A woman and child reading books in the flowers ()
Spring is a time of birth, growth and renewal. The leaves are returning to the trees, plants are popping up out of the ground and the sun sticks around a little longer. Pack a picnic snack, a blanket, a sunhat and one of the books below to curl up for a great day reading outside.
“The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (2011) (Fiction)
Flowers were the only constant as Victoria Jones grew up going from place to place in the foster care system. Kicked out of the foster care system at 18, with no one close to her and nowhere to go, her aptitude for choosing flowers for others comes to her aid in unconventional ways. A chance encounter with a stranger challenges her to open herself to others in a way she has avoided all her life.
“A Poem for Every Spring Day” edited by Allie Esiri (2021) (Poetry)
Celebrate spring every day with a new poem. Good for a solo read or a read-aloud for the family, this collection includes poems from Emily Dickenson, William Wordsworth, Ted Hughes, Maya Angelou and more.
“Madder: A Memoir in Weeds” by Marco Wilkinson (2021) (Memoir)
Drawing on the themes and metaphors behind plants and weeds, Wilkinson tells his story of growing up queer in Rhode Island as the son of an immigrant mother from Uruguay. The audience also receives glimpses of his mother’s life in Uruguay. Join Wilkinson on his path of feeling like a weed: “invisible yet ubiquitous, unwanted yet abundant, out-of-place yet flourishing.”
“Spring Break” by Katherine Applegate (1996) (Young Adult) (Fiction)
Summer is excited to escape the cold of Minnesota for a nice spring break in Florida. She will be reunited with her two best friends and her boyfriend, Seth, for a week of fun and sun. However, along the way, she meets Austin. Both Austin and Seth vie for her affections, but this classic love triangle trope challenges readers to pick who she will choose before the end of the book.
“Daffodil: Biography of a Flower” by Helen O'Neill (2017) (Non-Fiction)
The daffodil is one of the most recognizable flowers out there. This book tells you all about how the daffodil has been revered and utilized throughout history. From inspiring poets to being used for medicinal purposes, a passage to the underworld and flower bouquets, there is so much to know about the daffodil.
“Elizabeth and Her German Garden” by Elizabeth von Arnim (1898) (Historical Fiction)
This book was reprinted several times during the early 20th century, speaking to its lasting popularity. This is a fictional, year-long diary of Elizabeth as she humorously comments on her gardening and overall outlook on life.
“Spring Garden” by Tomoka Shibasaki; Translated by Polly Barton (2014) (Fiction) (Japanese Literature)
Winner of the 2014 prestigious Akutagawa Prize, “Spring Garden” tells the story of Taro, a divorced man now living in a tiny bachelor apartment. He finds himself drawn to his unusual neighbor, Nishi, and together they attempt to discover what the future could hold for them if they only reach for it.
“Vintage Easter for Children: Easter Cards, Customs, Games, Poems” by Paul K. Stevens (2013) (Children)
Children will love looking at older Easter cards and learning about different Easter traditions and doing the activities. No need to have any religious affiliation; fun for all.
“Cicada Spring” by Christian Galacar (2013) (Mystery) (Fiction)
*Sensitive Content: Violence and Sexual Assault*
In Spring 1979, Kara’s life is shattered when she is violently attacked by one of her town’s most beloved and public figures in the woods on her walk home. Amidst all of this, there is a serial killer, a sheriff who feels so bound by rules that makes it so he cannot do his job, Kara’s father seeking revenge and a town that believes Kara is a liar.
“Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery (1908) (Classics)
Of course, you cannot talk spring without “Anne of Green Gables.” This is the classic tale of the plucky and boisterous redhead adopted by a couple who wanted a boy to raise. Before they send her back to the orphanage, this coming-of-age story tells how she wins the reluctant couple over.
