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Break out some cool books for spring break

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Traveling on spring break is like being part of a big party. Whether you go to the beach, the mountains, or Walt Disney World, chances are you won't be lonely. Either you love the vibrant spirit of a crowd or you hate it. If you are traveling this spring break, plan to take some books along for those long drives, flights, and perhaps even a few days without television. If you are staying home, make the same plan. Gather some books before the week to spring on your children so you don't find yourself watching a movie over and over. And over!

A theme works well for spring break reading. How about the topic of “spring” for spring break this year?

For the very young, “Countdown to Spring: An Animal Counting Book” is a beautiful counting book with watercolor paintings by Meilo So. Written by Janet Schulman, this book has everything from ladybugs to butterflies.

You can go on a spring counting walk with your little explorer. Count the flowers in a garden, the buds on a limb, and the caterpillars on a sidewalk. What other signs of spring do you see? After the walk, paint a spring picture. If your child isn't ready for real paint yet, make baby paint. Mix up a little water, flour, and food color for safe finger paint.

“Wake Me in Spring,” by James Preller, is a tender story about the friendship between a mouse and a bear. It is an easy reader and is fun to read again and again.

If you travel, your child may relate to having to say goodbye to a dear friend for the duration of your trip. Let your child practice some new communication skills. Snail mail is in order when you are visiting anywhere that sells postcards.

Help your children to make an address book before the trip so they have their friends' addresses on hand to send them a postcard. To make an address book, just cut a piece of paper in half, fold the two halves together and tape them so they make a small book. Let them color the cover or plaster it with stickers.

“Spring Song,” by Barbara Seuling, is a book written in verse about how different animals respond to spring. Greg Newbold did the illustrations in bold acrylics. The snow looks as if it will melt right off the page.

Another spring picture book is “It's Spring” by Linda Glaser. This is nonfiction and includes a list of nature activities in the back. Susan Swan makes this book stand out with her layered cut-paper illustrations.

After reading these books, let your child have some fun with art. Try painting and gluing on different shapes of paper to add depth.

For older children, you might introduce Laura Ingalls Wilder with “Little House in the Big Woods.” The book covers life in pioneer times through all the seasons of the year.

You can make a book about the seasons in your house no matter where you live. Fold a large piece of paper in half. Use each quarter to draw a picture of activities for each season, such as gardening in the spring or playing baseball in the summer.

Use this opportunity to spend time with the children in your life and it will be a spring to remember.

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