The Homeschooler’s Library: Best Spring Books
Can you believe how fast spring is flying this year? Depending on where you’re located, spring days may be already sliding into summer. But taking advantage of the calendar, which still says summer is five and a half weeks away, I don’t want to miss sharing my best spring books list with all of you today!
Spring is the time for fresh breezes, new beginnings—and an exciting stash of stories that celebrate hope, blossoms, and joy.
Kind of.
I wrote the pretty little spring-vibes sentence you just read. And was a true sentence. I know it was. Except that as I finished it, something squirmed a little guiltily inside me. Because the truth of the matter is—I don’t actually enjoy spring.
I hate the wet, grimy weather that drags on after the snow melts and before the green things start really growing. I hate looking at barren trees waiting for enough sunshine to put their leaves out. I hate being miserable with allergies and feeling like the whole world is a hopeless, uncomfortable place.
The rest of the northern hemisphere is dancing between budding flowerbeds, and I’m just screaming, “Make it stop!”
The Good News about Spring Books
The good news about spring books—even for a less-than-fan of the season at large—is that they’re the ultimate escape tactic.
I know, I know. I can hear my Bible school instructor’s voice telling me escape tactics are fine in the present, but they’re not meant to become a lifestyle.
Still, given the choice between consuming unauthorized quantities of chocolate, and binge-reading sweet, clean fiction—I’ve still made the healthier short-term choice, right?
Either way—whether you dread spring, tolerate spring, or welcome it with open arms—there’s one spring ritual we can all enjoy on an equal footing: the reading of some great spring books!
My Best Spring Books List
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle—Oh, the joy of sharing this earliest-of-early-picture-books with a new generation of eager little ones! The three-year-old I babysat a few years back fell in love with this story so completely that her big brother got absolutely sick of it. Interestingly enough I myself (albeit the grown-up who had to read the story every time I came over) still liked it straight through! The hungry little caterpillar’s journey from an egg to a butterfly is a great introduction to the wonders of new life and spring.
At Grandpa’s Sugar Bush by Margaret Carney—Maybe this is a purely Canadian thing, but in spite of the snow on the ground, maple syrup stories belong in the springtime for me. After all, when the sap starts flowing it means spring is on its way. At Grandpa’s Sugar Bush is a beautifully-illustrated story of a young boy’s step-by-step experience with the maple sugar process. For a full SAW review of this story, click here.
Sugar Snow and Dance at Grandpa’s adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder—Continuing our maple theme, these two sensitive adaptations of beloved Little House stories give us the Ingalls family’s experience with maple sugar season. In Sugar Snow Pa and Grampa tap the maple trees to create sweet syrup and tasty treats. In Dance at Grandpa’s family and friends gather from near and far to celebrate the end of another successful syrup season. As always, these Little House picture books are a delight to read!
Franklin’s Baby Sister by Paulette Bourgeois—Spring is just around the corner and Franklin can’t wait. This year spring is bringing more than new plants, warm sunshine, and returning birds. Franklin’s baby sibling is going to arrive in the spring as well! This brightly-coloured picture book is a great introduction to both springtime and the concept of a new baby joining the family.
Brambley Hedge: Spring Story by Jill Barklem—It’s Wilfred’s birthday and the mice of Brambley Hedge are getting ready to throw a surprise party. Only since it’s a surprise—the most important mouse of the day just might be more of a hinderance than a help. In spite of Wilfred’s occasionally obstreperous behaviour, I love this first Brambley Hedge story, with it’s meticulously-detailed illustrations and it’s classic style.
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney—This story about dreams, adventure, and lupine flowers is an illustrated classic! As Miss Rumphius follows in the footsteps of her painter-grandfather, she is determined to travel to faraway places—and when she grows old, to live by the sea. “That is all very well,” her grandfather tells her. “But there is something else you must do. You must do something to make the world more beautiful.” But Miss Rumphius does not yet know what that will be!
Spring with the Moodys by Sarah Maxwell—Join a Christian homeschooling family for a busy and exciting spring. With twins on the way and a host of life lessons to explore, there’s never a dull moment in the Moody family! This series was one of the first created specifically for homeschooled children, and its glimpse into the day-to-day adventures of an ordinary family doing life together will always have a soft spot in my heart.
Spring Days with the Moodys by Sarah Maxwell—If you’re still hungry for more Moody family stories the saga continues in this eight book in the series. As always, Spring Days with the Moodys is a squeaky-clean, faith-centred look at a homeschooling family in action.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett—This is probably the hallmark of spring classics. Not only is it a book set in spring, and built around the wonder of growing things, but the symbolic themes of renewal and life play an integral role in the entire plot. The language is rich and enjoyable. The characters (first impressions notwithstanding!) are excellent. And as always, Frances Hodgson Burnett has an innate instinct for the fine balance that makes a story superb. Content warning: the Lord’s name is used as an exclamation in a couple of places and there is at least one chapter dealing with magic rituals.
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery—as pointed out in a recent post, Anne of Green Gables is really an all-the-year-round book. But as also pointed out in the aforementioned recent post, Anne of Green Gables will always have uniquely spring vibes for me personally. There’s a piece of Anne that is simply the essence of springtime. This classic has got to be in the top five for character development of all time! If you haven’t read it before—or if you’re just looking for an inspiring, satisfying re-read—grab it today! Content warning: chapter dealing with (imaginary, but still potentially disturbing) ghosts; a bit of nonsense surrounding the tiny thread of sweet-and-clean romance.
That’s My List—How About Yours?
Even beyond the coping mechanism of books, this spring has been a special blessing for me.
I’m not sure how much to attribute to the heavy-lifting emotional healing I’ve finally pursued during the last twelve months—or how much is just due to actually sticking to allergy meds consistently this spring. Whatever the cause, God has sent me the first year in over a decade where April/May hasn’t been a miserable battle with unwanted symptoms.
That being said, you can never have too many coping strategies in your back pocket. (Or in this case, on a spare shelf of your bookcase!) So if you have a beloved spring title that you didn’t see listed above, go ahead and drop me a comment in the section below.
I’d love to hear what’s on your personal best spring books list!
Looking for more Christ-focused stories that celebrate spring? See our previous feature:
I love this, Courtney! And thanks for the mini spotlight <3
So glad you enjoyed it! And you’re totally welcome!