Spring's Sprung

Mother Earth & Father Time

by Lynn Plourde, Greg Couch (Illustrator)

"Mother Earth rouses her

daughters -- March,

April, and May.

"You must wake the

world to start a new day.""

But sisters March, April, and May begin quarreling as soon as they awake from their long winter's sleep. They are so busy competing with each other that they have forgotten that it's their job to make the world blossom into springtime.

Can Mother Earth soothe her daughters and stop their silly squabbling?

Will spring ever arrive?

Lynn Plourde's bouncy text and Greg Couch's luminous illustrations continue the story of Mother Earth and her children. Families everywhere will herald the arrival of spring

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Poetry, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

I write kids' books--talk about a FUN job! I worked for 21 years as a speech-language therapist in Maine schools. When I got married, I got 3 & 4-year-old stepsons as part of my ready-made family. I read the boys picture books at bedtime. They fell asleep after 2 or 3 books, but I kept reading stacks and stacks of picture books and started to dream . . . maybe I could write picture books. I was already writing educational books (listening & speaking ideas for the classroom), but PICTURE BOOKS--that was different!

Different, and sloooooow! I had 13 years of rejections before getting my first book published, Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud, and I still get more rejections than acceptances--even after having more than 40 books published. So I'm still an author-in-training--learning to be a better author all the time.

I LOVE writing, the whole creative process. I also LOVE sharing my books with kids at schools: doing interactive readings, turning one of my books into a play, and teaching students how to plan and write different kinds of stories (i.e. problem stories, character stories, graphic novel scenes, fables) modeled after my books.

I love to try new kinds of writing such as poetic stories, a biography, a graphic novel, and more. Writing new kinds of stories is a challenge, but it makes writing fun and keeps me interested in the process.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mother Earth awakens her three Spring daughters - March, April and May - in this third picture-book in author Lynn Plourde and illustrator Greg Couch's quartet of stories about the four seasons and their celestial parents, Mother Earth and Father Time. The three Spring sisters cannot seem to get along, each striving to be the best, until finally their mother must remind them that each of them is most beloved...

Like Wild Child and Winter Waits before it, Spring's Sprung pairs a magical tale of nature and time with gorgeous illustrations. I don't know that I found the actual text here as accomplished as in the others - it sometimes didn't read very well, actually - but I enjoyed the story idea and artwork so much that I still found the book appealing. I really appreciate the idea of anthropomorphizing the seasons as the children of Mother Earth and Father Time, as the seasons are, quite literally, the product of time passing in the natural world. The accompanying artwork, done in acrylic paint and colored pencil, captures the fairy-tale feeling of the story. Recommended to anyone who has read any of the other stories about this 'family,' and to picture-book readers looking for celebrations of Spring.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this beautifully illustrated book Spring is represented by three daughters - March, April, and May - who must bring Spring to the world with the help of their Mother - Mother Nature. I liked this because the three "children" argue about who is the best daughter which distracts them from getting things ready. Mother has a good solution to each argument.

The whole thing is a poem, which is clever if not necessarily inspired. And I loved how Mother Nature and the daughters were illustrated in the book so they are individuals but also drawn to look like part of the scenery/nature. There are books for the other three seasons and I am eager to read them.

[Ed McKeogh · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the surface, it might seem odd to see a children's picture book on an adult's book list--and rated with 5 stars, no less! But here's the thing: The artwork by Greg Couch is stunning, and that's why I love this book. The richness of color and clever design make Mr. Couch's art breathtaking. If you love good art, you'll love this book.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always end up using this one, since March is also Women's History Month and I like the feisty sisters. I'm not sure how much of it my story time attendees grasp of the story, but hopefully it stretches them and they get some new ideas to think about. 3/21/12

Used this at PJ Story Time, had some older girls, who usually don't join the story time, request it.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still a stunning display of artistic talent - but the storyline was not appealing to me. Sibling rivalry.... The words did not flow as well as the others in the series. Still worth the read, especially if you are a fan of the others.

[Bella Herrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that is easy to read, understand, and visually stunning. The pictures of this book are what makes the book so beautiful. The concept of the book is also very unique and entertaining; three sisters named after the spring months fight to be the best, only to find out they are all loved equally.

[Ashlyn Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

The colorful illustrations can draw readers into the book. The rhyming can help keep young minds engaged in the reading. A lesson I did not expect to get from the book from the title is about a mother's equal love for siblings, despite sibling rivalry to be the favorite child.

[Annie Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely children's book that shows the personification of this season. The rhyming and fun words keep the children excited throughout the entirety of the book. The illustrations really added to the theme if Spring and the pastel colors directly correlate to the season and the weather.

[Lorie LovesBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute picture book about Mother Earth and her 3 daughters of Spring. The daughters have to get up and get dressed and sing to start the day. They also are competing for their mother's love. Illustrations are colorful, but there is not a lot of details.

[Keann Moncrieffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an exciting book; I thought it showed the spring season well! I thought the author was cleaver by having the names be the names of the spring months, and it was a fun story to read through and share with others.

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was fun and cute and the author did a fantastic job with incorporating humor into helping children learn about Mother Nature

[Wally Alexander]

My favorite. The Spring sisters March, April, and May bring us into Summer. Typical Lynn Plourd playful poetry.

[Kaley Coburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had amazing illustrations for children to ponder as well as a story that is wholesome and engaging for children. A great way for them to learn about spring!

[Lauren Hay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is filled with lots of rhyming and onomatopoeia (fun sounds!). Lynn Plourde uses very descriptive writing and lots of figurative language. The book also contains beautiful illustrations!

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book, about the relationship between sisters. Really detailed pictures.

[Craytonh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the bright illustrations of this book and I believe this story can help young children understand seasons as well as months. I can't wait to read other works from Lynn Plourde!

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations and the specific detail in the illustrations. I also loved that she wrote a book for each season.

[Grace Paradis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated story about the months of spring

[Chloe Bolduc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a great job of creating characters out of the months to represent the different seasons. The illustrations are very vibrant as well.

[Shay Vande · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gorgeously illustrated seasonal book that exudes so much soft light and love between Mother Earth and her seasonal/monthly children. I may get into the habit of reading this every Spring.

[Ashlyn Littlefield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and wording throughout the book! I loved how it went through the different months to make it interesting! Fun for children to read and learn a little bit too!

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Along with the book Winter Waits by Lynn Plourde, I love the message of these books about giving the seasons the humanistic qualities to make them relatable to everyone. A great message of siblings and family. Overall, pretty good book.

[MotherMagic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of the books in this four part series which also includes Wild Child (autumn), Summer's Vacation, and Winter Waits. The text often leaves something to be desired, but the art perfectly renders the mood and nature of nature, herself. I love the imagery of Mother Earth and the seasons as her children. This one depicts March, April, and May as daughters in their particular moods... windy, showery, and flowery.

[Sheniece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some children, who have siblings, can relate to these rivaling sisters because they may rival against their siblings also. It would be fun to read this story to students and have them figure out what theme of the story is in a language arts lesson. After students have figured out the theme of the story have a discussion with them about the theme and ask them questions to see how they figured it out.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was read at our local library's story time and, while the book's theme of sibling rivalry was one we enjoyed, it was the illustrations that blew me away with this one. They are absolutely stunning! Having just been exposed to this book, I was unaware that it is part of a series. We look forward to reading the others as well.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spring’s Sprung is one of a four part picture book set describing the changing of the seasons in a beautiful and unique way. These very earthy illustrations are absolutely stunning, depicting each of the months of spring (March, April and May) as children being awoken by Mother Earth.

[Daleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spring's Sprung is a colorful, picture book with a great way to introduce the Spring months. I really enjoyed the poetry of this book as well as the other books Lynn Plourde wrote about the seasons.

[Colleen McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books is a perfect way to explain seasons to younger kids! The pictures capture the reader from the start and Lynn Plourde does a great job explains the seasons with emotions and characters. A fun read for almost anyone!

[Whole And · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous imagery connecting young readers to the blossoming and awakening of spring with lyrical text and gentleness. Can also be a great resource to help siblings who may quarrel at times to come together.

[Kit · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not as good as the winter book, though the illustrations still look pretty neat. Sibling rivalry just isn't an issue in our house, which drives the plot of this book.