Book picks similar to
Animals in Spring by M.J. York


toddler-storytime
1st-grade
2nd-grade
beginning-readers

Paddington's Prize Picture


Michael Bond - 2017
    Gruber shows him just how fun it can be. But he’s not the only one—Mr. Brown has an artistic streak, too. So when a painting contest comes to town, the winning picture is a surprise to all. Because when Paddington is involved, the ordinary turns extraordinary!Paddington’s Prize Picture is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.

The Berenstain Bears' New Kitten


Stan Berenstain - 2007
    After Mama Bear gets the new kitten all cleaned up, the Bear family is ready to adopt her—as long as Little Lady, the puppy, doesn't mind!

Quick, Slow, Mango!


Anik McGrory - 2011
    Baby elephant Kidogo is off with his Mama to find breakfast. Kidogo loves to take his time, and wants to do everything slowly, slowly-even though Mama wants to move quickly. Meanwhile, up in the trees, a mischievous monkey named Polé Polé is always in a hurry, trying to grab all the mangoes he can. Fast and slow, these two adorable critters meet up in the luckiest way-and it's mangoes for breakfast for everyone!

Gwendolyn Grace


Katherine Hannigan - 2015
    But her mother insists that she pipe down, because the baby is trying to sleep. Gwendolyn Grace can't quite believe it, and in this funny call-and-response, all dialogue and action picture book, she questions her mother relentlessly about what is allowed (not much) and not allowed (a lot). It all ends happily, though, when Mom, baby, and Gwendolyn Grace play a noisy game together. Lots of drama, lots of noise, and lots of funny moments make this picture book debut an ideal choice for story times and for families with new siblings.

Olive and the Embarrassing Gift


Tor Freeman - 2014
    The only problem is that it’s hideously, cringe-inducingly embarrassing! Their whole gang of friends is giggling about it. She tries all kinds of excuses to avoid wearing the hat, then all kinds of ways to get rid of it, until Joe catches her stuffing it into the trash. He’s totally heartbroken. How can Olive make it up to him? Shoving the hat back on her head, she’s off to create something even more embarrassing — a huge best-friends sign to wear proudly.

The Happy Owls


Celestino Piatti - 1963
    Describes how a pair of owls share their secret of happiness with the quarrelsome barnyard fowls.

Too Many Frogs!


Sandy Asher - 2005
    He cooks for himself, cleans up for himself, and at the end of the day, reads himself a story. It's a simple life, and he likes it. But one evening, Froggie shows up at his door. He wants to listen to Rabbit's story, too. While eating a snack-or three. While lounging on a pillow-or ten. And bringing over his family-dozens and dozens of frogs! Rabbit has finally had enough; Froggie will have to go! But when he sits down alone to read himself a story, Rabbit realizes something is missing: someone to listen; someone to share a wonderful story. Keith Graves' boisterous, humor-filled artwork lends just the right touch to this multilayered tale that celebrates the joy of reading aloud.

Helen Keller: Courage in the Dark (Step Into Reading)


Johanna Hurwitz - 1997
    But her indomitable will and the help of a devoted teacher empower Helen to triumph over incredible adversity. This amazing true story is finally brought to the beginner reader level.

Martha Blah Blah


Susan Meddaugh - 1996
    Fortunately her nose still works, and she follows it to the source of the mystery.

Tiny Hamster Is a Giant Monster


Joel Jensen - 2015
    There’s a reason Time deemed the creators of the HelloDenizen YouTube channel “heroes of the Internet”—because Tiny Hamster is just that irresistible.

Nate the Great


Marjorie Weinman Sharmat - 1972
    She wants Nate to help her find it. Nate the Great must get all the facts, ask the right questions, and narrow the list of suspects so he can solve the mystery.

Thomas Goes Fishing


Wilbert Awdry - 2005
    It looks like so much fun that Thomas wants to go fishing too. One day, he runs out of steam and his driver fills his boiler from the stream. And soon, Thomas’ boiler is what the driver is fishing in! In the early 1940s, a loving father crafted a small, blue, wooden engine for his son, Christopher. The stories that this father, the Reverend W Awdry, made up to accompany this wonderful toy were first published in 1945.

Oscar Otter


Nathaniel Benchley - 1966
    "Best of the Best" Books 1966–1978 (SLJ)Children's Books of 1966 (Library of Congress)

Violet Mackerel's Brilliant Plot


Anna Branford - 2010
    This is not just a SILLY WISH. It is instead the start of a VERY IMPORTANT idea. But what she needs is a PLOT. A BRILLIANT plot. Introducing readers to a new warm and loveable character, Violet Mackerel’s Brilliant Plot is a story not to be missed.

Sydney and Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World


Jacqueline Davies - 2021
    Charming full-color illustrations and a laugh-out-loud story make this chapter book perfect for fans of the Mercy Watson and Owl Diaries series.Sydney is a skunk and Taylor is a hedgehog, but no matter how odd the pairing may seem, their friendship comes naturally. They live happily in their cozy burrow . . . until the day Taylor gets his Big Idea to go see the Whole Wide World. From mountains taller than a hundred hedgehogs, valleys wider than a thousand skunks, to the dangers that lie in the human world, Sydney and Taylor wanted to see it all. With a map and a dream, they bravely set off, soon discovering that the world is much bigger than they realized . . .