Over the last 18 years of being a parent, I have spent hours and hours sitting on the ground, on the couch and snuggled up in bed reading picture books with my kids. Even though my kids are all old enough to pick up a novel and read to themselves, we still have a huge collection of picture books at home. One of my favorite types of books to collect is holiday and seasonal books, and I’ve found that good picture books for holidays transcend time and ages.
I’ve collected some spring and Easter-themed books from some of our favorite authors, along with a few news ones. Enjoy some snuggle-up time with your kids this spring!
Note: Amazon affiliate links used. If you purchase any of these books, I could earn a small commission. Thanks!
20 Spring and Easter Books for Kids
Happy Easter, Mouse! (If You Give a Mouse a Cookie)
We love Mouse from “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” and have a big collection of books from author Laura Joffe Numeroff and illustrator Felicia Bond. Join Mouse in a new adventure as he tries to figure out who’s leaving Easter eggs all over his house!
The Tiny Seed (The World of Eric Carle)
Eric Carle’s classic story of the life cycle of a flower is told through the adventures of a tiny seed. This mini-book includes a piece of detachable seed-embedded paper housed on the inside front cover. Readers can plant the entire piece of paper and watch as their very own tiny seeds grow into beautiful wildflowers.
When a bunny is born in spring, he sees the world as green and new and full of hope. But as the seasons change, the bunny worries that the earth may be dying. In bestselling author’s Sally Lloyd-Jones’ latest picture book celebrating the Easter season and rebirth, nature speaks to the bunny, assuring him of something more.
Max’s Special Spring (Max and Ruby)
Ruby is cleaning up the backyard to attract robins—she’ll know it’s spring when she sees them! But Max keeps taking the leaves and branches that Ruby is trying to get rid of. Before long, robins appear near Max’s piles. Spring is here and thanks to Max, the birds have everything they need to build their nests!
Cherry Blossoms Say Spring (National Geographic Kids)
As DC-area residents, spring means cherry blossoms, so this is a must-have book for spring! Cherry Blossoms Say Spring looks at the life cycle of a cherry tree, the history behind the gift of the Japanese cherry trees to our nation’s capital, and the association of cherry trees and spring.
The Fuzzy Duckling (Little Golden Book)
Little Golden Books remind me of my own childhood, and I had this book growing up! Alice and Martin Provensen’s illustrations are so delightful that children will want to join the fuzzy duckling on his stroll through the countryside, meeting animals along the way. This adorable counting story by Jane Werner Watson is as fresh today as it was in 1949.
This is a book that I used (and loved) when I was teaching preschool. Planting a Rainbow helps children understand how to plant bulbs, seeds, and seedlings, and nurture their growth. Lois Ehlert’s bold collage illustrations include six pages of staggered width, presenting all the flowers of each color of the rainbow.
Fancy Nancy: Spring Fashion Fling
What better way to celebrate spring than with a fashion show? Fancy Nancy and Bree create magnificent costumes for their dolls Marabelle and Chiffon to wear at the “Spring Fling” fashion show. Join Nancy and Bree as they celebrate the season in this special storybook adventure, complete with a fabulous set of stickers!
It’s an extraordinary day on Pebble Island for three frogs when one of them discovers a beautiful white egg. They’ve never seen a chicken egg before, but they’re sure that’s what this must be. So when the egg hatches and out crawls a long green, scaly creature, they naturally call it . . . a chicken! From award winning-artist Leo Lionni, here’s a hilarious case of mistaken identity that children are sure to delight in.
Jan Brett’s illustrations are my favorite, and I’ve got a huge collection of her picture books. I could spend hours looking at the colorful details! If Hoppi can make the best Easter egg, he will get to help the Easter Rabbit deliver the eggs on Easter morning. But it is not so easy. Discouraged, he goes into the woods to think when a blue robin’s egg tumbles out of its nest. Hoppi keeps it safe and warm until the baby bird hatches, and when the Easter Rabbit arrives, he chooses the empty blue eggshell to reward Hoppi for his kindness.
Pinkalicious: Eggstraordinary Easter
I love author Victoria Kann’s Pinkalicious books. When Pinkalicious wakes up on Easter morning, she finds a note from Edgar Easter Bunny that sends the Pinkerton family on an eggsciting Easter scavenger hunt!
In Llama Llama Easter Egg, the Easter Bunny brings lots of treats for Llama Llama: jelly beans, colorful eggs, and a fluffy surprise! With short and simple rhyming text, the Llama Llama board books introduce Llama Llama to babies and toddlers.
One fine Easter morning, George and the man with the yellow hat head to the park. George can’t help but join in the fun when he sees children dyeing Easter eggs . . . but what’s that man doing with their prized creations? Each hardcover gift book comes with glittery egg-decorating stickers!
Splat the Cat: Where’s the Easter Bunny?
Easter is almost here! Splat the Cat has to tell the Easter Bunny what he wants most. A really big Easter egg, of course! But where is the Easter Bunny? Do you know? (Fun side note: we got this as a gift from the White House the last time we went to the Easter Egg Roll!)
Throwing a fabulous and fancy Easter party is a very big job—and Nancy and Bree are in charge of decorating! This book includes thirteen flaps that open to reveal hidden surprises that will delight all festive Fancy Nancy fans!
Mercer Mayer’s popular Little Critter experiences all the joys of Easter, like egg-dyeing, an egg hunt, and going to church, in spite of his little sister constantly tugging at his sleeve. Little Critter doesn’t like dressing up for Easter but otherwise enjoys a very special family holiday.
Preparing her eggs for the Easter Festival, Old Babushka takes in Rechenka, an injured goose, who shows her that miracles can really happen, in a story that is enhanced by illustrations of Ukrainian painted eggs.
OLIVIA and the Easter Egg Hunt
Olivia and her family are off on an Easter egg hunt all around town. The grand prize is a beautiful golden Easter egg. Will Olivia and her family be first to complete the silly tasks and win the golden prize?
Pete the Cat: Big Easter Adventure
When Pete wakes up on Easter morning, he finds that the Easter Bunny needs his help! Can he help the Easter Bunny before Easter is over? Find out in Pete the Cat’s big Easter adventure!
Spring Is Here! (Bear and Mole Story)
Sniff. Sniff. Sniff. Spring is in the air. Mole can smell it. But Bear is still asleep after his long winter nap. How will Mole wake up Bear so they can celebrate together? When a knock, knock, knock and toot, toot, toot can’t get Bear out of bed, Mole cooks up a special treat.
For more spring and Easter fun visit a few of my favorite bloggers:
- 10 Egg Decorating Books by In Our Spare Time
- Spring Books for Kids by Better in Bulk (You’re here!)
- 8 Free Printable Easter Games by Gaggle of Gamers
- Fun Spring & Easter Games for Your iPad or Tablet by Pretty Opinionated
- 5 Beautiful Spring Board Books for Babies by My Kids Guide
- Herb Gardening Books by Upstate Ramblings
- 12 Books to Help with Cold Climate Gardening by Day by Day in Our World
© 2015, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
I remember reading some of these to my kids when they were little. Great selection!