Spring is a time of renewal. Children are especially aware of the changes they see in nature!

To celebrate seasonal changes and the newness of spring, read these 5 poems at home with your young children.

Little Seeds
by Else Holmelund Minarik

Little seeds we sow in spring
growing while the robins sing,
give us carrots, peas and beans, tomatoes, pumpkins, squash and greens.
And we pick them,
one and all,
through the summer,
through the fall,
Winter comes, then spring, and then little seeds we sow again.

Pussy Willow
by Kate L. Brown

Pussy Willow wakened from her winter nap,
For the frolic spring breeze on her door would tap.
Happy little children cried with laugh and shout,
“Spring is coming, coming, Pussy Willow’s out.”

Happiness
by A.A. Milne

John had Great Big Waterproof Boots on;
John had a Great Big Waterproof Hat;
John had a Great Big Waterproof Mackintosh — And that
(Said John)
Is That.

A Little Seed
by Mabel Watts

A little seed for me to sow
A little earth to make it grow.
A little hole,
A little pat,
A little wish,
And that is that.
A little sun,
A little shower,
A little while,
And then – a flower.

Nest Eggs
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Birds all the sunny day
Flutter and quarrel
Here in the arbour-like
Tent of the laurel.

Here in the fork
The brown nest is seated;
Four little blue eggs
The mother keeps heated.

While we stand watching her
Staring like gabies,
Safe in each egg are the
Bird’s little babies.

Soon the frail eggs they shall Chip, and upspringing
Make all the April woods Merry with singing.

Younger than we are,
O children, and frailer,
Soon in the blue air they’ll be,
Singer and sailor.

We, so much older,
Taller and stronger,
We shall look down on the Birdies no longer.

They shall go flying
With musical speeches
High overhead in the
Tops of the beeches.

In spite of our wisdom
And sensible talking,
We on our feet must go
Plodding and walking.

About the Author

Susan Shea, after more than 20 years in a Montessori learning environment, has taken time out of the classroom to develop a new series of nature-themed readers for young families who enjoy the outdoors and appreciate the value of literacy. Find out more about these beautiful hardcover books at www.phoneticplanet.com, where you can also explore other nature-themed learning resources.

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