The Best Spring Read-Alouds

Spring is in the air and today I’m sharing with you my favorite books to read in springtime! I have 20 different books with a lot of variety so keep reading for The Best Spring Read-Alouds!

Spring is a such a fun time for picture books. There are so many great themes from insects, birds, eggs, new beginnings, and flowers. There are so many fun activities that can be done alongside all of the books below. I’ll add in some of them below too!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

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The Best Spring Read-Alouds

Hurray For Spring

The story follows a young boy as he sings in the rain, observes animals and insects, plants a garden, and plays with his friends outdoors. Though the text is short, it poetically captures the essence of spring. The pictures are bright and fun.

We Are Growing!

This book shows blades of grass, characters, of all shapes and sizes, growing. They grow all in their own unique way, and speed!  Lessons behind the story is really of great growth; acceptance of each other as one is and everyone is special in their way. 

Ribbit!

This is a wonderful book about friendship.  It teaches kids that friends can look different than you and that is ok. The story is constructed very simply and it is easy for kids to follow. The illustrations are engaging and funny and they are opportunities to make lots of voices due to the ongoing conversation in the book. 

The Very Lazy Ladybug

 The bright large pictures depict the journey of the lazy ladybug trying to find a good place to sleep. Children love identifying animals, acting the story and the very fun ending.  This is a great book for action movement as well. The children get to make the motions of all the animals, jumping like a kangaroo, swinging like a monkey, etc. It also teaches great action words like bounded, padded, swam, swung, ambled, plodded, and walked.

If you are doing a unit on ladybugs, I have a whole post of some of the fun activities we like to do. You can check it out here.

The Odd Egg

This book is so creative and suspensive with the illustrations. Duck doesn’t have an egg like the other birds. She finds an egg that looks very different. Duck looks after the egg, even after all the other bird’s eggs hatch. Finally duck’s egg hatches and gives everyone a surprise. Dont forget the “quack” at the back of the book when you flip the book over! It’s open to interpretation and REALLY gets the kids talking about what it means to them! 

Plant he Tiny Seed

Great introductory read to plant life cycle. Each page has something to do like tap the seeds or clap for rain to make the book interactive.

Our How To Grow a Plant sequencing activities pack would make a great companion to go along with this book! You can grab it here.

Don’t Touch That Flower!

This is a sequel to The Leaf Thief. These books are so much fun and teach great lessons too about patience and curiosity and of course about the natural world. It’s an adorable book with an engaging story and illustrations. 

The Very Impatient Caterpillar

This book tells a story about a caterpillar that is going through the butterfly cycle. Super silly and fun! You’ll get lots of laughs with this one!

If you’re teaching out butterflies this spring, here are some of our favorite butterfly activities!

Can I Tell You A Secret?

While this story teaches a valuable lesson about the importance of sharing your fears with friends and family, it does so in a way that includes a big dose of humor, making it not seem like a lesson at all. Kids think it’s pretty funny that a frog is afraid of water, and they can all identify with his concerns over telling his parents.

Too Many Carrots

This is such a cute story. The illustrations are fantastic , and it has a great message about sharing with friends.

The Very Busy Spider

Early one morning a little spider spins her web on a fence post. One by one, the animals of the nearby farm try to distract her, yet the busy little spider keeps diligently at her work. When she is done, she is able to show everyone that not only is her creation quite beautiful, it is also quite useful!

I have a fun literacy snack and FREE printable to go along with this book that you can find here.

The Perfect Nest

This book has a cute storyline, when read aloud, it affords the opportunity to use different voices and accents, and it holds a child’s attention. The chicken (Spanish), duck (French) and goose (Southern US)) all have catch phrases that allow for funny voices during a read aloud. 

Good Morning Grizzle Grump!

The illustrations are superb with plenty for the eyes to consume including finding the little fuzzy moss guy in every scene along with perfectly crafted expressions and adventurous terrains. The writing is funny, engaging, touching on all the senses.The kids love making Grizzle Grump voices and faces to go along with the moments in the book. The illustration style really fits the tone and adds to the humor.

I have a fun literacy snack and printable to go along with the book for FREE that you can find here.

Duck! Rabbit!

This book is so simple, but so good. A great jumping off point to teach about persuasive writing, opinion writing and multiple meanings. The kids absolutely love this book!

Kite Day

On a windy spring day, Bear sniffs the air.  Could it be. . . Kite day? Bear and his friend Mole build a kite of their own. But when the storm gets too strong, the kite snaps and lands in a tree. Not all is lost though, as the kite is stuck in the tree it protects a nest full of birds from the rain. This is a fun book for spring and to go with your weather unit. Making kites with your class is always a favorite to go with the book too!

I have a fun literacy snack and FREE printable to go along with the book that you can grab here.

In the Small, Small Pond

A child explores the wonders and lives of small animals and insects living around a freshwater pond. It also shares some lesser-known pond creatures (muskrat, heron, etc.) There are a ton of great extension projects to go along with this book, make a small pond bulletin board, turn it into a sensory bin, so many fun options!

When Spring Comes

The book teaches about spring in a simple and engaging way.  The wording is short and simple. The pictures are colorful and interesting without being overly busy which makes it easy to use them as discussion pieces while learning about spring time.

I have a fun literacy snack and FREE printable to go along with the book that you can find here.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Classic that everyone knows, but is a fantastic read for spring. Follow the caterpillar as he transforms into a beautiful butterfly!

I have a fun FREE printable hat for you students to make to go along with this book that you can get here.

Spring Is Here!

Mole discovers it is spring and rushes to wake his hibernating friend, bear. But bear won’t get up. So mole rushes around to milk the cow, churn the butter, etc. and shows up next to Bear’s bed with a plate of pancakes for his friend. Bear wakes up when he smells the pancakes, but Mole falls fast asleep from the exhaustion of waking his friend. It’s hilarious! There’s lots of sound words in this book which makes for a fun second read with the kids helping!

The Grouchy Ladybug

This is a great book that you are able to discuss how the grouchy ladybug made the children feel and help them understand their feelings towards others. The book can help tap into emotional social skills in younger children.

I have a fun literacy snack idea and FREE printable to go along with this book as well that you can find here.

Do you have any other favorite read-aloud that you love for spring? Share with us in the comments below!

See you next time!

Jenette