Frederick's Child Magazine
Spring is traditionally recognized as a time for growth and renewal, especially in the natural world, with flowers in bloom and melting snow revealing green shoots underneath. As you welcome spring with your children and teens, reflect on these books about the environment and growth—both the kind you can see and the kind within yourself.
Picture Books
“Snowman – Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations”
by Laura Purdie Salas
The intricate illustrations in this book will provide a springboard for conversations with your child. “From Salas’ point of view, ‘science + poetry = surprise!’ Celebrating the natural world as winter turns to spring, this unusual volume offers a poetic equation on each page,
accompanied by a vivid illustration and several short sentences of related text.” –Booklist
“A Good Place”
by Lucy Cousins
This is a joyful picture book with a gentle environmental message about creating good spaces for insects to live. A bee, a ladybug, a beetle and a dragonfly are on a quest to find a place to live that includes what each of them wants.
“A Seed Grows”
by Antoinette Portis
From a tiny seed to a huge foldout bloom, learn about the life cycle of a sunflower in this award-winning book. Then, you can plant some seeds together.
Early Readers
“The Big Tree”
by Laura Knetzger
Max, Melon and Cantaloupe love playing in the Big Tree. When the Big Tree must come down, everyone is sad. Max finds a way to cheer his friends up and helps them grow new, beautiful flowers. The Big Tree is a brightly drawn beginner comic about loss, friendship and the power of kindness.
“Flower Power”
by Melody Mews, illustrated by Ellen Stubbings
Itty Bitty Princess Kitty plans a royal garden party to give her talking flower friends all the attention they crave, but will it be enough to help the flowers flourish? Try out this tenth book in the Itty Bitty Princess Kitty series—the perfect series for emerging readers, with easy-to-read language and illustrations on every page.
“Emerald’s Blooming Secret”
by Samantha M. Clark
Emerald plans a special garden as a gift for Sapphire, but his plan goes wrong, and he finds himself in the middle of a flowery mess! Will Emerald be able to fix everything on his own? Find out in this fourth installment of the Gemstones Dragon series, filled with magic, friendship and teamwork.
Middle Readers
“Map of Flames (The Forgotten Five, Book 1)”
by Lisa McMann
A new adventure series about five kids with supernatural powers.
“Squished: A Graphic Novel”
by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter (illustrator)
A funny, heartwarming tale about family set in Maryland!
“The Many Fortunes of Maya”
by Nicole D. Collier
For fans of Meg Media, this lyrical novel introduces Maya, who turns to her “wheels of fortune” to answer life’s tough questions.
Teen Readers
“My Epic Spring Break (Up)”
by Kristin Rockaway
For coder extraordinaire Ashley, high school is all about prepping for college. Her love life? Virtually nonexistent. She’s never been on a date. Never been kissed. Never been in love. Now that spring break is finally here, Ashley vows to have fun . . . and for the first time, follow her heart. Will Ashley’s epic spring break lead her to love, or will her heart crash and burn?
“Lumberjanes. Vol 12: Jackalope Springs Eternal”
by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh, illustrated by Ayme Sotuyo, colors
by Maarta Laiho, letters by Aubrey Aiese, cover by Kat Leyh
When Counselor Jen takes the Roanoke scouts on a quest to seek out the most mysterious mythological monster of all, the mighty JACKALOPE, they end up stumbling on a young cowgirl who’s been living in the woods surrounding camp with her herd of unusual critters.
