the rivers and animals featured, as well as the music and lyrics to “Over in the River”.

​Secrets of the Vegetable Garden  by Carron Brown 

Children will learn all about how a garden grows in this book in the Shine-A-Light series. Each page about the inner world of a vegetable garden includes a hidden image that only appears when a light shines through it. Your grandkids will love it!

Make sure to add a flashlight to your cart if you order this book from Amazon. 

​Have You Ever Seen a Flower?  by Shawn Harris
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The bright, beautiful illustrations that earned this book a Caldecott Honor award show how a single flower can be experienced in many ways. The child in the story uses all five senses to appreciate the flower and all that it evokes. It’s a reminder to readers young and old to appreciate the beauty of the world! It makes a perfect read-aloud book with its thought-provoking questions, and the gorgeous pictures show up well on video chats.

​The Tree in Me  by Corinna Luyken 
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This beautiful book is another excellent conversation starter! The poetic text and exquisite illustrations of children enjoying the natural world show how much each of us is like a tree.

"The tree in me is strong. It bends in the wind, and has roots that go deep . . . to where other roots reach up toward their own trunk-branch-crown and sky."

Read this inspirational book to your grandchildren and then talk about your own strengths, gifts, and communities. 

​The Tree That Bear Climbed  by Marianne Berkes
 
The repetitive rhythm of The Tree That Bear Climbed is perfect for young children.  Young listeners will learn about the many parts of a tree in this twist on “The House that Jack Built”. Make sure to start by asking your grandchildren why they think the bear is climbing the tree and what they think will happen when he gets to the top!

​Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt  by Kate Messner 

Another beautiful non-fiction book about the garden! In this one, a young girl and her grandmother share the cycle of the year in the garden: planning, planting and finally harvesting. The book’s clever illustrations share what is happening under the soil as well, giving children a worm’s eye view of the life underground. A glossary at the end of the book tells more about the animals you might encounter in your garden. Send some seeds  with this one!