BOOK MARKED
Springtime for
Families 9 Books to Celebrate the Season
BY JOANNA HARRIS, TEEN SERVICES COORDINATOR, DC PUBLIC LIBRARY
PICTURE BOOKS
“We’re Going on an Egg Hunt”
by Martha Mumford,
illustrated by Laura Hughes
Go on an Easter egg hunt from the comfort of
your favorite reading nook with this lift-the-
flap story. A group of bunnies wander through
charming, bucolic scenes searching for Easter
eggs. This Easter twist on “Going on a Bear
Hunt” will have readers encountering chicks,
bees and other animals associated with spring.

“Owen’s Marshmallow Chick”
by Kevin Henkes
Owen loves all the candy that the Easter
Bunny left in his Easter basket. But which is
his favorite? This short story is sweet in more
ways than one.

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APRIL 2023
“The Passover Guest”
by Susan Kusel, illustrated by Sean Rubin
Muriel is a young girl who lives with her family
in Washington, D.C. in 1933, during the Great
Depression, and Muriel’s family can’t afford to
celebrate Seder like they have in the past. But
when she shows kindness to a street performer
at the Lincoln Memorial, a miracle follows
shortly after. This book has beautiful watercolor
illustrations that feature detailed scenes of
Washington, D.C.

“The Best Eid Ever”
by Asma Mobin Uddin,
illustrated by Laura Jacobson
Aneesa is sad she will not be spending Eid with
her parents this year, but her grandmother
cheers her up with wonderful gifts and food. At
GIRL READING: DOMONITE / ADOBESTOCK
Spring is a time for celebration, whether it’s Easter, Passover or Eid, or just the excitement
of warmer days and new things growing. Grow your child’s love of reading with these seasonal
selections that highlight the joys and adventures of spring.




BOOK MARKED
the mosque, Aneesa meets two girls who
are having an even less fortunate Eid than
she is, and decides to embrace the holiday’s
spirit of generosity and giving.

EARLY READERS
“Calendar Mysteries: April
Adventures” by Ron Roy
This mystery series is perfect for fans of
“The Magic Treehouse” and Roy’s previous
series, “A to Z Mysteries.” A seemingly
impossible Easter egg hunt reveals that
the eggs haven’t been hidden, but actually
stolen. It’s up to siblings Bradley, Brian,
Lucy and Nate to save the town’s egg hunt
by cracking this case.

“The Flower Garden”
by Renee Kurilla
A vibrantly colorful graphic novel about
two friends who start a garden to help
save bees but end up in way over their
heads with… flowers that grow way over
their heads! A garden gnome has shrunken
them down to her size to show them the
underground world of the gnomes. A
dynamic book that celebrates both the
beauty of nature and friendship.

MIDDLE GRADE
“Let’s Get Gardening”
edited by Radhika Haswani
A great “getting started” guide for kids
and families to start their own garden this
spring, whether they live in an apartment
or a home with a yard. This book teaches
young people not only how to grow their
own food and herbs, but how to nurture
a plant and the creatures in it. Filled
with eye-catching layouts, easy-to-read
diagrams and lush photography, this title is
a fantastic companion for celebrating Earth
Day with your young person.

TEEN READERS
“Dig” by A.S. King
A family’s Easter egg hunt is an apt allegory
for the dark secrets they must uncover in
order for the newest generation to grow
and heal. Four very different cousins living
in very different circumstances grapple
with who they are and what kind of legacy
they want for themselves— and their
family—going forward. This novel, based
in reality but woven with elements of
magic realism, was the winner of the 2020
Printz Award. 2
OPEN BOOK: KHWANCHAI / ADOBESTOCK
“Green Angel”
by Alice Hoffman
The author of “Practical Magic” weaves
another spellbinding tale about a girl
with a supernatural green thumb. Set in
a post-apocalyptic version of our world,
Green loses her family in a horrible fire
in the city while she stays at home. Green
must rebuild her life from the ground
up, but first she must rise from the ashes
of grief. A quietly powerful tale about
regrowth and new beginnings.

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