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Spring Blossoms
Spring is in the air—and in the trees!
Spring is here, and with the new season come trees full of life, color. . .and blossoms! From the creators of Leaf Jumpers and Winter Trees , Spring Blossoms introduces readers to a variety of different flowering trees.
During a stroll through the forest, two children come across the small and white flowers on a crab apple tree, the rich, red buds on a red maple, and many more. Along the way, readers learn that some trees have both male and female flowers—each with a distinctive appearance. Back matter includes extended botanical facts and more information about trees and their life cycles.
Told in lyrical rhymes with beautiful linoleum-cut illustrations, Spring Blossoms offers a unique blend of science, poetry, and art studies.
Spring is here, and with the new season come trees full of life, color. . .and blossoms! From the creators of Leaf Jumpers and Winter Trees , Spring Blossoms introduces readers to a variety of different flowering trees.
During a stroll through the forest, two children come across the small and white flowers on a crab apple tree, the rich, red buds on a red maple, and many more. Along the way, readers learn that some trees have both male and female flowers—each with a distinctive appearance. Back matter includes extended botanical facts and more information about trees and their life cycles.
Told in lyrical rhymes with beautiful linoleum-cut illustrations, Spring Blossoms offers a unique blend of science, poetry, and art studies.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 11, 2013
I really enjoyed sharing this book with preschoolers. There is a lot of information in the verses and the pictures but the story flows naturally and captures attention.
September 30, 2019
Everyone has a tree that grew in their area, perhaps in front of their house that they remember fondly. This is a simple picture book about blossoms during spring.
June 18, 2020
3.4 stars-- Fun, joy-filled and colorful celebration of spring and the trees that blossom and beautify the world around us.
September 30, 2013
I enjoyed Evans' lino-cut illustrations a lot (they brought the book up from a 2 to a 3). This is a pile of meticulous work, and block printing (even though it's printing) can be much more involved and time-consuming than painting. So recognizing the technique made me look more closely at the illustrations than I might have otherwise, and to puzzle over exactly what was done with blocks, what was painted on, and what was done digitally. It's really hard to tell what is digital here at all, which is nice and should be expected.
I was less impressed with Gerber's rhyming text. She has a lot of books out in this style, and this is one of three in a seasons series. I just don't find the rhyming text interesting for this material, and was hoping for something more free verse for these illustrations. The text harks back to the old rhyming tradition from the 30s-50s, but doesn't have any power for me. I've also heard it's an immediate turn-off for editors and agents looking at new material.
Authors invariably paint themselves into a corner by needing to rhyme the text in a picturebook, and end up needing rhymes that aren't interesting and feel forced: "...beneath its twigs, as we can see...that grow new cones high on the tree." The 'as we can see' is a filler rhyme, and 'tree' is a far less interesting word than many of the others she worked with in the rhymes.
I was less impressed with Gerber's rhyming text. She has a lot of books out in this style, and this is one of three in a seasons series. I just don't find the rhyming text interesting for this material, and was hoping for something more free verse for these illustrations. The text harks back to the old rhyming tradition from the 30s-50s, but doesn't have any power for me. I've also heard it's an immediate turn-off for editors and agents looking at new material.
Authors invariably paint themselves into a corner by needing to rhyme the text in a picturebook, and end up needing rhymes that aren't interesting and feel forced: "...beneath its twigs, as we can see...that grow new cones high on the tree." The 'as we can see' is a filler rhyme, and 'tree' is a far less interesting word than many of the others she worked with in the rhymes.
April 3, 2019
This is a sweet book that is written in a poetic way. It discusses the beautiful plants and flowers of spring and the different types that grow. There are many ways you could use this book in the classroom. A teacher who taught Kindergarten or 1st grade would probably use this book to teach rhyme schemes. On every page, the last word of each sentence rhymes with the last word of the sentence on the previous page. The teacher could use this in a read-aloud and have the students identify the rhyming word on each page. A teacher could also use this as a mentor text to teach illustrations. This book has beautiful, colorful pictures of plants and flowers all blooming in the spring. This could also be used as a cross-cutting concept by connecting science and reading.
May 23, 2016
This felt like non-fiction at times, but was a picture book in our library. The illustrations are lovely, and the surprising thing to me was that the author includes evergreens as well as male and female blossoms on trees (not something I had ever considered before this). Still, somehow the book felt incomplete to me. Dogwoods come in more than one color, which was not mentioned, even though other details were mentioned for other trees. Strange.
August 13, 2019
Like the collaborators' other book, Winter Trees, I picked this book up largely because I was intrigued by the illustrations. And man, are these prints just beautiful! I absolutely love the color work as well. I also really appreciated the rhyming text, as well. Overall, very impressive and beautiful!
February 5, 2019
The illustrations are simple and very pretty. My daughter really enjoyed learning about the different kinds of trees in Spring.
June 27, 2020
Loved it!
October 13, 2022
Lots of different trees here with lots of different flowers and leaves. Lovely to learn.
February 26, 2025
I could see myself reading this to children who adore identifying trees or as a supplement to a Montessori language about trees. The only qualm I have is that the author calls the tulip magnolias just magnolias. Maybe it’s a regional thing, but we get both kinds of trees where I live, so it would confuse children.
November 18, 2025
Beautiful illustrations to help little ones (5-8) identify the unique and luscious blossoms of spring blooming trees.
January 29, 2016
Opening
Today I am going to read a book about spring. First, I want you to close your eyes and imagine what you think spring looks like. Let’s make a list. What is special about spring? {Student Answer} Flowers are blooming and growing after the winter. Animals come out of hibernating. What do you like to do during spring? [Student Answer} This book is called Spring Blossoms by Carole Gerber. Looking at the cover of this book, what do you think this story is about? {Student Answer} We are going to be reading about different flowers that bloom on trees. You will notice a lot of interesting names of flowers. While I am reading I want you to pay attention to the pictures and names. We will go over all of them when I am done reading.
Opening Moves
Draws attention to the writers or illustrator’s craft
Activate background knowledge
Raise questions to spark curiosity
Rationale
Spring Blossoms is the third book I would read for my text set. I chose it because it does a great job describing different flowers you can find on trees and I thought it went perfectly with my other books. This is about two children walking in a park during spring. They notice many different blossoming trees.
Today I am going to read a book about spring. First, I want you to close your eyes and imagine what you think spring looks like. Let’s make a list. What is special about spring? {Student Answer} Flowers are blooming and growing after the winter. Animals come out of hibernating. What do you like to do during spring? [Student Answer} This book is called Spring Blossoms by Carole Gerber. Looking at the cover of this book, what do you think this story is about? {Student Answer} We are going to be reading about different flowers that bloom on trees. You will notice a lot of interesting names of flowers. While I am reading I want you to pay attention to the pictures and names. We will go over all of them when I am done reading.
Opening Moves
Draws attention to the writers or illustrator’s craft
Activate background knowledge
Raise questions to spark curiosity
Rationale
Spring Blossoms is the third book I would read for my text set. I chose it because it does a great job describing different flowers you can find on trees and I thought it went perfectly with my other books. This is about two children walking in a park during spring. They notice many different blossoming trees.
March 26, 2015
Spring is in the air--and in the trees! Spring is here, and with the new season come trees full of life, color. . .and blossoms! From the creators of Leaf Jumpers and Winter Trees , Spring Blossoms introduces readers to a variety of different flowering trees. During a stroll through the forest, two children come across the small and white flowers on a crab apple tree, the rich, red buds on a red maple, and many more. Along the way, readers learn that some trees have both male and female flowers--each with a distinctive appearance. Back matter includes extended botanical facts and more information about trees and their life cycles. Told in lyrical rhymes with beautiful linoleum-cut illustrations, Spring Blossoms offers a unique blend of science, poetry, and art studies. This book is good for your brain because it provides: Comparing and contrasting, rhythm and rhyme, life science study, plant classification, and comprehension strategies
Note: This book would not be my first choice for storytime.
Additional note: Excellent for very basic introduction to cross pollination - Male vs female flowers.
Note: This book would not be my first choice for storytime.
Additional note: Excellent for very basic introduction to cross pollination - Male vs female flowers.
July 22, 2016
"Spring Blossoms by Carole Gerber with illustrations by Leslie Evans is another one of these experiential books I'm fond of. With this one, you just sink into the experience of spring by focusing only on flowering trees.
The early part of the books involves just how some flowering trees look. After you get used to that, you move on to trees that bear both male and female blooms. Moving on, we come to pollen moving from male blooms to female blooms on balsam firs. There's a progression from less sophisticated information to more sophisticated."
Excerpt from Original Content
The early part of the books involves just how some flowering trees look. After you get used to that, you move on to trees that bear both male and female blooms. Moving on, we come to pollen moving from male blooms to female blooms on balsam firs. There's a progression from less sophisticated information to more sophisticated."
Excerpt from Original Content
April 3, 2013
This book is sort of pretty. It goes through the basics of different tree blossoms in spring. There is one page that combines the male and female blossoms on the same branch. I did not look it up to see if that was correct, but I'm assuming it's not. All the other pictures that showed a male and female blossom for the same tree had them on different limbs (since they would be on different trees.)
April 30, 2014
Cute illustrated guide to the flowering trees of Spring. There's a bare narrative - not enough to sustain a story time - of two girls exploring the trees and flowers, followed by a picture glossary of the various trees and blossoms they viewed. It's certainly worth reading here in DC, though it would have been nice to have it a couple weeks ago when everything was still in bloom!
Recommend it for the illustrations if nothing else.
Recommend it for the illustrations if nothing else.
May 5, 2014
Spring Blossoms focus on blooms found on trees. Each flower is briefly described which is perfect for little listeners. The book goes into further discussion about male and female flowers on trees, but I skipped over those pages for the tiny tots. We were more interested in colors of each flower and the general season of Spring during storytime.
Theme: Spring Flowers
Additional themes: tree flowers, plant parts
Reviewed from a library copy.
Theme: Spring Flowers
Additional themes: tree flowers, plant parts
Reviewed from a library copy.
May 20, 2013
Very beautiful, vibrant illustrations. Detailed images of different blooms on spring trees which would be great for interested kids. A little complicated in the descriptions of male/female flowers but ends with description of pollination.
July 5, 2013
Introduces different kinds of flowering trees in the spring and the cycle of bud, flower, seed, tree. Bright colored blossoms. Rhyming text.
Evans illustrations are linoleum block print, watercolor, collage & digital.
Evans illustrations are linoleum block print, watercolor, collage & digital.
December 19, 2016
Read at Pajama Story Time on 4/3/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
May 24, 2013
Poetic text describes different types of flowering trees.
January 6, 2018
Great for nature study
Read
August 18, 2015wonderful book! my grandkids loved it!
April 14, 2016
Gorgeous pictures
December 21, 2016
This spring book teaches kids about different flowers through a rhyme scheme and unique artwork.
February 21, 2013
A lyrical celebration of the season.
April 13, 2015
I've read better spring books
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews