April favorites
Publishing
with original recommendations, descriptions and references by Kristin Addington Culpepper (Parenting Expert and Author)
Click on an image to order the book today!
Or download your own copy of the booklist for your next trip to the library.
The Country Bunny and the
Little Gold Shoes
The Rainbabies
The Curious Garden
This was my daughter’s favorite Easter book for many years as a little girl. It’s about a mama bunny who aspires to become one of the Easter bunnies- girl power!
This one has always captivated us- both the story and the illustrations- just magical.
Full of hope, whimsy, possibility, vision, community and the contagion of inspiration and creativity.
Bunny's First Spring
On a Magical Do-Nothing Day
Absolutely precious. Full of affirmations every human deserves to hear and cannot
be told enough.
An example of the abundant wonder and magic always available to us in nature when we disconnect from our electronic devices.
Me & Mama
An endearing book about the magic of spending a day with Mama.
Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Tea
Charlie Needs a Cloak
The Carrot Seed
We fell in love with this series and the characters from day 1. This is the first in the series and I hope it warms your heart and becomes a favorite as it has for us. Our own kitty may or may not have been named after the main character. ;)
I used this to illustrate the beauty, simplicity and power of the pioneering spirit as well as the connection to the seasons as my children learned how to sew, needlefelt, knit, etc. with wool.
May we all embody a little more of this child’s spirit.
The Easter Egg
The illustrations are a feast for the eyes and the eggs will inspire you to get creative with your decorating this year! All the rabbits pictured are real breeds, studied and captured to a “t” by Jan Brett.
Make Way for Ducklings
The Lorax
A beloved favorite by Dr. Seuss to remind ourselves this Earth Day and every day of the importance of trees and the natural world.
This family hade it’s home in the Boston Public Garden and still does, generations later! Don’t miss the bronze statues of the ducks and Boston’s Duckling Day Parade if you happen to be there for Mother’s Day!
The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
An Egg is Quiet
The Gardener
A tiny treasure to connect your little ones with the hidden lives of hedge hogs.
An exquisitely illustrated book that helps connect children with nature in a non “teachy” kind of way.
The determination of gardeners and others with creative gifts that are here to spread beauty- colorful “flowers” will sprout wherever they go- there’s no way around it!
Float
Sometimes Rain
Little White Rabbit
Curious, refreshing and so relatable- honoring the simple joys and hardships of being a child.
Fun with playmates in the elements through the seasons. Feeling all the feels of nostalgia and the connectedness of it all.
A book about wondering (my favorite pastime). May we all add more of this to our lives and see how we grow!
Pip & Pup
Another one that just doesn’t need words. A real friendship- playfulness, bad moods, goof-ups, forgiveness and all.
The Egg Tree
Filled with traditions, handwork, family and a celebration of the season.
Minerva Louise and the Colorful Eggs
Plain ole’ silly. Possibly the Amelia Bedelia of chickens. This will bring out the giggles!
Rechenka's Eggs
Friendship between human and animal, Eastern European Easter traditions and maybe a new one for you and your family.
The Donkey Egg
Another adventure with Bear and Hare- clever, silly and enlightening all at once- a good read, even for the “big kids”.
Singing in the Rain
Based on the song by Freed and Brown in the film with Gene Kelly, this book reminds us of the many joys of playing outside on a rainy day! It depicts the truth in the motto (I used with my children): “Whether the weather be fine or whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold or whether the weather be hot, We’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather, Whether we like it or not!” This one reminds us of all the fun that can be had in rainy weather.
Green on Green
Really draws the reader into the seasons through color and familiar scenes of nature and family
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt
I always loved the way this one brings in all the critters above and below the earth and helps weave everyone and thing together into the beautiful oneness that life is.
Gossie
Just plain cute and one of my daughter’s very first books. The story of a gosling, her red boots and an adventure that ends in friendship.
Gossie & Gertie
A story of two pals just being “kids”….or geese, that is. This is part of the Gossie series of board books.
Moo, Baa, La La La!
A favorite of my children when they were babies through preschool. The rhyme, bold illustrations and animal sounds draw them in every time….and don’t be surprised if you find yourself reciting this in your head or aloud throughout your day! This is a natural “by-product” of many of Bonyton’s books!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
An irresistible MUST for all spring read-alouds!
Emma's Lamb (or Floss & Emma’s lamb)
A little girl has a ball caring for a lost lamb until she is reunited with her mama. As the niece of a shepherdess, my children and I are familiar with lambing and the gift of these little lambs. They can also be quite entertaining (as can their parents)! When visiting my aunt’s farm as a little girl, I always wished I could take some of the farm kitties or even lambs home with us to the city for pets. Years later, my children have had the same blessing of meeting, feeding and experiencing these lambs and their parents at my aunt’s farm who is STILL full time working with these sheep at nearly 80 years old!
A Walk Through the Woods
A wander through the woods as the reader is drawn deeper and deeper into their surroundings. Encounter plants, animals and more as you eagerly await spring in full blossom.
