Busy Spring: Nature Wakes Up

by Sean Taylor, Alex Morss, Cinyee Chiu (Illustrations)

After a long sleepy winter, the trees, flowers, and animals are getting ready for a busy spring. Discover all the different ways nature wakes up when spring arrives in this story of a family exploring their garden. 

Nonfiction facts included in the back.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Childrens, Gardening, Animals, Science, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 16, 2021

About the author

Sean Taylor started writing poetry as a teenager. In 1993, he came across a newspaper article which reported that a goat slaughtered in Iran had been found to have teeth made of gold. He tried writing a story for children. It was called 'The Goat with the Golden Teeth' and it won second prize in a competition run by the British newspaper 'The Independent' and Scholastic Children's Books. Since then, Sean has focussed on writing for children and has published over forty books for young readers of different ages. As well as writing, he has many years’ experience visiting schools, where he works with poetry and storytelling to encourage young people to write themselves. He lives partly in England (where he was born) and partly in Brazil( where his wife is from.)

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a children's book with a lot of Non-Fiction stuff in the back of the book that I read to my twin boys. This is a cute children's book all about Spring, and we are so ready for Spring. My boys and I always work in the garden during the Spring, so this is a great book for them. They loved the pictures in this book. I think this is good for reading to younger readers, or it is good for older 1st to 3rd to read. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (words pictures) or author (Sean Taylor and Alex Morss) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am still waiting for winter but this book is making me feel like I really cannot wait for the next spring!

The illustrations are so cheerful, bright and beautiful. It's the main highlight for me.

The writing is apt for the reading age group.

This sweet little story will make you want to go out and plant your own garden.

Thank you, author/artist and the publisher, for the advance reader copy.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Busy Spring: Nature wakes up is a delightful children's book about spring. The book starts out with a father and his two young daughters going in the garden to plant some carrot seeds. The father tells the children what spring means and how nature wakes up. The children observe different animals and insects and happenings in the garden. The illustrations are lovely and I found the book a delight to read.
I enjoyed the last few pages if the book too which are factual information about things that occur in spring and certain animals etc that can be found. I also enjoyed the information on the seasons such as why and how they occur in relation to how the earth has turned and in which direction.
So much to learn in this short 32 paged book!

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet and educational picture book for young kids about spring. Two little girls and their father spend time in their country yard on a spring day and notice all of the wildlife and changes of the season. There are diluted watercolor illustrations and there's a section at the end to teach you more about spring creatures and conservation. It missed the mark a little bit for me. Spring where I live in Minnesota doesn't just suddenly arrive and everything is green with flowers and butterflies. Right now we are about to enter spring here and there will be a big mix of mud, melting snow, budding trees, early spring flowers, cold and warm days, and so on. It happens over time, instead of just appearing as if by magic one morning in full bloom. That said, it's a very nice overview of nature's changes in springtime for young children.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t miss the back matter with science and nature information about spring.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.


I have had this book on my Netgalley shelves for a bit now, I just wanted to wait until it was almost time for Spring! I am currently reading this on the 8th and the weather is definitely improving for the better, it is still cold though. But I am sure it will warm up soon. And just like the girls in the book, I cannot wait to get back into gardening. Now just to hope that the garden centres will open so I can buy plants and such for my new projects.

We see two girls and their dad go through their very wild garden! Which has a pond, a big tree, a shed with something extra under it, and much more! It looked more like a wilderness or a visit to a park than that it looked like a garden. Haha, I guess if you have such a big garden that you have more space to let nature rule. My garden is, going by all the places I lived in, average in size. Not big, but also not small. Enough place to add some plants. But fully going nature, no.I

I had so much fun seeing all the things the girls and their father got up to to show that spring is truly coming. Insects that live in the compost heap are alive during spring, a bird is making her nest so sssttt be quiet don’t startle it, the pond is full of life and probably soon the frogs will start making sounds, and seeing them make a giant field for their crops. It was such a delight and I am honoured I could be with them on this first day of spring.

As I said before I love it when the title of the book pops up in the story!

After the fun and springwarming story we get some extra non-fiction information on spring. What it is, what plants grow, and much more. I am delighted this was added.

The art was just the absolute best and I love the style.

This was a lot of fun and I am sure it will be loved by kids. I would recommend it to all.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Happy Publication Day (belated)**

********

5 Stars

Oh, this is such a lovely book! It’s more of non-fiction teaching kids about the spring season, but there’s a little story that adds to the allure. The back pages have a lot of information with beautiful illustrations to explain the changes spring brings to the environment around us.

The book is lighthearted but not something we’d read once and set aside. It can be used as an introduction to seasons and the importance of taking care of nature. Take the book to a park or a garden and combine practical experience with reading. Kids would love it for sure.

To sum up, Busy Spring is a happy, cheerful, bright, and informative book for the little ones. Reading this one did make my day better.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#BusySpring #NetGalley

[Rebecca Crunden]

I wasn't expecting this to be so educational and informative! I picked it up thinking it was just a picture book for kids, and it is, but when you finish the sweet story of the family welcoming spring, the rest of the book focuses on educating kids about plants, animals, migration, life cycles, climate change and safeguarding the natural world. How wonderful! This is a lovely little book for parents to read to their children, perhaps before starting a garden or teaching them about kindness to all creatures, large and small.

Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy.

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[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Join a father as he teaches his two daughters all about the wonders of spring, and just what makes it such a busy time. The illustrations by Cinyee Chiu are gorgeous!





The book concludes with several pages explaining what animals, insects, and Mother Nature are up to in the spring, and all sorts of things kids can look for as they venture outdoors.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a look at this lovely book.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spring sunshine is nature's alarm clock, telling wildlife to wake up after winter. You can see, hear, and smell the signs of new life as the season arrives with a rush of energy.

Beautiful illustrated book about the changes in Spring. A father and daughter discover how spring helps nature in animals, for us, and the world. How it is important for growing food, flowers, and the care of the land. I appreciated how the book focus it being a family endeavor. Working together makes for stronger families and communities.

A book of discovery for the whole family.

A special thank you to Quarto Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this item through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a cute book!

This is a picture book that turns the changing of the season into a sort of poem about the changes spring brings. The illustrations are colorful and fun! The back of the book has information about various plants and animals and drawings too! It's educational and a fun read!

I love that the book blends fact and fiction to make learning about spring and plants easy and interesting for kids. A great book that would make a great gift!

[Mags (mbooksbycandlelight) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The illustrations are so beautiful, and the characters and all the nature information were really cute and interesting. It had quite a bit of text so I'd recommend it for children older than 6.

I received an eArc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – words & pictures for a free digital copy for my review.

"The spring sunlight is nature's alarm clock." What a sweet word picture that accompanies these lovely illustrations that will help children embrace the joys of spring. The majority of the book is a story of two siblings and their father exploring their garden in spring. The end of the book contains facts pages that give more information about plants and animals and how spring effects them.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the artwork in this book. There were plenty of details and it is easy for kids to follow and understand. Many of the wonders of spring were showcased, like the plants growing, animals coming out of hibernation, caterpillars turning it butterflies and tadpoles to frogs. It is a time where natures comes alive and wakes up after its long winter sleep. There was also a few pages in the back with educational information of plants, animals, insects and more. This would be interesting for kids to learn and talk about.

[Meagan Snodgress · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to Spring for young readers through elementary age. The illustrations even had detailed images of frog and butterfly lifecycles that my 4.5 year old was eager to point out and discuss. The story is sweet and full of information without being too dense for young readers. The information in the back provided even more of a deep dive into Spring, plant behavior, animal behavior, and biomes. This was well worth the read and the purchase.

[Electra (spoonfulofhygge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book about spring and life that comes back after a dark winter.
Living in Sweden, I am glad I have this book to read to my daughter.
Loved the illustrations, the fact that we see a dad being a gardener, the two sisters being kind to each other, the facts in the end for the different plants and animals.
It was a joy to read!
Thank you Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Alastair French · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful children’s book about spring. The illustrations are fantastic: clear, colourful, correct. The story is simple: exploration and discovery. There is a further reading section with more details about the seasons and the wildlife.
My only critique would be that I wish the book creators had put more effort into the typography, it doesn’t do the artwork justice.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! The illustrations are intricate and involving while the text is both entertaining and informative. And then there's the further information and even websites at the end! Once I get a print copy, I plan to share it while playing Vivaldi's Spring in the background. Every library needs a copy as well!

[JessieD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Busy with Spring written by Sean Tyler and Alex Morss, and illustrated by Cinyee Chiu, follows two sisters and their father as they explore and learn in their backyard. As they explore and learn more about their garden, they see the bigger picture and phenomena of “nature waking up”, Springtime.

We follow Jasmine and her sister's curiosity as they take in the life and busy time of spring. “Plants are busy, animals are busy, spring is a busy time” dad remarks to his daughters. They have been staring at their gray gloomy garden for a long few winter months. Now, spring has arrived and plants/animals are waking up. The sisters learn quickly, “spring sunlight is nature’s alarm clock. Plants are racing to wake up”. Dad takes the girls around outside as they watch and explore each plant and animal begin to wake up. With each page, comes a new creature's life. We learn about butterflies, tadpoles, plants, and so much more. The girls cannot believe all that goes on in their garden.

This picture informational picture book really captures the science behind spring. Through the girl's experience, the reader can learn along the way. I learned a lot about the wonderful things nature has to offer. You learn how each plant and animal responds to the changing weather, as the sunshine increases causing temperatures to as well. Alex Morss (author) is an ecologist and journalist and uses her science background to help introduce the science behind spring. I also learned how one sets up their garden for the spring season. Through the detailed and realistic illustrations we can see the smaller components of life come to life. Through the colorful scenes, we can see the spring behaviors of different plants and animals. The illustrator uses perspectives with their drawings in a way where we can see above and below water at the same time. This is very cool for the reader to see. It allows us to understand why what is going on or happening above affects so much more below. We can see how insects, plants, and animals all work together to coexist. The illustrations add a lot to the story. They help supplement unfamiliar words and practices in the garden.

Busy Spring is recommended for ages 3-6. However, I feel this could be used in a variety of classrooms with all different age ranges. I could use this in my science unit as a mentor text and a way to hoan in on Spring. You could use this as a way for students to observe and note the changes that happen when a season changes. You can also use this in a classroom setting to dissect and critique illustrations. You could have students focus on the various perspectives offered in this book. You could see life from a tadpole's view as well as the world through a butterfly high in the sky.

Sean Taylor is an award winning author who has published many books. This is one of his newest books. I found this text on his website as a must read text. I really enjoyed reading this informational book. I highly recommend this book and promise there is a way for this springtime sunshine to be incorporated into your classroom.

[bohemianrhapsodyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @netgalley and @quartokids

This book is called “Busy Spring.” It is written by Sean Taylor and Alex Morss. The illustrations are by Cinyee Chiu (WOW! 🌹).

This book is perfect for this time of the year because it is almost a busy spring.

The details in the illustrations capture the beauty of spring.

The excitement and feelings of joy come through the words, emphasized by the drawing.

I learned that apparently hedgehogs like to sleep under the compost pile in the winter (where it’s warm). Then why are they called a HEDGE hog? That’s silly!

There are so many things to learn about spring in this book. And I love how the authors put personal affections throughout as well. Such as the hole in dad’s shirt signals time for gardening.

When do you know it’s ready to start gardening and planting outside?

What do you see and hear as signals of spring?

What is your favorite part of spring?

Last but not least, there is a page about how spring has been affected by climate change and how bad that is for certain animals and ecosystems.

The good news is that there are ways to help and this book gives us some great ways we can help with the negative effects due to man’s contribution to increased climate change.

And guess what???!!! The last 8 pages tell you in a factual and scientific way what spring is, what animals you would see in spring, the plants you would see, and how these ecosystems work together. Wow! And the pictures are drawn so beautifully it makes me excited to learn about what it is I’m seeing in the drawing!

I give this book a BIG five stars
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

@ccinyee is the illustrator and @morss_alex and @seantstories are the authors, @quarto published this book yesterday March 16, 2021 so please get yourself a copy at your *local* bookstore or check your local library! 💐🌸💚🍀☘️🌹🌺🌷🌻🌼

#NetGalley #BusySpring

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto for providing an e-ARC copy of this wonderful book to review. This is an absolutely beautiful (in illustrations and story) book about those beginning moments of spring, when families open their doors to head outside after a long winter. Of course, nature has also woken up just moments before, and the plants and animals are a welcome sight in addition to the warmer weather.

If you go out to a park or a garden with kids and they excitedly point out every leaf in the tree and frog in the pond, this is the book for them. Not only will they be able to follow along with the artwork and find fun and delightful treasures in every corner, but they'll be part of the plot where two kids and their dad explore together. At the end of the book, there are lots of nonfiction resources about the animals and environment depicted in the fictional stories, and ways for young readers to get involved in eco-friendly, nature-aiding projects in their own gardens.

I adore the detail that the kids in this story know it's the first sign of spring because their dad has put on his shirt with a big hole in it, which is what he wears out in the garden. Of course, spring looks different depending where in the world you are and what weather you're used to, but details like that prove there are some kind of family-specific first signs (that kids will always pick up on before everyone else) that signal both new beginnings and comforting familiarities.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A father and his two daughters head out into the garden because spring has come and they need to work in the garden. As they hunt for a missing gardening tool, the girls and their father point out plants and animals they see and what they are doing during spring. In the back of the book is further information about what causes spring, and its importance for many plants and animals.

A great little educational but engaging romp outside looking at spring animals and plants. The way the girls explore the yard with their father looking for the gardening tool makes their talk about the plants and animals feel very natural. The littlest one likes to imitate various animals and has a short attention span, and that helps make the family feel very realistic. I like that the animals featured aren’t all your typical spring critters (I actually think the setting is supposed to be England based on the critters, but it could be other places in Europe too). I also like that nowhere is a certain month mentioned in association with spring, making this a spring book ok for the Southern Hemisphere too. Hand this to curious kids who love animals and the outdoors and are learning about the seasons.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such beautiful book just as the spring itself. Busy Spring features two girls and their father who all went out to their garden because winter was over, it's finally spring and there are things to be done in their garden. I love the illustrations so much. It's so beautiful and adorable and perfectly captures the beauty and warmness of spring. While they were in the garden their father taught them things about nature from the flowers to the animals living there. Further and into the later parts, it discussed more facts about nature, like what is spring, plants and animals and their relationship with one another, all in a simple manner that can easily be understood. It also addresses climate change and the fact that kids can help nature too and gives few ways on how. Overall, Busy Spring is a quick, fun and informative book perfect to read with kids while teaching them or introducing them to nature. The illustrations will surely help kids be more engaged and interested to read the book and hopefully to learn more about the subject too. I recommend.

**Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me a review copy in exchange of an honest review. This, by any means, did not affect nor influence my review.**

[mikayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

BUSY SPRING by Sean Taylor and Alex Morss tells the story of two young girls who join their father out in the garden for a day of exploration as the seasons change from winter to spring. As a children's librarian, I have read many, many books about the changing seasons, so it can be difficult to find a unique angle to talk about it from. However, I think the author Sean Taylor did an incredible job with this book, as did the illustrator. I was honestly amazed by just how informative this book was and how much detail was included—from observations about life cycles and food chains, to the ideas of composting and transformation, this book addresses so many unique aspects of the season in depth. Additionally, the book includes a few pages of non-fiction resources on plants, animals, and nature's symbioses. Finally, it includes some resources and potential action steps for how young readers can help the environment. This book would definitely be a little text-heavy for use in storytime programming, but I would certainly purchase this text for my library's collection and it is a sweet, interesting, and informative book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy of this text for review!

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

A celebration of everything that IS Spring and the busying that comes with the waking of Spring, after Winter. For me, Spring is the best time of the year and Sean Taylor has described a small child’s experience of Spring, so clearly and beautifully that I feel the sense of anticipation and excitement.
I liked the father daughter conversation, it felt natural. The bit when Jasmine corrected her father about frogs growing into butterflies added heartfelt humour and character.
The exploration of the garden by Jasmine, her sister and her father, complemented nicely with the exploration that insects and animals make at this time of year. And beautiful compositions created by Cinyee Chiu, with a colour palette that mirrors the uplifting celebration of Spring.

The last four spreads provide the reader with information about everything to know about Spring, from science to nature. So maybe each time the book is read by the parent, a different pocket of information can be told to the child so they learn something new each time. Or a conversation can be started to discuss how the child feels about Spring and what they know about Spring.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Busy Spring is a wonderful story about the arrival of spring. The story follows two young girls and their father throughout their yard in search of signs that it’s spring so that their father can plant carrots in their home garden.

The artwork is beautiful! There were several pages explaining pollination, animal migration, and how plants and animals hibernate and grow between winter into spring. There were further resources at the end of the story for kids to check out online. There were also activity prompts for children to help animals during the shifting season of spring arriving early due to climate change. A very great ways for kids to be a part of the solution on climate change.

This book was fantastic! I would highly recommend this entertaining and informative read for the whole family, classroom, or library. I think this would especially appeal to homeschooling parents.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Busy Spring: Nature Wakes Up by Sean Taylor & Alex Morss
Rating: 5/5

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reasonably successful look at how nature changes and kicks into gear when spring arrives. Two energetic sisters and their gardener dad want to get on with digging the vegetable patch ready for the next carrot crop, but there is just too much to see, and luckily for them every relevant distraction possible is there, from the tadpoles in the pond they just happen to have, to caterpillars by the compost heap, birds nest-building, and so much more. A few non-fiction pages go through the science a bit more soberly, and while it looks excellent, I think it missed something. I'm not dissuading a school library from investing in the whole set when all four seasons are present and correct (so far, I believe, we've only had the winter volume before now), but I think there was a step unmade between this, which will be a useful volume to have, and a different kind of approach which might have been a book the target audience could get to love. Three and a half stars.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Busy Spring" belongs in every preschool classroom and on children's home bookshelves, as well. The beautifully detailed illustrations invite children to slow down, to look closely, and take note of what they see. The realistic dialogue between two young girls and their dad transports the reader to the exuberant anticipation of early spring days when new life is bursting out everywhere! I love the way this book captures both of these important ways to engage with nature--quiet, careful observation and excited, celebratory anticipation.

The language and sentence structure make this a great read-aloud; the pictures make it a great quiet time book for a child to leaf through on their own.
The scientific info in the book's final pages is exactly the right amount of information, and I love that it takes climate change as a given. That's so refreshing!

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for a free ebook version for review.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing, uplifting book! The whole story feels alive, full of energy and happiness.
We see Jasmine, her sister, and her dad going out into the garden which is springing into life after the winter. It is a joyous exploration of nature to be found in your own back garden. Birds, insects, plants, puddles! How fun it is to be outside and help with the digging!
There is a lot to be learnt from this book too, not only in the fictional story at the start of the book, where we find out about plants, light, pollen and insects, lifecycles and habitats, but also in the following non-fiction section which contains further explanations about spring, seasons, plants, trees, insects, hibernation, climate change and how you can help.
Alongside the beautiful illustrations, this book is an ode to waking up with nature, enjoying it, helping it, and being mindful for the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – words & pictures for the e-arc.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

~ Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review ~

I've read the ARC of "Busy Spring" a couple of times since it was given to me, and each time I've been so impressed by how visually stunning and informational this book is. I feel like this book would be best for older kids aged between 6-8 because it's so information-heavy, but I can easily imagine a younger child flipping through it for the gorgeous pictures. The narrative is simple but effective, although I will admit that I found the younger sister to act more like filler noise occasionally. Over all I found this to be a great book that encourages kids to appreciate the wonders of Spring and to help protect our planet.

Summary
Recommended age range: 6-8
Pros: beautiful illustrations; engaging narrative; loads of information; positive message
Cons: -