Tuesday, March 23, 2010

a peek inside our spring book basket

This weekend we switched the book basket over to spring. I'm totally inspired by the drawings Dieter has been doing lately. I did the little tree in the corner but everything else is of his own creation. The life cycle of the butterfly is along the bottom--love!
So, we put away all the winter offerings (which we love, but which aren't terribly applicable to our Southern California experience) and gathered spring-like books together from our shelf. Lots of bunny themed books here.
Some of these are old, some are new. Make Way for Duckings is a real old favorite. How the Groundhog's Garden Grew is a new favorite.
I adore Pele's New Suit.
Max's Chocolate Chicken is a favorite with the boys year round.
And this is the best for last. We've been enjoying The Children of Noisy Village so much, I checked out Springtime in Noisy Village from the library. It's lovely, and out of all of these, this is really the only one that is specifically about spring.
I just want to jump into the picture and hang out with these Swedish children! I love the book so much I jumped over to Amazon and ordered a used copy.
Other than this one, our basket lacks any real springtime books. Any suggestions?

26 comments:

Alison said...

I don't have any suggestions, but I just wanted to tell you how much I adore your seasonal book baskets. Do you keep the books away the rest of the year so that they only come out during the specified season?

Sarah said...

I'd pop in a few about planting a garden...I think Peter Grows a Carrot is a great one and Audrey Wood has a few that seem rather Springy to me. Oddly, the Peter Rabbit books have gotten banned from our house as E was having nightmares about being chased in a garden. Interesting how some kiddos just can't handle any of that style of book.
Have you ever checked out the Babybug Magazines? They're monthly and have great stories to fit each season and are made sturdy for preschool age.
And maybe this is odd, but my boys love looking at catalogs, so lately I've been having them look at gardening ones just to get our creative juices flowing about planting.
And I think that's all I've got at this time of night. Just checked Isaac and his BG was 49...so we're up for the next few hours testing every 15 minutes 'til he's above 150. Ahhh, sleep, who needs it?!

Lilly said...

Beautiful your spring books, Mary Beth.In my collections of Astrid Lindgren books I do not have "The Children of Noisy Village",go see it in my blog!!! :)) Kisses to you and your beautiful children, bye =^_^= xoxox

Heids said...

A beautiful book that spans all the seasons and is a big favourite in our house is The Ox Cart Man http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ox-Cart_Man

~ The Jolly Bee ~ said...

This brings back lots of memories....Even though my youngest is only 11, it seems like ages since I've seen some of these books.

Anonymous said...

thanks for the recs!!

Mary Beth said...

Alison--right now the seasonal books just go back to the regular bookshelf. It would be nice to have a separate space for them, though.
Sarah--"How the Groundhog's Garden Grew" is a wonderful gardening book (which goes through the cycle of the whole year, though, so not technically a spring book). And yes, we love Babybug! Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about the low blood sugar!! I hope it resolved itself in a reasonable amount of time . . .Hang in there!

Tia said...

Try My Garden by Kevin Henkes. It is our new favorite. It's about a little girl who is helping in her mother's garden and imagines what her garden would be like if she could have anything at all. We got it at the library, but are definitely purchasing a copy.

Rain said...

Oh you've given me some great new titles to add to our basket. I have two for you-
http://www.amazon.com/Snip-Little-Lambs-Trade/dp/0816740658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269437138&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Country-Bunny-Little-Shoes-Charm/dp/0547144180/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269437204&sr=1-1

Andrea said...

We have the same situation--very bunny-focused (and bird and frog), but not super specifically-spring. I see someone has already recommended The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes, which you MUST get (it is Easter, not spring, though). We have The Flower Fairies of Springtime which admittedly the boys aren't super into, but I do subject them to readings of all the Flower Fairy books, whatever the season. Tell us more about the Ne-Na book...I'm intrigued by the cover!

Amy said...

We love Birds by Kevin Henkes and Old Bear by Kevin Henkes. We haven't read My Garden but will definetely check that out soon.

Andrea said...

I just remembered one more--Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson (we just read it before bed tonight). Also the illustrations in Jan Brett's Goldilocks and the 3 Bears are very springish (the side bars are all about crosus blooming) even if the story isn't necessarily.

nocton4 said...

great books xx

Anonymous said...

Oh I do have the name of a great spring time book. It is simple and beautiful, but is in the room of a sleeping boy at the moment. I will look tomorrow and let you know.

Annie
OnceUponAParent.Blogspot.com

Mary Beth said...

Oh yes, Annie--I do want that. Thank you!

Desiree said...

Do you have any Ali Mitgutsch books? He's a German author, but the books are wordless so it doesn't matter. This one has all 4 seasons but the Spring section is just enthralling. http://www.amazon.de/Mein-Wimmel-Bilderbuch-Fr%C3%BChling-Sommer-Herbst/dp/3473312916 (unfortunately not on US Amazon although a lot of his other books are available in the US). We also have this book - very similar to Ali Mitgutsch with no words and very detailed pictures of spring landscapes with lots of people doing Spring things. http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/383695057X/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i3?pf_rd_m=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=1GSQS97GMY615C8PGGMC&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463375193&pf_rd_i=301128

Mary Beth said...

Desiree--I love those suggestions! How beautiful! The second author looks like the "in the town all year round" guy, which we do have, and which has a lovely spring section. Thanks! I wish I could get that first book locally . . .

Anonymous said...

Rabbits and Raindrop by Jim Arnosky. It is a great spring book.

Mary Beth said...

Thank you, Annie! I will check that out!

Tamara said...

I've been following your blog for quite some time and really enjoy your photos and interests. I noticed a Dutch picture book in your photos in this post. Do you have a link to Holland?

Mary Beth said...

Tamara--I bought it from Nova Naturals. I don't have any connection to Holland but I love all things European.

PatsyAnne said...

I know I'm back asking for more information about your children's toys - BUT I love that geometric wooden "puzzle" - where did you get that from? I loved the barn and you gave me information on that, I'll be buying it next month for Ellie's first birthday... she loves farm animals... they see cows and horses and sheep when my daughter takes her for her afternoon walks up their dirt road...

That brightly painted wooden triangle puzzle is just what I'd love to have for when she comes to visit me.
Thanks again for any help you can give me.

Mary Beth said...

Hi PatseyAnne--it's from The Wooden Wagon. Just click on the "puzzles" section.

momma rae said...

two new ones for us this year are *the story of the butterfly children* by sybile von olfers and *the sun egg* by elsa beskow....our two fave children's authors!

happy spring!

Unknown said...

Mary Beth,
Couldn't help but chime in on the spring book discussion (being a former children's librarian). Two from our bookshelf are Eeeny, Meeny, Miney Mole by Jane Yolen beautifully illustrated by Kathryn Brown and Finn Family Moomintroll (chapter book) by Tove Jansson. Also wanted to mention that there's a book called A to Zoo: Subject Guide to Children's Picture books to help with such questions - you may want to check your public library for it. Love your blog!

Mary Beth said...

Thank you so much, Catherine! I love Jane Yolen.