spring

3 New Big-Hearted Bear Picture Books

| Tasha
Cover image for Bartleby by Matt Phelan. Features a white bear in a red hat and red overalls looking out at the reader, standing in front of red stripes.

Bartleby by Matt Phelan

  • Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  • Publication Date: March 3, 2026
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
  • ISBN: 9780374393557

Bartleby is a little bear in a bowler hat who refuses to do things a lot. He says “I prefer not to” when asked to share what he did over the weekend with the class. He says it when the rest of the class plays the giant xylophone and sings silly songs. He says it during play time and spends it all alone. When his teacher asks the class to do self-portraits, Bartleby whispers his idea to her. Soon Bartleby has contributed just the right thing to complete their portraits and seems like he’d like to join in more tomorrow. 

As a shy child myself, I immediately recognized the quiet use of a polite phrase to turn others away. Phelan captures this with empathy and shows how isolating it can be to have so many defences up. I appreciated that Bartleby figures out the solution on his own, speaks to his teacher and shares his idea with the class. The illustrations in this charmer of the picture book use color to show how separate Bartleby becomes with his stand-offish approach. Bartleby is unique in his class in more ways than one thanks to his more formal clothing too. 

A book about shyness that offers space and opportunity for growth. Appropriate for ages 3-6.

Cover image for Plenty of Pancakes by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Brianne Farley. Features a running opossum catching pancakes on a plate with other forest animals helping mix batter, flip pancakes and carry plates.

Plenty of Pancakes by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Brianne Farley

  • Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons
  • Publication Date: January 27, 2026
  • Reviewed from library copy
  • ISBN: 9780593700174

Topsy the Opossum has brought all the equipment and supplies to make a Welcome Spring meal for her friend LouAnn. LouAnn the Bear will wake soon from her hibernation and pancakes are just the right thing for a hungry bear in spring. Soon the table is set and five perfect pancakes are set out. When Topsy turns her back though, there is a “CLUNK!” and the pancakes are gone. Topsy makes five more pancakes, but once again they disappear. Could it be squirrels or birds? Over and over again Topsy makes pancakes and they are gone. Topsy is worried about running out of ingredients and the time is getting closer and closer to LouAnn waking up. More forest friends come to help make pancakes and soon they have plenty of them for one hungry bear. But how about for one mama bear and her new cubs?

Written with a merry frenzy of pancake flipping, hot griddles and fast-moving cubs, this picture book reads aloud brilliantly. The text is welcoming and invites readers right into the action. The illustrations are a delight as readers will soon glimpse the pancake thieves and realize what is happening while the text only shares Topsy’s point of view. The noises of each theft changes, making the book all the more dynamic.

Pancake lovers will flip for this one. Appropriate for ages 3-6.

Cover image for Wake Up, Grouchy Bear by David Ezra Stein. Features a brown bear with one eye open, surrounded by small animals like a mouse, rabbit, and squirrel.

Wake Up, Grouchy Bear by David Ezra Stein

  • Publisher: Clarion Books
  • Publication Date: March 10, 2026
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
  • ISBN: 9780063382664

The weather is warm and the flowers are out, but Bear is still sleeping. His animal friends decide to check on him, but they have to be careful since Bear gets very grumpy if they wake him up. At first he sneezes from the dust, but goes back to sleep. While the friends wait for him to wake, they gather flowers, open the curtains and even paint Bear’s toenails. Bear wakes up on his own, roaring and rather grumpy. But he sees his friends, tastes some berries and realizes that it’s spring. Time to play! 

Stein’s book about Bear is a merry look at a grumpy waking process. The love the friends have for Bear and their patience as he wakes himself adds to the warmth of this springtime read. The decoration of Bear in flowers and painted toenails results in something whimsical and charming rather than what readers might anticipate. The art is done in deep colors with bear chocolate on the page and the spring flowers a tropical cornucopia. The blues of Bear’s deep sleep add to the contrast.

A friendly look at a bear in springtime. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

2 New Picture Books Celebrating Spring

| Tasha
Book cover of Is It Spring? By Kevin Henkes. Features two squirrels looking out from a hole in a tree with snow and blooming branches.

Is It Spring? By Kevin Henkes

  • Publisher: Greenwillow Books
  • Publication Date: February 24, 2026
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
  • ISBN: 9780063469259

Told in questions and answers, this picture book celebrates the changing of the seasons. Spring is at its most elusive here, as it appears like it’s arrived due to the flowers, the buds on the trees, and the birds returning. But the wind can turn icy and the clouds return. The animals stay cozy in their homes. Late snow falls on the flowers. Then, change comes again with bright sunshine that melts the snow and the animals leave their dens. Now it is spring. 

Henkes, a Wisconsin book creator, captures the essence of a northern spring in his latest book. As always, his book is wonderfully approachable for even the youngest of children, showing how changeable weather and seasons can be while longing for the warmth of a new season to arrive. Readers will love the various small animals that experience spring’s arrival as well as one small child who is longing for the sun to come. 

A warm and lovely look at spring’s changeability. Appropriate for ages 1-4.

Cover image of Welcome, Uncle Nowruz!: A Persian New Year’s Story by Rashin Kheiriyeh. Features a family with Uncle Nowruz around a new year table filled with food.

Welcome, Uncle Nowruz!: A Persian New Year’s Story by Rashin Kheiriyeh

  • Publisher: NorthSouth Books
  • Publication Date: February 24, 2026
  • Reviewed from pdf provided by publisher
  • ISBN: 9780735846173

Nane Sarma lived in Iran. Every spring, her friend Uncle Nowruz would arrive to announce the arrival of spring. Yet she always managed to miss his visit. This year she invited her grandchildren to help her welcome Uncle Nowruz. They cleaned the house, purchased items for the Haft-Seen table, and bought new clothes. Nane cooked the traditional meal, set the beautiful table and gathered with her grandchildren. But she was so exhausted by all the work, she fell fast asleep and the children couldn’t wake her! When Uncle Nowruz arrived and welcomed spring, Nane kept right on sleeping.

Nowruz marks the Persian New Year and celebrates spring’s arrival. This picture book celebrating the Persian traditions related to Nowruz has the feel of a folktale thanks to its structure and pacing. The entire book is a celebration of spring’s arrival combined with a merry story about Nane falling asleep after making all the preparations. It is an excellent glimpse of Persian culture. The illustrations are filled with bright colors of pinks, reds, golds and blues. It creates a jolly feel as the family welcomes spring back. 

Don’t sleep on this one. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Waiting for Hanami by J.P. Takahashi – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

Waiting for Hanami by J.P. Takahashi, illustrated by HifuMiyo

  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • Publication Date: February 4, 2025
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley.
  • ISBN: 9780063224971

When the cherry blossoms open, it’s time for hanami. Sai and her parents head to the park to see the pink blossoms and for a family reunion. But when everyone arrives, Sai feels like a stranger. When she meets Avi, a distant relative, she realizes they have things in common. Sai talks about asking careful questions of the customers in her parent’s kimono shop to get just the right one for them. Avi speaks through his art, creating universes on the page. The two want to meet everyone, but they aren’t sure where to start. Perhaps they can each use the skills they already have to form new connections, together. A book that celebrates thoughtfulness and quiet while also speaking to shyness and the importance of connecting with others.

A story completely suited to hanami. Appropriate for ages 4-8.

Happy Springtime! by Kate McMullan

| Tasha

Happy Springtime! by Kate McMullan, illustrated by Sujean Rim (9780823445516)

This picture book takes readers from the chill and ice of winter through the glories of spring and right into summer. Starting with the dark, the snow and the ice of winter, the book speaks directly to those who get their winter boots on the wrong feet, to all the dogs who wear sweaters, and to the birds eating ice-covered berries. It tells them (and us) not to lose heart, for spring is on its way. Soon there will be playgrounds to have fun in. The days will get longer and the frogs will wake up. Bugs and worms will reappear and flowers will bloom. People and animals will move outside to enjoy the warm sunshine. Rain will give everyone puddles and mud to play in. Streams will run free of ice and snow. The days get longer and longer until…summer!

McMullan’s poetic text is jubilant about the return of spring. It’s perfect for when the days of winter seem too dark and cold to continue, reminding us all of what is about to emerge. The focus in her writing is on the natural elements of spring, the lengthening days, the animals returning, the mud, rain and water. It is also about people though and how we respond, heading outdoors ourselves as the sun shines or the rain falls. The entire book focuses on the positive aspects of all of spring, as it emerges all the way through summer approaching.

Rim’s illustrations are playful and merry. They embrace the beauty of spring with bright colors, green watercolor washes of grass, gorgeous wild blooms of flowers, and the joy of mud. The illustrations are full of light, movement and busy with activities of spring.

A warm welcome to a wonderful season. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from copy provided by Neal Porter Books.

Bear Goes Sugaring by Maxwell Eaton III

| Tasha

Bear Goes Sugaring by Maxwell Eaton III

Bear Goes Sugaring by Maxwell Eaton III (9780823444489)

Join Bear as she goes through the process of making maple syrup. Joined by her friends, Fox and Squirrel, who are desperate for pancakes, Bear begins by getting her tools ready. Both Squirrel and Fox don’t really help much, offering a lot of side comments and once knocking a hole in one of the buckets. That hole though gives Bear a chance to show readers that all sorts of containers can be used to catch the sap as it drips from the trees. Readers will learn about the type of maple used for syrup making, about the tools used, and then the process of boiling down the sap into maple syrup. Bear does this outside with an open fire and a lot of patience. The end result is sweet, particularly for the impatient pair who have joined Bear throughout the book.

Eaton excels at making nonfiction subjects jovial and great fun. His use of Squirrel and Fox to offer comical asides makes the book great fun to read. Bear herself is knowledgeable and unflappable as she reacts patiently to her friends and buckets with new holes. The information shared here is fascinating and delivered in a way that allows readers to really understand things like why sugar maples are the best for syrup and how many gallons of sap it takes to make a gallon of maple syrup (40!) 

The illustrations are bold and colorful, inviting readers into the woods with Bear and showing in detail what the steps are to making maple syrup. Squirrel and Fox peek out from various places on the page, offering their opinions on what is happening. 

Funny and factual, this picture book is not syrupy at all. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from library copy.

On a Snow-Melting Day by Buffy Silverman

| Tasha

On a Snow-Melting Day by Buffy Silverman

On a Snow-Melting Day: Seeking Signs of Spring by Buffy Silverman (9781541581180)

This picture book captures the joys of early spring. Using skilled photography as well as rhyming text, explore the various elements of spring’s arrival. Icicles begin to drip, snow becomes slushy, lakes thaw and snowmen droop. Animals react too with birds singing more and sipping from icicles, frogs peeping, and salamanders emerging. Crocuses start to bloom along with other flowers too. The entire landscape is waking up and celebrating spring!

The photos in this book truly capture that tantalizing moment where spring arrives. The majority of them combine ice and snow with signs of spring, offering those fleeting moments of discovery for readers of the book. The text is simple and reads aloud well. It lets readers get glimpses of animals in thrilling ways from piles of sleeping snakes to the chickadee in flight to snatch a drink.

Spring into action and grab this one to make your winter days a little shorter. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Millbrook Press.

Review: Hush Little Bunny by David Ezra Stein

| Tasha

Hush Little Bunny by David Ezra Stein

Hush Little Bunny by David Ezra Stein (9780062845221)

Caldecott Honor-winner Stein has rewritten the classic song of Hush Little Baby into a rabbit-filled delight. A papa bunny spends a day with his little bunny, experiencing a day in spring just as the snow is disappearing. The two of them explore the meadow together, running under the big blue sky. They munch on clover, hide from a hawk, and then return to play in the sun. In the afternoon, the little bunny plays with other young bunnies and papa bunny intervenes when someone is mean. As the day comes to a close, they watch fireflies and rejoice in spending time together.

The book follows the phrasing and structure of the original song, which will inspire singing along when sharing this one aloud. There is such a sense of joy throughout this book about the warming weather, the beauty of spring and the pleasure of being with someone you love and who loves you. The illustrations echo that spirit with their playful nature. The watercolors are filled with the greens of spring and the gold of the sun.

Another winner for Stein, this one is just right for springtime reading. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from library copy.

 

Review: Snowman – Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations by Laura Purdie Salas

| Tasha

Snowman - Cold = Puddle Spring Equations by Laura Purdie Salas

Snowman – Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Micha Archer (9781580897983)

As winter turns to spring, changes happen all around. Refreshingly, this book looks at those changes through a mix of poetry and science. In the first pages, the differences between poetry and science are pointed out in a way that makes perfect sense. Subjects like hibernation, streams, wildlife, maple syrup, flowers, wind, bees, and clouds are all explored. The poetry is entirely in equation form like the title, swiftly capturing the essence of something rather like a haiku but in an even briefer format. Readers are encouraged to see poetry and science all around them.

Salas plays with the poetic form here, creating a mathematical poetry style that is entirely joyous to read. Because of the brevity of the form, the narrative is particularly necessary for some of the poems to make sense for readers. The narrative is also brief and focused, explaining the science behind what we see in nature.

The illustrations by Archer are done in oils and collage. They are filled with deep colors of spring sky, blooming flowers, pond water and other parts of nature. Layered and filled with textures too, the illustrations are rich and saturated.

A winning mix of poetry and science, this is a book that captures the wonder of spring. Appropriate for ages 4-8.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Charlesbridge.

3 New Picture Books That Are Just Birdy

| Tasha

Bird Builds a Nest by Martin Jenkins

Bird Builds a Nest by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Richard Jones (9780763693466)

This picture book cunningly incorporates ideas about the science of forces into an appealing story about a bird building her nest. As a new day begins, Bird first finds something to eat and tries to pull a big worm out of the ground. Eventually, she settles for a smaller and less strong worm for her meal. As Bird begins to work on her nest, she gathers twigs. Some are too heavy, others she can carry one or two of and still smaller ones she can carry three or four twigs. She pushes and pulls the twigs into place. Then she gathers lighter and softer things to line her nest for the eggs that are about to arrive.

The concepts of pushing and pulling, dropping and lifting, heavy and light are very nicely portrayed in this picture book. The story reads aloud well and is a great introduction to the concepts as well as a good book to share. The illustrations are bold and bright, so they will work well when shared with a group. A nice one to share in the spring, this picture book intelligently uses science to tell a story. Appropriate for ages 2-4. (Reviewed from library copy.)

This Is the Nest That Robin Built by Denise Fleming

This Is the Nest That Robin Built by Denise Fleming (9781481430838)

This picture book offers a riff on the “House That Jack Built” story by featuring a robin builiding a nest with help from a variety of other animals. Squirrel trims the twigs, dog provides the string, horse shares his straw and so on. Eventually the nest is built and lined with soft items and then the eggs are laid. The story continues all the way through hatching and ends as the little robins are taking their first flight.

The traditional structure of the story works well here and Fleming offers just the right rhythm to make the book a pleasure to read aloud. As always, Fleming’s art is approachable and wonderfully textured and organic. Her use of layered collage is bright and friendly. A joy to share, this picture book is just right for spring. (Reviewed from copy provided by Beach Lane Books.)

Warbler Wave by April Pulley Sayre

Warbler Wave by April Pulley Sayre with Jeff Sayre (9781481448291)

This book is an invitation to wonder at warblers, tiny colorful songbirds that migrate long distances each year. They must stop on their way to eat and rest, searching for insects and spiders to devour. They come in many colors from blue to yellow to reds and mixtures of colors. Then they return to their journey north to their nesting grounds, flying by night and calling to one another along the way.

Sayre is a master at creating nature books that soar with poetry, drawing young readers into the wonder that is the world around us by tantalizing them and showing them the magic. The images shared here are crisp and bright, the skies deep with color, the small birds caught with a clarity that is difficult to achieve. A great introduction to warblers and birding for young readers. Appropriate for ages 4-6. (Reviewed from copy provided by Beach Lane.)