Books & Songs to Celebrate Spring

The weather is finally changing! The temperatures are gradually rising, and the days are getting longer and this can only mean one thing; Spring is here!

In the Northern Hemisphere, Spring begins on March 20 or 21; in the Southern Hemisphere, it happens on September 22 or 23.

Spring is a busy time for plants. The availability of sun and rain showers has bulbs bursting to life again. The abundance of flowering plants and trees brings beautiful butterflies, and the bees emerge from their winter nests to prepare them for a new year of nectar collecting. 

This season is also the time when animals become active again. Not only are they waking up from their long winter sleep, but they might also be born. Many animals have babies, such as cows, birds, sheep and ducks. There are new flowers to smell, trees are greening up, and newborn animals are everywhere. 

Singing songs and reading books help to support your little one's understanding, communication, and language. The repetition of words and sounds in songs and in books that include rhyming formations will not only help their language, but also promote their memory skills. Here are a few examples of songs and books to introduce this fantastic season:

Songs

Five Little Ducks.

This song is perfect for singing after feeding the ducks or just seeing them out and about. It also helps your little one with their counting skills which are essential for their numeracy development.

Five Green Speckled Frogs.

This is a great song for Spring time as many frogs appear and the ponds and puddles are full with frogspawn and then tadpoles. It’s a great opportunity to chat to your little one about the life cycle of frogs, too!

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring.

With Spring being so unpredictable with the weather, you can guarantee that there will be a few April showers. So, when it does start then sing this little nursery song with your little one.

I'm a Little Bean.

This lovely song teaches us about planting and growing! Your little one can learn about the world with this simple song. They will love singing and making themselves as tiny as a bean and tall as a beanstalk whilst discovering what plants need to grow.

There's A Tiny Caterpillar on a Leaf.

This action song includes fun sounds and actions for your little one to repeat, and it talks about the life cycle of a butterfly.

Books

When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes.

Kevin Henkes uses striking imagery, repetition, and alliteration to introduce basic concepts of language and the changing seasons. This lovely story takes us from quiet, cold winter to a joyful newborn spring. Watch the world transform when spring comes!

Spencer Knows Spring: A Charming Children's Book about Spring by Tiffany Obeng.

'Spencer Knows Spring' is a celebration of spring's arrival! Written in simple, engaging text, Spencer cheerfully observes the signs of Spring. The beautiful, friendly, charming illustrations make this the perfect book to introduce Spring to your little one.

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle.

This is the story of how a tiny seed travels from its parent plant and blows across seas, deserts and mountains, braving many hazards along the way, before finally finding a place to settle and grow into a beautiful flower so that the story can start again. A lovely introduction to the life cycle of a seed.

Oliver's Vegetables by Vivian French.

Oliver will only eat chips, but on one of his visits to his grandparents' house, his Grandpa encourages him to play a game with him. Whatever vegetable Oliver finds in the garden, he must eat. 

Titch by Pat Hutchins.

Titch is the smallest and the youngest in his family. His brother Pete and his sister Mary have bigger bikes than Titch, kites flying high up in the sky and instruments making much BIGGER noises. But when Titch plants a tiny seed, they all discover that starting small is just the first stage of GROWING!!!

Why Do We Need Bees? by Katie Daynes.

This story talks about bees and answers common questions children have. The illustrations are super-friendly, making bees—insects children tend to be afraid of—seem approachable and friendly, not scary. 

It also includes messages about ecology — why we need bees and why bees need our help.