We’ve chosen some of our favourite picture books for spring reading! With the weather getting warmer we are starting to think about our garden and spending time outside. Watching wildlife and planting seeds and flowers is definitely on our agenda and we have several books on our bookshelf that stimulate learning about nature and identifying the various birds and bugs we are likely to encounter while we are outside.
JASPER’S BEANSTALK by Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen
A great story to introduce the concept of planting and growth to very young children and also introduces them to the days of the week and the need for patience!! We have already planted lettuce, basil, tomato and pepper seeds and they are growing very slowly!!
When the Bees Buzzed Off! by Lula Bell and Stephen Bennett
At a time when the bee population is declining we’re very conscious about planting more bee friendly flowers in our garden. This is a fabulous story which explains to children, in a very simple way, the role of bees and how we can attract them back to our gardens.
PEEK and SEEK by Violet Peto and Charlotte Milner
This sturdy lift the flap board book introduces children to six different animals, birds and insects, their very different habitats, their collective names and a wealth of other information. It also encourages the reader to spot hidden objects in each picture which makes reading the book a fun and very interactive learning experience.
BUG HOTEL by Libby Walden and Clover Robin
BUG HOTEL, a sturdy lift the flap board book, introduces six different kinds of creepy-crawlies including beetles, spiders, bees and butterflies. We are introduced to where they live, how they catch their prey and features that are particular to each one. It was interesting to learn where stag beetles get their name from, why a ladybird looks like it does and how fast a snail travels.
BIRD HOUSE by Libby Walden and Clover Robin
BIRD HOUSE introduces us to six different types of homes for birds. The birds include ducks, swallows, woodpeckers and owls. The book shows us where different birds live, what they eat and special features or capabilities that they may have. It also introduces children to the concept of migration and the way that birds can find their way home even when they are miles away.
Just Ducks! by Nicola Davies and Salvatore Rubbino
A little girl wakes up in the morning and hears ducks quacking outside on the river. She describes a duck’s day in parallel with her own and explains how and why the colours of a male and female duck differ, where and how ducks lay their eggs, what they like to eat and when and where they sleep. This beautifully illustrated, non fiction picture book gives so much interesting about ducks and their habits.
Do you have a favourite book for spring reading? We’d love to hear your suggestions for books that introduce young children to nature and gardens.
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