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Kids’ spring books picks from the Free Library

Here are spring book recommendations for kids in preschool, grade school, and high school.

Birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and spring is, well, springing!  It's the perfect time for sharing books about nature, fresh starts, and new beginnings.

Recommendations for Toddlers/Preschoolers (Pre-K/Early Elementary)

Little Honey Bee (Katie Haworth; illustrated by Jane Ormes)

For little hands, this tall board book introduces counting in a spring garden. Using lifting flaps—always a hit with little ones—readers are able to peek under leaves and petals, counting not only the blooming flowers, but also bees as they buzz about the pages.

When Spring Comes (Kevin Henkes; illustrated by Laura Dronzek)

As winter comes to an end, one can't help but long for spring.  In this lovely picture book, spring arrives slowly, as readers experience the rewards for waiting patiently for all the joys it brings: buds and flowers, birds and newborn animals, and even rain.  Early spring can also be changeable, and one page shows the unexpected return of snow on a few blooming daffodils.  It's an ideal introduction to a favorite season.

Hello Spring! (Shelley Rotner)

Here's a celebration of spring, a book that shows the transformation in plant and animal life that occurs through the changing of the seasons. The full-color photographs are a perfect match for the text, reinforcing the science behind the seasonal changes and introducing a diverse group of children, who savor time outside in this joyful season.

Recommendations for Elementary School (Grades 2–5)

Flying Lessons and Other Stories  (Ellen Oh, editor)

Ten coming-of-age stories explore the challenges of growing up from a wide variety of perspectives. Edited by a co-founder of We Need Diverse Books, the award-winning authors include Alexander Kwame, Matt de la Pena, Jacqueline Woodson, and Meg Medina. Not to be missed!

Nightlights  (Lorena Alvarez)

Readers are drawn into the lush, colorful world of Sandy, a brown-skinned, dark-haired girl with big black eyes who loves to draw.  Sandy sees little, twinkling lights at night that turn into fun, fantastical creatures she draws by day. The setting appears to be in Columbia, the home of author/artist Alvarez.

Create with Code: Build Your Own Website (Clyde Hatter, CoderDojo Foundation)

Want to create your own website?  This book will teach you the basics, from understanding programming languages to adding photos and embedding Youtube videos and Google maps, all while having a ton of fun!  CoderDojo is a worldwide movement of free, volunteer-led, community-based programming clubs for young people.

Middle School and High School Titles (Grades 6–12)

Alex and Eliza: A Love Story (Melissa De la Cruz)

Chronicling the courtship of young Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler, this love story is sure to delight the Hamilton superfans in your life.

American Street (Ibi Zoboi)

Leaving Haiti, Fabiola and her mother are looking forward to joining family in Detroit. However, with her mother detained by immigration, Fabiola has to find a way to navigate an unfamiliar city, make friends, and maybe fall in love.

Speak of Me as I Am (Sonia Belasco)

Grieving teens Melanie and Damon literally use art to heal their broken hearts. This is a quiet read, but it ultimately has a just-the-right-amount-of-hopeful ending to make you believe in new beginnings.