Picture books perfect for spring that are recommended for elementary school children. Picture books that make them look forward to going to elementary school.
A first school, a new class, new friends.
Spring is a season when even elementary school children encounter many firsts and new experiences.
In this article, we’ll introduce picture books recommended for elementary schoolers in spring!
We’ve gathered picture books that are perfect for first graders starting their very first school life after graduating from daycare or kindergarten, as well as books that will make going to elementary school feel exciting and fun.
If your child is feeling anxious—Will I make friends? Can I keep up with my studies?—have them read these picture books and catch the joyful excitement that will carry them into school life!
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Picture books perfect for spring recommended for elementary school children. Picture books that will make them look forward to elementary school (11–20)
Mary and the SheepNEW!Text/Illustrations by Françoise
Spending time thinking about things like “Wouldn’t it be nice if this happened?” is fun, isn’t it? Surely Ma-chan, who imagined a baby sheep being born and selling its wool, enjoyed thinking about it too.
One lamb born, or two—imagining the lambs that might be born.
The mother sheep who will have the lambs is adorably named Patapon.
The back-and-forth between Marie-chan and the sheep Patapon, whom they dote on, is amusing as well.
In reality, how many lambs were born? With its unexpected ending, this is a story that lets children feel a sense of empathy.
Red ants and black antsNEW!Text/Illustrations: Satoshi Kako
You’ve probably seen tiny ants busily walking around in parks and gardens.
Sometimes they’re carrying food; other times they’re marching in a single line toward their destination.
A picture book with ants as the main characters is such a fun idea.
Stories about tiny ants can really spark the imagination.
And you won’t want to miss the part where the little ants battle a gang of black ants.
It might even change the way children look at the ants they often see.
It seems likely to inspire rich creativity too, such as making up their own original stories.
dandelionNEW!Text/Pictures: Kazuko Hirayama
Dandelions bloom with cute little flowers even by the roadside and in cracks in concrete.
We tend to picture dandelions blooming gently in the warm spring air.
This work carefully portrays the familiar plant from its rosette state at the end of winter to the moment it turns into white fluff and releases its seeds.
The part about friends who have always been together graduating in March overlaps with the scene of the dandelion sending off its fluffy seeds.
Just as dandelions let their seed-tufts fly, we hope children, too, will leap forward with hope.
A Small SeedNEW!Eric Carle
This picture book portrays many seeds traveling on the wind.
As they soar alongside various kinds of seeds, all sorts of events unfold.
Scorching sun, cold rain, and strong winds—formidable trials for the seeds—arrive one after another, yet the small seed perseveres each time and continues its journey.
Eventually, the seed falls into the soil, slowly sprouts, and grows little by little.
Over time, the small seed transforms into a beautiful, large flower that produces new seeds in turn.
This story clearly conveys how life is interconnected in nature.
It shows that even something small has the potential to grow large, and that growth takes time—a picture book that evokes hope and the power of life.
Life in Elementary SchoolIllustration: Yuka Hamano
Yuka Kama’s The Elementary School Life is a picture book that’s perfect for the transition into grade school.
Designed to answer children’s questions like “What kind of place is elementary school?”, the book’s standout feature is that it covers all six years—from entering school to graduation—in a single volume.
That means it’s not only great for the start of school, but also fun to revisit at graduation.
It will surely bring back memories from those six years and fill you with nostalgia.
If you want to learn about elementary school events, this is a must-read.
I love elementary school.Written by: Ui / Illustrated by: Egashira Michiko
You want elementary school life to be as fun as possible, right? Surely the adults around you wish for that too.
That’s why I recommend the picture book “I Love Elementary School.” The text is by Ui, and the illustrations are by Michiko Egashira.
The standout feature of this book is that it offers 16 pieces of advice for new students from the perspective of a second grader.
It was originally self-published, but word of mouth spread thanks to its content, and it became a big hit.
Every piece of advice is sure to be helpful.
A First Grader’s DayWritten by: Okashuuzo / Illustrated by: Fujita Hioko
First Grade, One Day is a book that shows what elementary school is all about.
Written by Shuuzou Oka with illustrations by Hioko Fujita, this is a large-format guide picture book.
As the title suggests, it’s designed to guide readers through a day at elementary school.
It depicts everything from language arts and math classes to lunchtime and going home, letting readers virtually experience a real day at school.
Another charm is the richly detailed scenery—be sure to take your time and look closely.
First graders’ school explorationWritten by: Okashuuzo / Illustrated by: Fujita Hioko
A fun, story-style way to learn about elementary school is First Graders’ School Exploration.
This picture book features text by Shuzo Oka and illustrations by Hioko Fujita.
In it, a new first-grader teams up with second-grade students to explore their elementary school.
There are many picture books that introduce elementary school, but it’s rare to find one that focuses on the school building itself.
Another highlight is the engaging direction—there are plenty of heart-pounding scenes that draw readers in, making this book highly recommended.
Please don’t get mad at me.Written by Shigenori Kusunoki / Illustrated by Kiyotaka Ishii
I’d like to introduce the picture book “Okodade Masenyou ni,” which teaches the importance of caring for those close to us.
It is created by Shigenori Kusunoki and Kiyotaka Ishii.
The story depicts a boy who is always getting scolded.
At first glance, it’s hard to tell what he’s thinking, but there are reasons behind his actions… that’s how the story unfolds.
As you read, try to imagine how the boy feels! By the way, since the story is set during Tanabata, it’s a great read for summer as well.
I’m going to school tomorrow.Written by: Mildred Kantrowitz / Illustrated by: Nancy Winslow Parker / Translated by: Teiji Seta
This is the picture book “Tomorrow, I’m Going to School,” starring a little boy who will start elementary school tomorrow.
Just because you’re becoming an elementary schooler doesn’t mean you suddenly turn into a big sister or big brother, does it? After being told “Good night,” the boy can’t quite settle down; he fidgets and talks to his favorite stuffed animal.
At first you may wonder what he’s doing, but by talking to his stuffed animal, he’s actually encouraging himself and trying to be brave.
You’ll be left with a warm feeling after reading it, so parents and guardians, please try reading it together with your child.
