“Rooted in Reading: Spring Books for Budding Gardeners”
🌱 Books in Bloom: 10 Picture Books to Celebrate Spring and Gardening 🌼
I started my gardening early this year.
With so much happening in the world—from rising costs and tariff talk to warnings of empty grocery store shelves—it’s hard not to think more seriously about where our food comes from and how we can take part in growing it ourselves. Even though I live in the city and my backyard is mostly concrete, I knew I wanted to bring some green into our space. So I got some planter boxes and a bunch of dirt and just started planting. Now I wish I had really researched beforehand for real but bit by bit, we turned our little patch of concrete into something alive.
Gardening has always brought me peace. It grounds me—literally and emotionally. It’s a practice that reminds me to slow down, to pay attention, and to take care. I knew I wanted to pass that love on to my daughter. There’s something magical about planting a seed and watching it grow. Sharing that wonder with her has been one of the joys of this season.
And just like gardens, books can grow something special too.
As a former school librarian and now founder of The Pocket Librarian, I’ve always found joy in building book displays that reflect the world outside and invite curiosity inside. This week’s display is all about spring and gardens—about blooming, growing, and caring for the world around us.
Here are 10 picture books that celebrate the magic of spring and the beauty of growing things—perfect for reading together in any season.
📖 "Planting a Rainbow"
by Lois Ehlert
A vibrant, simple story about growing flowers that bursts with color and joy.
📖 "The Tiny Seed"
by Eric Carle
A classic story that follows one little seed’s journey through the seasons—teaching patience, persistence, and hope.
📖 "Growing Vegetable Soup"
by Lois Ehlert
A colorful guide to planting, harvesting, and cooking vegetables—a favorite for budding gardeners.
📖 "Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt"
by Kate Messner
Explore the hidden life of a garden, from the busy insects underground to the growth above the soil.
📖 "Lola Plants a Garden"
by Anna McQuinn
Lola reads a poem and is inspired to create her own garden—it’s about imagination, love of books, and growing something beautiful.
📖 "Our Community Garden"
by Barbara Pollak
Lola reads a poem and is inspired to create her own garden—it’s about imagination, love of books, and growing something beautiful.
📖 "The Concrete Garden"
by Bob Graham
Urban kids transform an abandoned lot into a lush, living space—just like we can.
📖 "Two Little Birds"
by Mary Newell DePalma
Follow two warblers on their spring migration—perfect for observing seasonal change.
📖 "Plant it, Grow it, Eat it"
by Ethan Safran and Emily Skwish
📖 "Everyone Starts Small"
by Liz Garton Scanlon
A poetic reminder that everything—plants, animals, and people—begins tiny and grows with care.
Whether you have a big yard or a small patio, there's something powerful about watching things grow—and reading about it together makes it even more meaningful. 🌻📖
Happy planting & reading!