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[For 2-year-olds] Enjoy spring-recommended picture books with your children
Storytime with picture books is a moment kids really love.
When spring comes and they move up to the next class, children’s hearts and minds grow by leaps and bounds.
Two-year-olds are full of curiosity, so it’s important to let them discover new worlds through picture books.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a collection of recommended springtime picture books for two-year-olds.
From books with spring-themed motifs to titles that support the growth of two-year-olds, we’re introducing a variety of picture books.
We hope this helps you choose the perfect books for your next read-aloud session.
Let's Enjoy Spring-Recommended Picture Books with 2-Year-Olds (1–10)
Fūto, Hana, and DandelionIwamura Kazuo
“Futo, Hana, and the Dandelion” is a picture book perfect for spring, when dandelions bloom.
It’s one entry in Kazuo Iwamura’s “Futo and Hana Picture Book” series, in which Futo and Hana encounter a dandelion.
The book depicts scenes like a ladybug and a butterfly alighting on a yellow dandelion, and the dandelion turning to fluff and riding the wind.
Futo and Hana’s absorbed expressions are adorable, and the moment they meet the dandelion and realize the origin of their own names is heartwarming.
It’s spring: Spring cleaning with HaruKoide-tan, written by Koide Yasuko
This is a story about mice doing a big spring cleaning.
To tidy up their room, the mice carry everything from inside the house outside.
Then the neighbors come by and say how lovely the items are, and because the mice are so generous, they say, “Please, go ahead,” and give them away.
By the time the cleaning is done, everything is completely gone, but the room is very clean.
In the end, they’re put in a bind when someone says they want the house itself, but a wonderful ending awaits.
Cleaning in the warm spring weather sounds so pleasant, doesn’t it? You can almost feel the fun of cleaning, too.
Piglet NurseryText by Rieko Nakagawa / Illustrations by Yuriko Yamawaki
April is the season for starting preschool, isn’t it? Many children probably feel anxious in a new place and end up crying.
The picture book “Piglet Preschool” portrays exactly that kind of scene.
The three little pig brothers go to preschool for the first time, but before they know it, they can’t see their mother and burst into tears.
However, invited by the teacher and their new friends, they play together and get absorbed in the things they’re good at, spending the day that way.
Even if they cry at drop-off, they might unexpectedly have a great time like this.
It’s a heartwarming book that celebrates children’s resilience.
Spring breeze strollEgashira Michiko
Harukaze Sanpo is a picture book that depicts a little girl going for a walk on a spring day.
She touches cherry blossoms in full bloom, discovers butterflies and pill bugs, and feels the breeze.
Against the backdrop of quintessential spring scenery, the girl’s delight is warmly portrayed.
After reading this book, children will surely want to head out for a walk themselves.
Even kids who prefer staying indoors might become interested in going out when they see a girl their age having so much fun.
Be sure to go for a stroll and look for the many faces of spring.
Soramame-kun: My DayMiwa Nakaya
Soramame-kun’s My Day gently and joyfully portrays a day that starts with waking up, washing your face, eating breakfast, playing with friends, and so on.
While it overlaps with children’s everyday lives, it also includes dreamy touches—like making a bed out of dandelion fluff or stepping into a rainbow puddle—so you never get bored reading it.
Since it’s a picture book featuring fava beans, which are in season from spring, why not read it in spring? I think it offers playful ideas and also connects to food education.
Butterflies flutteringWritten by Michio Mado / Illustrated by Kayako Nishimaki
When spring comes, we often see butterflies fluttering lightly through the air.
Some children, when they spot one, will chase after it and then stare intently once it lands.
In the picture book “Flutter, Flutter, Butterfly,” the flying butterfly lands on all sorts of animals.
Whenever it settles, everyone is so happy they can’t help but smile.
If the same thing happened to the children, they’d surely be thrilled and burst into smiles too.
It’s also heartwarming to see the animal who didn’t get a butterfly landing on them start to cry, while everyone else secretly cheers, “Land on them!”
Sniff, sniffing the flowers.Written by Ruth Krauss / Illustrated by Marc Simont
Hana wo Kunkun (Sniff, Sniff) is a picture book that lets you feel the arrival of spring.
Animals who have been hibernating wake up and start sniffing at something.
It seems something has caught their attention.
The animals come out of their burrows and all dash off in the same direction.
There they find a single flower.
Although the entire book is illustrated in black and white, only the flower they discover is a beautiful yellow.
It fills you with the anticipation and joy of the world about to burst into color.
Let this picture book help you feel the breath of spring.