When the cold, windy, snowy days that require numerous layers of clothing are over, it’s time to welcome spring. Filled with warm, sunny days and blooming flowers, spring is the perfect time to relax, try new hobbies, spend time with loved ones, or better yet, read new books! In this edition of Bookstr’s Three to Read Jr., we’ve gathered three fantastic books for different ages to enjoy this spring. With categories including early readers, elementary readers, and lastly, middle grade readers, this list has the perfect book for your young reader to love.
EARLY READERS
Nevin Knows by Mireille Messier, Illustrated by Elena Comte
SYNOPSIS:
Spring has arrived, and Nevin is heading to the park with his Grandpa on this special day! As the two get ready to head out, Grandpa checks with Nevin and asks him what shoes he will wear. Should he wear boots? No! How about slippers? No! Running shoes? Yes, yes, yes! Throughout this delightful read, Grandpa lets Nevin make the decisions, including which direction to walk in, what to play with at the park, and what flowers to bring home to Nana. While Nevin might be little, he sure knows a lot and has so much fun getting to choose for himself!
WHY:
While this adorable read shows children the setting of springtime, celebrating the time to wear warmer clothing and play in parks, it also encourages young ones to make their own decisions and build confidence! Nevin teaches children to consider their own experiences with how to get ready to head out in this warmer weather. With its repetitive text and colorful illustrations, Nevin Knows engages readers to help them decide what to do about their indecisive minds.
ELEMENTARY READERS
Spring’s Miracles (An Indigenous Celebration of Nature) by Kaitlin B. Curtice, Illustrated by Gloria Félix
SYNOPSIS:
With winter over, it is time to welcome a new season! But this spring is going to be extra special for a Potawatomi girl. Dani and her family are preparing to celebrate the new year, in which the Potawatomi and other Anishinaabe people observe the beginning of the season by going on a camping and climbing trip. Dani is super excited about the adventure, but she is also nervous about the climb; the rocks seem way too big. How will she make it to the top? As she explores the woods and makes new memories with her beloved family, she learns to draw courage from Creator and find inspiration in the remarkable new life Mother Earth brings each spring.
WHY:
This spectacular and vibrantly illustrated book teaches children about Creator’s gift and how it can transform the way we see the world, as well as ourselves. Whether you want a story your child will feel represented by or one that will teach them more about Indigenous culture, Spring’s Miracle is the perfect book. With its beautiful illustrations and heartwarming narrative on building courage and finding inspiration, this children’s book will open the hearts of many and make an enjoyable read for the season!
MIDDLE GRADE READERS
Ollie In Between by Jess Callans
SYNOPSIS:
13-year-old Ollie Thompson is experiencing puberty or, in other words, the ultimate biological predator affecting themself and their lifelong friends. Too girly for the neighborhood hockey team but not girly enough for their boy-crazy best friend, Ollie struggles to find where they fit best. And their usual camouflage abilities? Completely disrupted by all the changes around them. But when a school project asks Ollie to write an essay on what it means to be a woman and one of their new friends becomes the target of bullying, Ollie must decide whether to flee to safety or confront the risks of fighting to forge their own path forward.
WHY:
Springtime is the season of growth and new beginnings. A modern take on Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, this story portrays a queer coming-of-age narrative about finding your inner voice and choosing to live how you feel most comfortable. Choosing to blend in may be easier, but is the pressure of conforming worth hiding yourself? This story encourages tweens to speak up for themselves and live authentically, regardless of what others decide is right and wrong. At the end of the day, this is your life, your body, your voice, and your mind. So why not spend this life being the best version of yourself, however you define it?
That’s it for this week’s Three to Read Jr.! We hope you’ll join us in future installments to see more of our recommendations for young bookworms.
To read our other Three to Read articles, click here!
Browse these books and more reads handpicked by the Bookstr team on our Three to Read bookshelf on Bookshop!
