Happy Springtime!
by Kate McMullan; illus. by Sujean Rim
Preschool, Primary    Porter/Holiday    32 pp.    g
3/21    978-0-8234-4551-6    $18.99

Shades of icy blue suffuse the first double-page spread, with four kids all bundled up against a chilly, snowy day: “Here’s a message for school bus riders heading out on a cold, dark morning.” That message also goes for birds on the next spread and then, on subsequent pages, for kids wrestling with winter gear, dogs in coats, and crossing guards: “Do not lose heart!” After these encouraging words, a page-turn shows the Earth and sun (from space), with deep-blue hues punctuated with smiley yellow stars and a reminder that the days are growing longer until “the day becomes exactly as long as the night.” Then glorious springtime, with daffodils, daisies, and butterflies and a light-blue sky appearing: “On this day we say Happy Springtime!” The rest of the book bids happy spring to a variety of people and creatures: “…to groggy frogs waking up from their winter’s sleep…wielders of watering cans…bees burrowing in blossoms,” and many more. McMullan’s rhythm and word choices are enthusiastically joyful, a perfect pairing with Rim’s watercolor, pencil, crayon, and collage illustrations. The children shown throughout have a variety of hair colors and skin tones, and once spring has hit, their postures and expressions become celebratory. After our pandemic year, the arrival of springtime may be particularly welcome to children who have been cooped up for a long time — but this picture book will be welcome all year round and next year, too.

From the May/June 2021 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.