This post contains affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.
Do your students have Spring Fever yet? It is certainly starting to spring up around my school! With warmer weather, more sunshine, and summer coming ever nearer, student behaviors are starting to ramp up. One way to promote a calm environment is by reading to your students. Here are 10 splendid spring read alouds to add to your collection!
1. Giggle, Giggle Quack! by Doreen Cronin– If you have a farm theme in the spring, this book is perfect! It is a sequel to Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type and has the same quirky animal characters. This time, however, it is Duck who takes charge when Farmer Brown goes on vacation leaving his brother to watch over the farm. See what antics Duck is up to in this hilarious book.
2. Farm Patterns by Nathan Olson– A nonfiction book that points out patterns that can be found on a farm. A great book for showing students real world examples of patterns. Definitely geared towards the early-elementary student. I am not finding a decent price on this book, so I’d suggest looking at local book sales for it.
3. Everything Spring by Jill Esbaum– This nonfiction book is sure to delight your students. It has beautiful photographs that capture the essence of Spring! Students should be able to give an accurate description of what Spring is like after hearing this book.
4. A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis– Many classrooms plant seeds and watch them grow during this time of year. This is a simple book with clear illustrations and vocabulary for the life cycle of a sunflower. It would be a great introduction to learning about plant life cycles.
5. How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan– This one is about growing a bean seed. It shares the process step-by-step. This book would be great to use before a procedural writing of how to plant a seed. It, also, includes science vocabulary related to planting a seed.
6. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle– Don’t forget about Eric Carle’s amazingly illustrated book about the life cycle of a butterfly! I often see classrooms getting caterpillars in the Spring, so their class can watch the transformation. This book can be used in so many ways including: retelling the story with props, using the illustrations as inspiration for art, and learning the butterfly life cycle. Even my older son still likes this book!
7. Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin– This one is good for upper elementary! We get to experience life through a worm’s eyes told in a diary format. It is full of funny moments that your students are sure to enjoy! You could use the book as a way to introduce some diary writing in your classroom. It could be creative writing told by the point of view of another creature or non-fictional by having students keep their own diary on a selected topic.
8. What if Everyone Did That? by Ellen Javernick– Earth Day is in April. This is a good choice to read around then. It’s about a boy who is learning about the consequences of his actions. The story is shared in a good-humored way that will, hopefully, spark some critcal thinking in your students.
9. What Moms Can’t Do by Douglas Wood– A heart-warming story to read close to Mother’s Day! A child dinosaur shares all the things his mom can’t do, but in the end shares the one thing that moms are the best at.
10. If I Could Keep You Little… by Marianne Richmond– A book that expresses how a mom feels about her child growing up. If you’re a mom, be warned, it may make you tear up a bit.
If you and your students enjoy these books be sure to leave a comment below and check out my post 10 Notable Nonfiction Books to Share With Students This Fall. Let the countdown to summer begin!
