Seasons: Books for Young Children

These books for young children highlight favorite activities from the four seasons, whether buildling a snowman or a sand castle!

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At the Beach

Age Level: 3-6
Language: Chinese

Xiao Ming and his mother are spending a summer day at the beach, and the sand is the perfect place to draw characters for words such as "sand" and "water." Xiao Ming's mother helps him see the picture within each character — a trick sure to appeal to readers new to the Chinese written language. The colorful, intricate illustrations, created by cut-paper collages, will fascinate young children. This book is one of a four-part series by the author about Chinese characters related to the different seasons.

Babies in the Park: Autumn Babies

Illustrated by: Adela Pons
Age Level: 0-3

An endearing board book with adorable babies on the go during the fall season. Featuring diverse characters and highlighting early concepts like shapes and repetition, books in the Babies in the Park series encourage an appreciation of nature and outdoor imaginative play.

Babies in the Park: Spring Babies

Illustrated by: Adela Pons
Age Level: 0-3

What will babies find in the park on a beautiful spring day? This series features diverse characters and highlighting early concepts like shapes and repetition, books in the Babies in the Park series encourage an appreciation of nature and outdoor imaginative play.

Babies in the Park: Summer Babies

Illustrated by: Adela Pons
Age Level: 0-3

Whether they are chasing butterflies or playing in the sun, these babies are having an exciting day at the park! Featuring diverse characters and highlighting early concepts like shapes and repetition, books in the Babies in the Park series encourage an appreciation of nature and outdoor imaginative play.

Babies in the Park: Winter Babies

Illustrated by: Adela Pons

Spirited, rhyming text and colorful, graphic art reveal an energetic cast of babies having an action-packed day of play in the park on a cheerful winter day. Featuring diverse characters and highlighting early concepts like shapes and repetition, books in the Babies in the Park series encourage an appreciation of nature and outdoor imaginative play.

Celebrate My Hopi Corn

Illustrated by: Emmett Navakuku
Age Level: 3-6
Language: Hopi

"I am a kernel of Hopi corn. I have many sister kernels on my ear of corn. We grow under the warm sun." Celebrate my Hopi Corn written in Hopi and English by Hopi language teacher Anita Poleahla is the story of how corn is planted, cultivated, harvested and prepared for use in the Hopi home. The colorful illustrations by Hopi artist Emmett Navakuku describe the changing seasons and daily activities in a Hopi village.

Cold and Hot

Illustrated by: Anna Rich
Age Level: 3-6
Language: English, Spanish

An African American boy’s family lovingly piles so much clothing on him that he quickly goes from feeling cold to feeling hot. Spanish version available.

Come on, Rain

Illustrated by: Jon J Muth
Age Level: 3-6

Tessie, the child narrator, is the first to see the long-awaited rain clouds form. She and her neighbors celebrate the long awaited relief from the summer hear and dry spell in poetic language and loose but lively, luminous watercolor illustrations.

Hello Ocean / Hola Mar

Language: English, Spanish, Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

A child narrates her visit to the ocean, inviting readers to explore it with her. She experiences the sea with all of her senses through realistic illustrations and lyrical language in this gently rhyming tale.

In the Garden

A boy digging with a shovel
Illustrated by: Manelle Oliphant
Age Level: 0-3

A young boy digs a garden, plants seeds, waters and waits but forgets — until sprouts and ultimately plants emerge! Simple staccato, rhythmic language combines with realistic illustrations in a small format just right for introducing gardens to young children.

In the Leaves

In the Leaves
Age Level: 3-6
Language: Chinese

Xiao Ming and his friends are spending an autumn day on a farm, and it is the perfect place for him to show his friends how draw different Chinese characters for words such as "grain" and "fire." The colorful, gentle illustrations, created by cut-paper collages, will appeal to young children. This book is one of a four-part series by the author about Chinese characters related to the different seasons.

In the Park

Age Level: 3-6
Language: Chinese

Spring has arrived and Xiao Ming can't wait to spend the day in the park with his mother. All around them are signs of the season: insects flying, leaves on the trees, and flowers in bloom. Xiao Ming's mother teaches Xiao Ming how to write the words for these things in Chinese by first drawing pictures of them. Following the highly acclaimed At the Beach and In the Snow, this is Huy Voun Lee's third book on Chinese character writing.

In the Rain

Illustrated by: Manelle Oliphant
Age Level: 0-3

On a rainy day, a young girl makes a paper boat, splashes in puddles, makes mud pies, and has other springtime fun! Elizabeth Spurr and Manelle Oliphant together create a perfect sit-in-your-lap reading experience for toddlers.

In the Small, Small Pond

Age Level: 3-6

A child (and a small green frog) witness the change of seasons in a small, critter-filled pond. Engaging language swirls and moves across the pages in this vibrantly illustrated Caldecott Honor book.

In the Snow

In the Snow
Age Level: 3-6
Language: Chinese

Xiao Ming and his mother are spending a winter day in the forest, and the snow is the perfect place to draw characters for words such as "tree" and "sparkling." Xiao Ming's mother helps him see the picture within each character — a trick sure to appeal to readers new to the Chinese written language. The colorful, intricate illustrations, created by cut-paper collages, will fascinate young children. This book is one of a four-part series by the author about Chinese characters related to the different seasons.

In the Woods

Illustrated by: Manelle Oliphant
Age Level: 0-3
Language: English

Short, rhyming verse combines with outdoor scenes as a boy and his dad share a camping trip. Their day is presented from fishing to cooking their dinner, until the boy — with "Nodding head/Time for bed" — is carried into their tent by his dad.

Kite Flying

By: Grace Lin
Age Level: 3-6
Language: English

The young narrator describes how she and her family each contribute to a handsome kite which they then enjoy flying. Signature illustrations show traditional Chinese kite designs combined with an author's note about kite history. The result is the celebration of an ebullient family tradition that readers may want to take up themselves!

Once Around the Sun

Illustrated by: LeUyen Pham
Age Level: 3-6

Every month of the year is cause for celebration – from sledding to holidays. Each poem and accompanying illustration (reminiscent of Ezra Jack Keats) for each month of the year reflects a child's joy and interests.

Summer Days and Nights

Young girl with pith helmet and net
Age Level: 0-3, 3-6

A rhyming text and soft, idealized illustrations present a young child's pleasure in summer activities — from shooting "straight down the slide" to a picnic in the shade with her parents. The small size of the book makes it ideal for sharing one-to-one.

Summer Sun Risin'

Young boy in front of a rising sun on the farm
Illustrated by: Don Tate
Age Level: 3-6

Set on a Texas farm in the 1950s and told in Nikola-Lisa's distinctive and catchy style, this loving tribute to childhood, farm life, and family togetherness will resonate with readers of all backgrounds today. Sun-drenched paintings by Don Tate mirror the family’s daily activities and trace the sun as it travels across the sky from sunrise to sunset. The story also subtly introduces young readers to the subject of African American farmers. Spanish version available.

The Apple Tree

The Apple Tree
Illustrated by: Marlena Campbell Hodson
Age Level: 3-6
Language: Cherokee

A Cherokee boy plants an apple seed, and as soon as a seedling appears he can see the apple tree it is meant to be. But the little apple tree isn’t so sure. Young and impatient, it begins to doubt its calling, especially after apples fail to appear that first fall. How can the boy convince the tree to give the seasons the time to work their magic? Story in English with Cherokee translation.

The Snowy Day

The Snowy Day
Age Level: 0-3
Language: Spanish

The Snowy Day is the simple, beloved tale of a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night. The little boy celebrates the snow-draped city with a day of humble adventures. Spanish version available.

Tracks in the Snow

Tracks in the Snow
Age Level: 3-6

A child follows animal tracks in the snow, wondering aloud "Who made the tracks?/Where do they go?" Gentle illustrations depict the child's walk across a snowy landscape while animals watch from afar. Only upon returning home is it revealed that the tracks were made yesterday when the child was "Out playing in the snow!"

Weather (TIME for Kids Informational Text)

Age Level: 6-9
Language: Spanish

Teach beginning readers about the various types of weather including rain, sunshine, snow, fog, wind, and clouds with pages full of bright, colorful images and simple, informational text. Through the use of descriptive, academic vocabulary, readers are encouraged to notice the changes in the weather around them.

Winter Walk in the City

A young child walks through the snow
Illustrated by: Melanie Hall
Age Level: 0-3

Take a walk through the city in winter and experience the sights, sounds, colors, and smells of the multitude of different holidays we celebrate this season. From Hanukkah and Christmas to Mawlid al-Nabi and Chinese New Year, everyone has a reason to celebrate. With simple rhymes, a counting pattern, and stunning papercraft art reminiscent of Ezra Jack Keats, this diverse board book is the perfect introduction to the cultural melting pot that makes the city so special.