When Spring Comes
Are you ready for spring? The smells, sounds, and sensations of the season jump off the pages through the rich descriptions and colorful illustrations of this book. Attention is drawn to the quiet transition from winter to spring, such as the gradual arrival of buds and leaves on the flowers and trees, and the hatching of a baby bird from an egg. As the author mentions, sometimes it takes patience when waiting for spring to fully arrive, and at times it seems as if the season changes its mind along the way. However, when the muddy puddles, buzzing bees, and tweeting birds finally do arrive, it is well worth the wait.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
This book provides an opportunity to talk to children about “before” and “after.” Prior to reading the book, adults can ask children what types of things they see, hear, feel, smell, and taste when it is winter and record their answers on a sheet of paper. After reading the story, adults and children can review the winter list and talk about whether the items on the list change, or transition, when spring comes. The story also talks about having patience during waiting times. Adults can talk to children about some common transition times in their lives and discuss ways to make waiting easier. Strategies can include singing a song, playing “I Spy,” or taking time to stretch. Adults and children can then choose a time to practice one of these strategies. When the next waiting time arrives, both adults and children will be ready to spring into action!
As adults are reading this book with children, they may want to pause to allow children time to observe the details on each page. Two of the pages in the book contain several words that begin with the same letter or sound (like buds, bees, boots, and bubbles). This is called alliteration. When readers arrive at those pages, adults can ask children to identify the objects on the page that begin with those letters. Are there other things on the page that also begin with that letter? After reading the story, adults and children can take a walk outdoors to investigate their surroundings for signs of the current season. Bring along a paper and pencil for recording your findings.