Green by by Laura Vaccaro Seeger is simply beautiful in its examination of the various shades of green. Green, the color of spring. Simple text. Seeger’s pictures are vibrant with the freshness of new life. For age 2-6.

The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous is a holiday classic with beautiful pictures in soft, dyed-egg colors. My children spent many an hour painting one-of-a-kind eggs inspired by the old tradition that is at the center of this story. And I like the intergenerational aspect of the story, with children’s lives being enriched by their grandparents. Pegged for ages 6-9.

Share your favorite books about Spring.

On The Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier is a book gifted to many newborns because it celebrates exactly what it says in the title: the day you were born. I like it because it talks about a baby’s entry into the world with all its natural wonders and loving people welcoming this new being. And the pictures are lovely. For newborns thru age 3.

A Birthday for Frances by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban is part of the classic “Frances” series and is one of my favs. In this one Frances is not the birthday girl. Her sister Gloria is. Frances swings back and forth between feeling giving and feeling jealous. The Hobans are spot-on in capturing how siblings feel about NOT being the birthday child. Pegged for ages ages 4-8.

Share your favorite birthday books for kids!

New and Fabulous

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson uses rich poetic language to tell stories from her childhood. A sample from the poem The Ghosts of the Nelsonville House:

Look closely. There I am
in the furrow of Jack’s brow,
in the slyness of Alicia’s smile,
in the bend of Grace’s hand…

Beautiful. Pegged for grades 5 and up.

Oldie but Goodie

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein is chock full of fun, bouncy poems. A sample from the poem Eighteen Flavors:

Each scoop lovely, smooth, and round,
Tallest ice cream cone in town,
Lying there (sniff) on the ground.

Enjoy! For grades 1-3.

Share your favorite poetry for kids!

Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin is my favorite book on Chinese New Year. The pictures are vibrant, awash in color. And the story really captures the importance of family as they come together to participate in various rituals that are traditionally part of this holiday. Right now it’s selling on amazon in a board book version. Is great for the littlest ones but good for grade school kids too.

Celebrating the Chinese New Year: An Activity Book by Hingman Chan is just what the title says. After sharing a little history of the holiday, the book walks you through how to make traditional Chinese New Year items such as paper lanterns, red lucky envelopes and parade gear. A great way to celebrate the holiday!

New and Fabulous

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua Holmes tells the story of a black woman sharecropper in the Mississippi Delta who dared to register to vote in a time when there were often grave consequences for insisting on this right. This is a story of one woman’s bravery and deep resolve. The illustrations reflect the story with beauty and strength. Pegged for ages 9-12.

Oldie but Goodie

I don’t toot my own horn too often in this blog. But I think Black History month is an especially good time to share the story of artist Romare Bearden with children. So here you go….

Me and Uncle Romie by Yours Truly, illustrated by Jerome LaGarrigue introduces readers to internationally renowned African-American collage artist, Romare Bearden. Children learn about Bearden’s life and art through the fictional story of a boy from a small southern city who makes his first trip up north to visit his Uncle Romie in New York City. The book includes tips for children to make their own storytelling collages. I got very lucky on this one – the illustrations are gorgeous! For ages 5 and up.