What do you think?
Rate this book
Hello Seasons!
Hello Spring!
A vibrant celebration of the natural changes and human joys of springtime
A cacophonous celebration of nature's return to vibrancy after a long, quiet winter, Hello Spring! features bright, enticing photographs from award-winning National Geographic photographer Shelley Rotner.
The simple, lyrical text speckled with action-packed verbs—Crocuses tease . . . Dandelions dot . . . Cherry blossoms pop and parade . . . —is accessible for new readers as it introduces the glories and biological rhythms of springtime.
The bright nature photographs will have young readers bursting with enthusiasm for the season as they learn about the changes in the landscape, as snow melts and living things begin to grow.
Shelley Rotner's energetic portraits of diverse children add vitality and warmth to this celebration of the season, showcasing the joy of kids interacting with the natural world.
Follow the changing seasons with the rest of Shelley Rotner's acclaimed Hello Seasons! series!
A cacophonous celebration of nature's return to vibrancy after a long, quiet winter, Hello Spring! features bright, enticing photographs from award-winning National Geographic photographer Shelley Rotner.
The simple, lyrical text speckled with action-packed verbs—Crocuses tease . . . Dandelions dot . . . Cherry blossoms pop and parade . . . —is accessible for new readers as it introduces the glories and biological rhythms of springtime.
The bright nature photographs will have young readers bursting with enthusiasm for the season as they learn about the changes in the landscape, as snow melts and living things begin to grow.
Shelley Rotner's energetic portraits of diverse children add vitality and warmth to this celebration of the season, showcasing the joy of kids interacting with the natural world.
Follow the changing seasons with the rest of Shelley Rotner's acclaimed Hello Seasons! series!
32 pages, Hardcover
Published February 28, 2017
1 person is currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Rotner
93 books23 followersWhen I was five, I refused to go to kindergarten. I declared it was for babies. I already knew how to read, but what really bothered me the most was that the kids mixed up the paintbrushes and colors at the easel so there was never true blue, red, yellow or green. Every time my teacher turned her back, I left the room and headed to the first grade class diagonally across the hall. Luckily, I had a friend there who happily shared her desk with me until the teacher noticed and sent me back to kindergarten. After many successful escapes, a trip to the principal and some testing, I was officially moved to that first grade class with beautiful autumn leaves painted on the door.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 8, 2017
Shelley Rotner captures the beauty of spring with gorgeous color photography and joyous text that celebrate the season’s feast for the senses. We begin with an image of a child peering out a blurred winter window and travel through the spring season until we arrive at the end with children flying a kite dressed for a summer run with the blue sky and white puffy clouds above them.
Rotner delivers an exceptional informational picture book that young children will enjoy with and their caregivers will be excited to share whether in a circle time or on a lap there is so much to see and discuss. Each page features a short text in spring green hues with the critical keywords of the passage highlighted in bold and larger text size. The text itself has the right balance of the familiar “Animals wake up from their deep winter sleep-“and the unfamiliar “A chorus of tree frogs sings wake up, wake up!” (Underlining is my own addition.) that is crucial for language development in pre-literate age children. The color photographs are arranged with care as they vary in size and content on each two page spread. When children are pictured, they echo the diversity of people living in the United States and while the setting and props may have been selected, the children are captured in a way that suggests a natural motion that is not staged but spontaneous. A small glossary appears on the copyright page which has been moved to the end of the book which is a wise choice as the title page has such a glorious full color photo underneath the text. To have a front matter page full of white space after the color would be a jarring visual experience between the title page and the actual story. This creates a smooth flow in the start to the book. This book is a companion volume to Hello Autumn! and I will be among the many hoping that Winter and Summer will soon follow. I would highly recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library. This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
Rotner delivers an exceptional informational picture book that young children will enjoy with and their caregivers will be excited to share whether in a circle time or on a lap there is so much to see and discuss. Each page features a short text in spring green hues with the critical keywords of the passage highlighted in bold and larger text size. The text itself has the right balance of the familiar “Animals wake up from their deep winter sleep-“and the unfamiliar “A chorus of tree frogs sings wake up, wake up!” (Underlining is my own addition.) that is crucial for language development in pre-literate age children. The color photographs are arranged with care as they vary in size and content on each two page spread. When children are pictured, they echo the diversity of people living in the United States and while the setting and props may have been selected, the children are captured in a way that suggests a natural motion that is not staged but spontaneous. A small glossary appears on the copyright page which has been moved to the end of the book which is a wise choice as the title page has such a glorious full color photo underneath the text. To have a front matter page full of white space after the color would be a jarring visual experience between the title page and the actual story. This creates a smooth flow in the start to the book. This book is a companion volume to Hello Autumn! and I will be among the many hoping that Winter and Summer will soon follow. I would highly recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library. This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
September 23, 2017
Rotner, Shelley. Hello Spring!, PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 2017. $14.99.
This is a photographic journey of how the seasons turn from Winter to Spring. The book covers the snow melts and plants and animals wake up. It then discusses all of the fun things there are to do in Spring, such as dig and plant, smell the flowers. The photographs of real children, plants, flowers, and animals, are the best part of this book. This is a great introduction to spring. Young readers will enjoy looking at pictures of kids just like themselves.
PRE-K, EL (K-3)- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
This is a photographic journey of how the seasons turn from Winter to Spring. The book covers the snow melts and plants and animals wake up. It then discusses all of the fun things there are to do in Spring, such as dig and plant, smell the flowers. The photographs of real children, plants, flowers, and animals, are the best part of this book. This is a great introduction to spring. Young readers will enjoy looking at pictures of kids just like themselves.
PRE-K, EL (K-3)- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
May 5, 2019
Nice book about the transition from winter to spring. Lovely poetic text with great vocabulary, using a wide variety of action words to describe what animals, plants, and people do in spring. There's a helpful glossary in the back as well. It's more "science" than artful, with many photographs on all of the pages instead of just one, but it's a great book to have on hand to introduce season changes and spring discussion.
May 18, 2022
May is learning about Spring. This spring book shows various colorful photographic pictures of kids interacting with spring things and nature. There is a glossary at the end to help children with some of the words.
March 8, 2018
The changing seasons are celebrated with crisp text and lovely photographs of local children enjoying the outdoors. Terrific choice to talk about spring with the prK-2 set.
March 26, 2019
Engaging informational text; beautiful photography; well-written (would be a good read-aloud); helpful glossary
April 19, 2019
The glories of spring are explored through poetic text and gorgeous photographs. Sure to be a winner with my students.
May 31, 2019
Pictures and words about the start of spring.
Definitely focuses on a "traditional" spring that takes us from snowy winter up to summer.
Definitely focuses on a "traditional" spring that takes us from snowy winter up to summer.
November 8, 2019
Gorgeous photographs accompany poetic text to tell the story of spring coming.
Lots for kids to talk about during storytime.
Lots for kids to talk about during storytime.
April 20, 2020
Note: I received an F&G of this book at an ALA conference.
January 11, 2022
Storytime Themes: Spring
March 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! The photography and lyrical text were a perfect match. A lot of variety to remind the reader of all that spring offers. Great for figurative language.
March 11, 2017
Having just shoveled six inches of newly-fallen snow from my driveway a couple of days ago, I was thrilled so see some of the vestiges of spring represented in the book popping up in my yard. The photos and simple but evocative text highlights winter's departure and springs much-anticipated arrival. Never has a season been so eagerly awaited in these cold climes! The images show all of the colors and sights associated with spring--greens and yellows and daffodils and newborn baby animals too gawky for their own limbs. As those signs of spring proliferate, before you know it, spring has turned into summer and time for play and longer days. Not only does this book celebrate spring with photographs depicting the characteristics of this one season in particular, but it provides a simple introduction to three of the four seasons. Elementary science classrooms might consider adding the title to their collection of books or the teacher might want to share it on the first day of spring or even in anticipation of chasing away those winter doldrums and replacing them with thoughts of warm breezes and the greens of spring.
March 23, 2017
Beautiful spring photographs make this book come alive, with children shown enjoying the season of rebirth.
March 20, 2017
Very short text with lots of lovely photos.
March 8, 2017
Each page features a selection of photographs paired with strong poetic descriptions as winter turns to spring. Love the diverse range of kids. Love the active language. With PreK-K, I'd talk about seasons. With 1st & 2nd graders, I'd move into looking at the language. Here's a sample:
"Snowdrops peek out
from under melting snow.
The sun shines stronger.
The lays get longer.
The earth warms.
Frozen streams thaw.
Tree sap flows.
A chorus of tree frogs sings wake up, wake up!"
"Snowdrops peek out
from under melting snow.
The sun shines stronger.
The lays get longer.
The earth warms.
Frozen streams thaw.
Tree sap flows.
A chorus of tree frogs sings wake up, wake up!"
February 28, 2017
Filled with bright and buoyant photographs, this picture book celebrates the arrival of spring. It moves from early spring filled with snowdrops emerging from the snow and the running of maple sap all the way through to the beginning of summer. In between, the book looks at flowers, bees, pollination, early garden crops, animals and much more. Even worms and snakes appear on the pages as the sunshine warms.
Rotner’s text is simple and straight forward. She writes with embedded rhymes, giving the text a wonderful poetic twist particularly when shared aloud. In other sections, she uses rhythm and repeating sentence structure to carry the celebratory tone forward and engage the reader.
Her photographs are equally compelling. Filled with light and the greens and blues of spring, they shine on the page. She has included children in many of the images, interacting with animals and plants. Throughout the book there is attention to diversity of the people on the page.
This is a spring fling of a book, worthy of being taken on a picnic or cuddled with on a rainy spring day. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Rotner’s text is simple and straight forward. She writes with embedded rhymes, giving the text a wonderful poetic twist particularly when shared aloud. In other sections, she uses rhythm and repeating sentence structure to carry the celebratory tone forward and engage the reader.
Her photographs are equally compelling. Filled with light and the greens and blues of spring, they shine on the page. She has included children in many of the images, interacting with animals and plants. Throughout the book there is attention to diversity of the people on the page.
This is a spring fling of a book, worthy of being taken on a picnic or cuddled with on a rainy spring day. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
March 7, 2017
Reads like a photo album with gorgeous pictures of spring awakening.
March 2, 2017
Very cheerful children's book filled with lovely photos of spring. Children should love the pictures of baby animals, plants and other creatures. Recommended.
February 24, 2017
Simple text and appealing color photographs introduce the season.
August 31, 2022
“Winter. Waiting… for nature to wake up. “
❤️ The photographs were nice and it has a nice variety of different things that happen in spring.
💫 I wish they had only had one photo per page (the murmurs made it a little too busy). I also wish the writing has stick with one style. Rhyming, longer thoughts, or 2-3 words. Jumping around between them all, mixed with all the photos, made it a little disorienting. But, if that’s the vibe you want to convey about spring (a ton of different things at once, some quick and some slow), you’ll really enjoy this book.
📆 I’d probably read this at early to mid spring but you could use this for anywhere from the end of winter (March maybe) all the way to early summer (which is where the story ends.
Check out StorytimeCorner.com to see our favorites grouped by time of year/theme we’d recommend reading them.
My Ranking System:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I absolutely love everything about the book and would buy it
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I love the book but there are enough “wishes” that I wouldn’t buy it but I’d definitely check it out again
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’m glad I read it once but it is a one time read and never again
⭐️⭐️ I was bored and wish I had the time back that I spent reading it
⭐️ I really didn’t like it and would advise people NOT to read it
❤️ The photographs were nice and it has a nice variety of different things that happen in spring.
💫 I wish they had only had one photo per page (the murmurs made it a little too busy). I also wish the writing has stick with one style. Rhyming, longer thoughts, or 2-3 words. Jumping around between them all, mixed with all the photos, made it a little disorienting. But, if that’s the vibe you want to convey about spring (a ton of different things at once, some quick and some slow), you’ll really enjoy this book.
📆 I’d probably read this at early to mid spring but you could use this for anywhere from the end of winter (March maybe) all the way to early summer (which is where the story ends.
Check out StorytimeCorner.com to see our favorites grouped by time of year/theme we’d recommend reading them.
My Ranking System:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I absolutely love everything about the book and would buy it
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I love the book but there are enough “wishes” that I wouldn’t buy it but I’d definitely check it out again
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’m glad I read it once but it is a one time read and never again
⭐️⭐️ I was bored and wish I had the time back that I spent reading it
⭐️ I really didn’t like it and would advise people NOT to read it
February 5, 2017
Joyous, vibrant photographs are the highlight of this homage to spring. Lyrical text is filled with action verbs because spring is not a static season at all. Bird return, eggs are laid, ferns unfurl. This is a beautifully imagined book that teacher will want to share with their students when the snow begins to melt.
January 24, 2017
Color photographs of flora and fauna with some rhymes and action verbs highlight sights and sounds of spring. Useful for elementary classroom season lessons.
Read
February 28, 2017Great multicultural diversity on the cover and throughout the book. The pictures are nice, too, and the poetic text.
April 4, 2017
Great non-fiction read-aloud.
April 5, 2017
Themes: spring, seasons
April 13, 2017
great story about the beauty and process of winter becoming spring. I adored that this book was so bright and beautiful with gorgeous photographs that capture the colors, feels, sights and sounds of the season. I know that the kids in my classes are going to be completed engaged with this stunning book. There is so much to love because the words float on the page and the photographs capture the attention with the spender of the season. I loved this book!
April 19, 2017
What lyrical language in this ode to spring! Love the spotlight on the changes we see in nature.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews