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Is It Spring?: A Beautiful Picture Book about the Seasons, Nature, and Patience, for Kids
Indie Bestseller
If one day buds bloom and birds chirp, and the next day a late snow falls from the sky, is it spring? Will it ever be spring? An evergreen, child-friendly picture book that explores themes of patience, hope, the seasons, and nature by the New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes.
A flower in the garden down the street. Birds in the sky. Buds on the branches in the park. It must be spring.
But wait! What is this icy gust of wind? Why are snowflakes falling from heavy gray clouds? Will it ever be spring? Yes, says the sun. Just be patient.
Kevin Henkes, the #1 New York Times bestseller who has been awarded the Caldecott Medal, two Caldecott Honors, two Newbery Honors, two Geisel Honors, the Children’s Literature Lecture Award, and Children’s Literature Legacy Award, among numerous other honors, has created a masterful and classic picture book that combines an evocative call-and-response text with delicate and lovely illustrations. Readers will be left assured that the sun—and spring—will always come again.
If one day buds bloom and birds chirp, and the next day a late snow falls from the sky, is it spring? Will it ever be spring? An evergreen, child-friendly picture book that explores themes of patience, hope, the seasons, and nature by the New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes.
A flower in the garden down the street. Birds in the sky. Buds on the branches in the park. It must be spring.
But wait! What is this icy gust of wind? Why are snowflakes falling from heavy gray clouds? Will it ever be spring? Yes, says the sun. Just be patient.
Kevin Henkes, the #1 New York Times bestseller who has been awarded the Caldecott Medal, two Caldecott Honors, two Newbery Honors, two Geisel Honors, the Children’s Literature Lecture Award, and Children’s Literature Legacy Award, among numerous other honors, has created a masterful and classic picture book that combines an evocative call-and-response text with delicate and lovely illustrations. Readers will be left assured that the sun—and spring—will always come again.
33 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2026
About the author
Kevin Henkes
151 books1,250 followersKevin Henkes is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. As an illustrator he won the Caldecott Medal for Kitten's First Full Moon (2004). Two of his books were Newbery Medal Honor Books, Olive's Ocean in 2004 and The Year of Billy Miller in 2014. His picture book Waiting was named both a 2016 Caldecott Honor Book and a Geisel Honor Book. It was only the second time any author has won that combination of awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 16, 2026
Again, Kevin Henkes writes the perfect book at the perfect time. I read this over the weekend with my kids. It was 50* on Saturday, and then on Sunday it rained until it iced, then snowed. This is truly second/third winter or fool's Spring, and this book is the perfect anecdote for this time of year.
March 27, 2026
Now I understand everything about spring.
March 5, 2026
Kevin Henkes 💜💜
April 2, 2026
I had to smile as I read this cute picture book for young children. I have been asking the question, "Is it Spring?" on every warm day we had in late winter when I could see flower buds start to open only to get blasted the next day with a cold snap that damaged their delicate petals. Kevin Henkes, with minimal text and sweet illustrations, has perfectly captured the back-and-forth, up-and-down roller coaster of the weather that we can experience as winter transitions into spring. This would make a perfect read-aloud book for toddlers.
April 6, 2026
Changing seasons | Weather | Charming illustrations (appeal terms from NoveList) - Emma
April 13, 2026
Kevin Henkes, like this book, is perfect. Such a sweet ode to spring complete with late year snowstorms.
June 4, 2026
This picture book for the very young perfectly captures the fickle season of spring. Simple illustrations correspond to the simple text. Use it with young ones learning about the seasons.
March 15, 2026
Kevin Henkes can and does capture an idea in very few works and few illustrations He has done it again for those of us children and yes, adult about the question is it Spring. In my personal area this perfectly sums up the month of March with sunlight, blooming flowers, followed by wind and snow.
Henkes the whole experience in his low key text and charming illustrations done in watercolors and ink.
Henkes the whole experience in his low key text and charming illustrations done in watercolors and ink.
April 3, 2026
My grandfather had a saying so true that my mother commissioned the phrase to be illustrated in a watercolor painting by a local artist: "It isn’t spring in Michigan until it has snowed on the tulips three times." I happen to live in Illinois myself, but regardless of what Midwestern state you happen to reside, this saying seems to be fairly true everywhere (the exception being places like Southern Indiana, I suppose). Kevin Henkes is a Wisconsin man himself. As such, he knows and understands the cruel capricious lies that spring sings us every year. One day it’s a high of 63 and the next 38. This is hard enough to deal with if you’re an average everyday joe going about your life, but if you have children it becomes doubly hard. Like us, they want so so badly to get to wear lighter jackets. To go play outside in the parks and playgrounds without having to bundle up. But in spite of this widespread annual trial, I was not aware of any picture book that had the guts to tackle it head on. Not until Mr. Henkes himself had the wherewithal to bring it to life in his inimitable style. Even better, he’s kept it exceedingly simple, so that any parent or caregiver faced with that look of betrayal on their child’s face when they encounter an Easter Egg hunt covered in a foot of snowfall can pluck up this book and explain that this is just the way it goes. Is it spring? Nobody knows.
One does not usually associate Kevin Henkes with books of heartbreak and betrayal (especially in the latter half of his career) but how else can I describe the plot of Is It Spring? Those are the first words of the book on a green page, spoken with that kind of naïve hope that lies deep in everyone’s hearts come April. The flowers think so. So do the buds on the trees and birds. Then the words appear again but now on a blue page. “Is it spring?” The wind, the clouds and the sleeping animals all respond, “Not yet”. Now we come to a gray page with the same words once more. “Is it spring?” “No, said the late snow.” That’s fairly definitive, right there, and down it comes, bowing the heads of the tulips. Don’t worry, this is a book for kids, so a happy ending is in sight. On a pale pink page comes a new question, aching in its desperation. “Will it ever be spring?” Finally, we’ve a yes from the only one who counts: the sun. “Yes! Yes! Yes! And it was spring.”
The great children’s literary scholars of the future will have gobs of fun breaking down the different eras of Kevin Henkes’ literary career. From those early days with an all-mouse cast of characters like Wendell, Chrysanthemum, and Lilly, to his dabblings in middle grade, to his current crop of pink/purple/blue picture books written for the younger readers, he’s gone through fascinating phases. Henkes is also the closest thing we currently have to the grand old picture book masters of yore. He’s been faithful to his one and only publishing imprint Greenwillow (and they, no fools, have been faithful to him) since the day he began. He avoids having an online presence, perfectly content to stay amongst his apple orchards and focus on his books instead. And with this latest title he’s continuing a fine tradition of economical storytelling. The words are limited but tightly honed. There’s not a syllable out of place. It’s also an incredible example of a book that actually modulates the reader’s voice when they read it aloud. A calm comes over me, every time I said these words. Even when the text decries, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”, I say it with a quiet joy. I don’t know why. That just seems to be the way it should go.
I am a gardener myself, and I often hope that the theory that plants can understand a person’s emotional state through the tone of their words isn’t true. I hope this because every spring, when the snowdrops are getting away with coming up first (it’s in their name after all) there will be a balmy day in February or something and some fool daffodils will start to come up out of the ground. I will then spend more time than I oughtta yelling at them. I inform them, in no uncertain terms, that they are timing things poorly. It is too early to poke out their heads. Go back down. Shoo. It is not spring. That’s part of the reason why I think the opening of this book is so smart. Henkes begins with these lines: “Is it spring? Yes, said the flowers in the garden down the street.” Many flowers are idiots. So this rings true to me.
It’s also fun to see precisely how Henkes times his story. His is a slightly later spring season. There are buds on the trees. The tulips have managed to bloom. In the last image of the book, I actually saw some Solomon’s Seal (a plant that is WAY too successful in my own garden) and what looks like hydrangeas, but that I suspect must be peonies. But while adults like myself are squinting at the buds and blooms, Henkes also fills the book with small jokes for sharp-eyed spotters. You wouldn’t think in a book this simple in both text and image that there would be things to notice, but keep an eye peeled for a certain white scarf with red polka dots. It makes quite the appearance in a number of spreads.
If you go to Kansas City you will find an immersive picture book museum called The Rabbit hOle. Inside there are a number of exhibits featuring picture books old and new. One of the most soothing, in the midst of fun childhood chaos, is the exhibit based on Kevin’s books My Garden and Kitten’s First Full Moon. I have it on good authority that My Garden is also one of the most popular picture books in the museum’s gift shop. It was while reading this book that I decided that this title is a great pairing with that particularly book. Indeed, Is It Spring? feels like a kind of prequel to it. And like Kevin’s book Old Bear, spring is almost its own character on the page. When Kevin’s exhibit in The Rabbit hOle opened, the co-director of the museum Deb Pettid said that, “Kevin is one of the most impactful contemporary children’s book creators because of the attention and respect he gives to children and their perspectives.” Any book that acknowledges the heartbreak that comes when you think you’ve finally put away your woolly hat and gloves for good… only to break out the snowpants and boots the next day, is a book that speaks to the child perspective, absolutely. Kevin Henkes, man. He just keeps making the best books.
One does not usually associate Kevin Henkes with books of heartbreak and betrayal (especially in the latter half of his career) but how else can I describe the plot of Is It Spring? Those are the first words of the book on a green page, spoken with that kind of naïve hope that lies deep in everyone’s hearts come April. The flowers think so. So do the buds on the trees and birds. Then the words appear again but now on a blue page. “Is it spring?” The wind, the clouds and the sleeping animals all respond, “Not yet”. Now we come to a gray page with the same words once more. “Is it spring?” “No, said the late snow.” That’s fairly definitive, right there, and down it comes, bowing the heads of the tulips. Don’t worry, this is a book for kids, so a happy ending is in sight. On a pale pink page comes a new question, aching in its desperation. “Will it ever be spring?” Finally, we’ve a yes from the only one who counts: the sun. “Yes! Yes! Yes! And it was spring.”
The great children’s literary scholars of the future will have gobs of fun breaking down the different eras of Kevin Henkes’ literary career. From those early days with an all-mouse cast of characters like Wendell, Chrysanthemum, and Lilly, to his dabblings in middle grade, to his current crop of pink/purple/blue picture books written for the younger readers, he’s gone through fascinating phases. Henkes is also the closest thing we currently have to the grand old picture book masters of yore. He’s been faithful to his one and only publishing imprint Greenwillow (and they, no fools, have been faithful to him) since the day he began. He avoids having an online presence, perfectly content to stay amongst his apple orchards and focus on his books instead. And with this latest title he’s continuing a fine tradition of economical storytelling. The words are limited but tightly honed. There’s not a syllable out of place. It’s also an incredible example of a book that actually modulates the reader’s voice when they read it aloud. A calm comes over me, every time I said these words. Even when the text decries, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”, I say it with a quiet joy. I don’t know why. That just seems to be the way it should go.
I am a gardener myself, and I often hope that the theory that plants can understand a person’s emotional state through the tone of their words isn’t true. I hope this because every spring, when the snowdrops are getting away with coming up first (it’s in their name after all) there will be a balmy day in February or something and some fool daffodils will start to come up out of the ground. I will then spend more time than I oughtta yelling at them. I inform them, in no uncertain terms, that they are timing things poorly. It is too early to poke out their heads. Go back down. Shoo. It is not spring. That’s part of the reason why I think the opening of this book is so smart. Henkes begins with these lines: “Is it spring? Yes, said the flowers in the garden down the street.” Many flowers are idiots. So this rings true to me.
It’s also fun to see precisely how Henkes times his story. His is a slightly later spring season. There are buds on the trees. The tulips have managed to bloom. In the last image of the book, I actually saw some Solomon’s Seal (a plant that is WAY too successful in my own garden) and what looks like hydrangeas, but that I suspect must be peonies. But while adults like myself are squinting at the buds and blooms, Henkes also fills the book with small jokes for sharp-eyed spotters. You wouldn’t think in a book this simple in both text and image that there would be things to notice, but keep an eye peeled for a certain white scarf with red polka dots. It makes quite the appearance in a number of spreads.
If you go to Kansas City you will find an immersive picture book museum called The Rabbit hOle. Inside there are a number of exhibits featuring picture books old and new. One of the most soothing, in the midst of fun childhood chaos, is the exhibit based on Kevin’s books My Garden and Kitten’s First Full Moon. I have it on good authority that My Garden is also one of the most popular picture books in the museum’s gift shop. It was while reading this book that I decided that this title is a great pairing with that particularly book. Indeed, Is It Spring? feels like a kind of prequel to it. And like Kevin’s book Old Bear, spring is almost its own character on the page. When Kevin’s exhibit in The Rabbit hOle opened, the co-director of the museum Deb Pettid said that, “Kevin is one of the most impactful contemporary children’s book creators because of the attention and respect he gives to children and their perspectives.” Any book that acknowledges the heartbreak that comes when you think you’ve finally put away your woolly hat and gloves for good… only to break out the snowpants and boots the next day, is a book that speaks to the child perspective, absolutely. Kevin Henkes, man. He just keeps making the best books.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Henkels (sometimes with partner Laura Dronzek) is no stranger to making books about the changing seasons. One might wonder, what can he do with a book about spring again? Well, Henkes once again presents that eager anticipation of winter to spring in a delicate, delightful, and splendid way which stands in contrast from his other seasonal books. Knowing the man, he could probably crank out several more originals and still remain fresh and simultaneously comforting that seasons will change. Pair this with Fogliano/Stead's Spring book and you'll hit that child-like longing gap in those very brown days before the winter tundra turns from melted and withered plants into the burst of bloom that reliably awaits us on the other side.
March 24, 2026
A fantastic choice for the start of spring when sometimes it feels like summer and then you get snow again. This is definitely going in my spring storytime toolkit, maybe paired with On a Snow-Melting Day: Seeking Signs of Spring.
April 5, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Is It Spring? is a peaceful, hopeful children’s book that highlights the beauty of nature.
This was absolutely adorable. Kevin Henkes’ illustrations were stunning, filled with calming colors, thoughtful details, and captivating imagery. Henkes’ writing was engaging and fun. Thoughtfully and gently sharing hope, patience, and joy, Is It Spring? is a wonderful celebration of spring and the seasons.
Thank you to the publisher for the free review copy!
Is It Spring? is a peaceful, hopeful children’s book that highlights the beauty of nature.
This was absolutely adorable. Kevin Henkes’ illustrations were stunning, filled with calming colors, thoughtful details, and captivating imagery. Henkes’ writing was engaging and fun. Thoughtfully and gently sharing hope, patience, and joy, Is It Spring? is a wonderful celebration of spring and the seasons.
Thank you to the publisher for the free review copy!
April 10, 2026
Different natural phenomena answer the question "Is it spring?"
During the transition between winter and spring, there are many contradictory signs showing both the arrival of spring and the continuation of winter. Young readers may relate to experiencing the mixed messages as they anxiously wait for spring with excitement and disappointment.
The illustrations were done in watercolor and ink.
During the transition between winter and spring, there are many contradictory signs showing both the arrival of spring and the continuation of winter. Young readers may relate to experiencing the mixed messages as they anxiously wait for spring with excitement and disappointment.
The illustrations were done in watercolor and ink.
April 15, 2026
These Green Bay readers could relate to this book! Just the right amount of words for the 4s and 5s, along with Kevin Henkes's classic colorful style. (Bonus points for the size of the text. Kids could read No and Yes from where they sat.) Did I give an extra star because it's Kevin Henkes? Maybe. But the kids were intrigued to know he's from Wisconsin too! "Like Wisconsin Badgers?" Yes, he is a Badger!
May 5, 2026
Kevin Henkes does it again! I'm in love with this, his latest picture book, that hits all the notes with hints of early spring (sun! tulips!) then how spring withdraws and snow appears (so cold! covering the flowers!). Lovely illustrations and just the right tone, the back and forth dance of spring, until truly, spring arrives!
Themes: spring, animals, nature
Ages: preK-1st grade
Pub year: 2026
Themes: spring, animals, nature
Ages: preK-1st grade
Pub year: 2026
July 26, 2026
In this book "Is it spring?" is asked three times. While the flowers and birds say "Yes!" the icy wind and hibernating animals say, "Not yet", and the late snow says, "No!" But when asked, "Will it ever be spring?" the sun replies, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" The sun melts the snow and the animals come out of their dark homes and it is spring. This is not my favorite book about spring but I do not hate it either.
March 24, 2026
Kevin Henkes has done it again! A perfect book that transitions readers from Winter to Spring. Is it Spring? Yes. No. Yes!
I also adore the last line in his bookflap biography: "Kevin Henkes lives with his family in Madison, Wisconsin, where winter often lingers." Knowing Wisconsin, it's so true!
2026 storytime theme: Spring Transition
Reviewed from a library copy.
I also adore the last line in his bookflap biography: "Kevin Henkes lives with his family in Madison, Wisconsin, where winter often lingers." Knowing Wisconsin, it's so true!
2026 storytime theme: Spring Transition
Reviewed from a library copy.
April 12, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. Living in an area where we ask "is it Spring" often, this is the perfect read-aloud. The story is a simple story that follows a young animal wondering if spring has arrived. The story explains the feeling of waiting and noticing small changes in nature. It’s a great read-aloud for young children and helps them recognize early signs of seasonal change.
March 2, 2026
I mean, it's a Henkes book, so it's going to be gorgeous. I really like how it focused on how temperamental the weather can be. There are several pages with an outdoor cat, pictured with small mammals and birds, so I'm taking off a star for that.
March 5, 2026
Cute and short book to keep kids entertained and not too hard for kinder-2nd grade to read by themselves. Enjoyable illustrations as always and all to relatable with the late spring snow as a fellow Wisconsinite.
March 17, 2026
I freaking loved this spring book. Subtle-ly funny, lets kids in on the joke that adults are always talking about (false spring), and beautiful illustrations. Love a high quality nature picture book that people actually want to read aloud.
April 24, 2026
A quiet, stunning meditation on the "in-between" moments of the seasons. Henkes perfectly captures the sensory details and the agonizingly slow wait for winter to turn to spring. It’s a peaceful, artistic pick for teaching young readers about patience.
May 19, 2026
To be honest it was the story line didn't captive me as much as the pictures did. My son's class kept wanting to just stare at imagery instead of pay attention to the words. Either way the class loved it! So a win for me!
September 12, 2025
Spring can be a fickle season, and Henkes demonstrates it well in this adorable book as the neighborhood struggles to decide whether or not spring has finally arrived.
Review of advance copy
A lovely book - pure Kevin Henkes!
March 2, 2026
Not much storytelling word-wise, but I like the illustrations.
March 5, 2026
Super easy read for your little ones to practice about how it is almost spring but not quite yet.
March 10, 2026
short, as Henkes usually are. I think I waited 2 weeks too long for this one, since I think (hope) we're done with snow for this winter. But good.
Read
March 11, 2026While I do like the idea of the false spring, this book is kind of lackluster. I was like eh.
March 13, 2026
I love the concept of this book - especially as we read it in March in Ohio on a 65 degree day that came after snowfall two days prior. It's incredibly succinct and didn't have much of a impact.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews