Spring Books for Preschoolers (and Toddlers, too)!
- Melissa McCall
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
Today, we are diving into some great literacy lesson plans using our favorite spring books for preschoolers and toddlers!
One of the questions I get asked most often when I walk into a classroom to teach literacy is, “How do you come up with all of this stuff!?”
And while I’d love to credit it all to a creative mind (thinking outside of the box does come easy to me), the real answer is simple: stories.
Stories are the spark that bring learning to life. They offer a natural starting point for exploration—from the simple plotlines and social-emotional lessons tucked inside, to the characters we can use to build vocabulary, model conversation, or even clap out syllables.
The beauty of a good book is that it gives us more than just a read-aloud—it gives us a springboard for intentional, playful, skill-rich learning. But here’s the key: we have to plan for it. That means reading ahead, thinking intentionally, and revisiting the story more than once.
When we take time to repeat a read-aloud, extend it into dramatic play, retell it with props, or build related art, science, or math activities—we give children the chance to deepen understanding and engage on a whole new level.
So today, I’m sharing a few of my favorite spring stories and how I use them to spark meaningful learning through simple, creative lesson plans. These books are bright, engaging, and perfect for helping your toddlers and preschoolers explore the world around them—while having FUN!
Spring Literacy Plans for Toddlers & Twos (Ages 1–3)
Book: Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson
Before Reading
Spring Surprise Box: Fill a box with safe spring items: a soft flower, toy worm, feather, leaf, cotton ball (cloud), and plastic bug. Let each child pull out an item and describe it.
Song Extension: Spring Freeze Dance by Kiboomers.
During Reading
Guess the Item: Cover each in the book with a Post-It note. What will be underneath? Guess and reveal on each page.
Interactive Story: Use felt pieces or real items to represent each thing Mouse finds. Let children touch and match them as you read.
After Reading
Obstacle Course: Place a picture of different animals around the room. Walk to each station and act out the picture: Tunnel like worms, hop like frogs, fly like butterflies.
Nature Walk: Bring your felt pieces or picture cards from the story. Hunt for real spring items that were in the story.
Book: Little Blue Truck’s Springtime by Alice Schertle
Before Reading
Who’s in the Barn? Sound Box: Hide toy animals in a textured bin with hay or paper. Let children reach in, guess the animal, and make the sound.
Song Extension: The Animals on the Farm by Super Simple Songs. Hold up baby animal flashcards or stuffed animals and sing using sounds and motions.
During Reading
Interactive Read-Aloud: Let children beep like the Little Blue Truck and name each animal as they appear.
Visual Tracking with Props: Use small animal puppets or toys as each new character appears. Have a child hold or move the animal as it’s introduced to help follow along and build sequencing.
After Reading
Baby Animal Sorting: Provide a variety of toy animals or printed animal pictures. Have children sort them into “babies” and “grown-ups”.
Retell Walk: Tape pictures of the different animals down the hall or around the classroom. Visit each picture as you walk and retell the story together.
Book: Buzz Buzz Baby by Karen Katz
Before Reading
Bug Sensory Bag: Fill a Ziplock bag with hair gel, plastic bugs, and flower confetti. Tape to the table for children to press and explore. Meet at circle to discuss what was inside.
Song Extension: Here Is the Beehive by Super Simple Songs. Use had motions to create hive with bees flying out. I LOVE this one!
During Reading
Act It Out: When you reveal the bug, invite children to move like it.
Bee Props: Tape a bee to the top of a popsicle stick. Allow the children to buzz the bees while you read!
After Reading
Bug Hunt: Hide paper bugs around the room. Give each child a magnifying glass to hunt and “explore”. After exploring, collect and count the total together.
Parachute Game: Use a parachute or sheet to bounce soft bugs in the air while singing a song.
Did you know...book extensions are now a part of our curriculum! Get ready-to-use lessons that bring stories to life!
Spring Literacy Plans for Preschoolers (Ages 3–5)
Book: The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Before Reading
What’s Inside?: Fill a bag with sunflower seeds. Shake them and let children reach inside to touch. What might it be? Reveal the seeds and discuss seed needs.
Song Extension: The Seed Song by Mr. Ryan’s Music. Act out planting and growing motions together.
During Reading
Interactive Read-Aloud: Pass out props to match the story. Use the props while reading to represent wind, animals, or the sun. Pause to ask, “What happened to this seed?”
Vocabulary Boost: Pick out a few tricky or rich words (like “drifted,” “exploded,” or “blossom”) and act them out as you go. “Can you explode like a flower opening?” “Let’s drift like seeds in the wind.”
After Reading
Seed Letter: Give each child a piece of paper. Ask them to write the first letter of their name on the paper. Squeeze glue over the drawn letter, then cover the letter with sunflower seeds.
Grow Game: Start crouched like seeds. Go through each step using your body to become tall, blooming plants. Repeat, but have different situations arise in which the seed won’t grow, just like in the story. Print cards with different scenarios to draw and act out the scenes for extra interaction.
Book: The Spring Book by Todd Parr
Before Reading
Spring Scent & Color Station: Explore flowers, grass, citrus peels, and vanilla-scented cotton balls. Ask, “What does this smell like?”
Song Extension: Song Extension: Spring Freeze Dance by Kiboomers.
During Reading
Partner Talk: Pause after a page and let children quickly turn to a partner and share something they saw or liked. “Tell your partner what your favorite picture was on that page.”
Spring Connections Chart: Keep a simple chart or whiteboard nearby. Ask children name items they see that remind them of spring and add them to the chart. Revisit after the story to talk more.
After Reading
Spring Drawing: Invite children to draw something they love about spring and share their artwork. Glue it on a circle map and hang!
Spring Yoga: Practice tree, rainbow, and flower poses as a calming end to your circle.
Book: The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins
Before Reading
Feel the Wind: Ask children to close their eyes and use a fan to blow air in their faces. What does it feel like? Why does the wind blow? Discuss!
Song Extension: Windy Day by KindyRock. Use streamers to dance like the wind—fast, slow, high, and low.
During Reading
Interactive Read-Aloud: Use felt items or picture cards to sequence the story as you go along.
Scarf Fun: Give each child a scarf to use while reading. Every time you say, “the wind blew,” pause and let children make a big “Whoosh!” sound together moving the scarf!
After Reading
Wind Relay: Use paper plates or fans to move tissue balls across the floor. Can you blow your ball to a specific letter?
Will It Fly: Bring in a fan and collect different items that will blow and will not blow. Give each child yes/no sticks. Ask children to predict if it will blow in the wind or not using sticks. Discuss your findings. What do the objects that blow have in common?
You Are Ready to Rock Springtime Learning!
Spring is such a magical time to bring stories to life—and these lessons are action-packed! But remember, you don’t have to do everything in one day. In fact, the real power comes from repeating songs, games, and read-alouds across several days. That’s how learning sticks.
Learn more about our three-day read aloud suggestions HERE.
With just a little planning and a lot of intention, your favorite spring book can become the foundation for an entire week of joyful, literacy-rich experiences—through movement, sensory play, and meaningful connection.
I’d love to hear from you—what’s your favorite spring story to share with young children? Drop your pick in the comments or tag me on Instagram @movinglittleminds!
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