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 make you look forward to elementary school (1–10)
Issun-bōshiNEW!By: Ishii Momoko
A story about Issun-boshi, who stands about three centimeters tall.
Although small, he also shows a brave side, protecting the princess by fighting ogres.
It may be a book you’ve read at least once before entering elementary school—at a nursery school, kindergarten, or at home.
Despite his small body, he never thinks about it pessimistically.
From the story, you can see how he keeps hope and carves out his own future.
Also, in the scene where he is about to be eaten by an ogre, he uses his small size to defeat it.
By turning the shortcoming of being small into individuality and ability, it becomes a power to change even the worst situations.
We’d like children to feel, through Issun-boshi, the importance of making the most of their own individuality.
HarunekoNEW!By: Yuko Kanno
A heartwarming tale depicting the meeting and connection between a girl and the Spring Cat.
After the Spring Cat and the girl lose the seeds of spring, they create spring out of origami.
Scenes and moments that evoke the arrival of spring gently unfold, and as you read, you feel your heart gradually unwind.
With calm words and beautiful illustrations, it portrays the end of a long winter and the world slowly returning to color, allowing you to savor the atmosphere of spring’s beginning.
This picture book offers a quietly lingering springtime story that reminds you of the small seasonal changes we might overlook in our busy days and the gentle warmth of nature.
A lot of doorsNEW!By: Alison McGhee
In life, there are moments when we must choose doors that lead to different futures.
This picture book portrays the “many doors” children encounter as they grow.
When a door opens, a new world unfolds, where new friends and new experiences await.
Sometimes, there may be doors that require courage.
But taking that first step shows us unseen landscapes and joyful moments.
With every page turn, the anticipation and hope of opening a new door expand, nurturing a positive outlook toward the future.
It’s a picture book that gently supports children welcoming a new season, giving them a quiet nudge to take that brave first step.
Spring Breeze Drum: The Bear’s Music ShopNEW!Written by: Naoko Awa / Illustrated by: Sho Mei
This is a story set at the end of autumn, where a frost-sensitive rabbit visits a bear’s musical instrument shop in a meadow.
It depicts the exchanges between the anxious rabbit, worried about the soon-to-arrive winter cold, and the bear.
With the sound of a drum, the surrounding scenery feels as if it were a spring meadow, allowing readers to imagine the wind and flowers.
The way one’s heart warms by envisioning spring is expressed through gentle words and beautiful illustrations.
It’s a picture book that creates a soft atmosphere, letting the warmth of spring spread in the heart as you feel the changing seasons and the joy of imagination.
Little Fox, First GraderNEW!By Hiroshi Saito
This is a story about a little fox who starts attending elementary school in spring.
With a brand-new school backpack on, the little fox heads to school with a flutter of nerves.
In the classroom, children of various animals gather, and the first lessons and first encounters with friends begin.
Although a bit anxious at first, the story warmly depicts how the little fox gradually comes to feel the joy of school while spending time with the teacher and classmates.
The mix of nervousness and anticipation when stepping into a new place is a feeling many children experience.
Children who are about to start school or move up a grade will enjoy the story as they relate it to their own feelings.
It’s a picture book perfect for spring that encourages taking a new step and leaves you with a gentle, comforting feeling.
March, the Month of DollsNEW!By: Momoko Ishii
Depicting the bond between parent and child, “Sangatsu Hinano Tsuki” has been loved across generations since its publication in 1963.
The book portrays a postwar single-mother household: a mother who loves her child, and a daughter who begs for a set of Hina dolls.
Why won’t the mother buy the Hina dolls? That question becomes the story’s central theme.
Because it is set in the postwar period, another appeal of this work is the glimpse it offers into the lifestyle and values of the time.
As you read, also pay attention to how the feelings of the two characters change.
cherry blossomNEW!By: Setsuko Hasegawa
Cherry blossoms that bloom beautifully in spring throughout cities and parks.
This picture book tells how a cherry tree spends the year and how it comes to bloom.
By learning how the tree quietly gathers strength through the winter and gradually prepares for spring, readers can sense the changes in nature and the flow of the seasons.
Because the process leading up to the full bloom of Somei Yoshino is carefully depicted in sketches, you’ll make new discoveries about cherry trees as well.
It’s a book that lets you rediscover the charm of cherry blossoms, which herald the arrival of spring, and the wonders of nature.
While feeling the seasons up close, it offers a chance to think about nature’s beauty and the continuity of life—a picture book you’ll want to read in spring.
Let’s go by train, let’s go home by train.NEW!By: Naokata Mase
This picture book depicts a train journey that passes through tunnels, over mountains, and from town to town.
As you turn the pages, the train keeps moving forward and a variety of landscapes unfold.
The fun twist is that if you flip the book over and read from the other side, the journey continues in reverse along the same route.
The book features a range of onomatopoeic sounds of the train, making you want to read it again and again.
The towns, nature, and scenes of people’s lives seen from the train windows are illustrated in fine detail, inviting readers to linger over the pages and immerse themselves in the story’s world.
It’s perfect not only for children who love trains but also for any moment when you want to savor the excitement of travel, offering the joy of discovering new scenery with every turn of the page.
Piglet dandelion pocket dragonflyNEW!By Noboru Baba
Kids sometimes play shiritori when they have a spare moment.
Shiritori isn’t a complicated game, and people of all ages can enjoy it.
Now, that shiritori has become a picture book.
Piglets, tanuki pups, fox kits, and kittens romp freely in nature.
Their cheerful play is turned into a round of shiritori.
Since the shiritori follows scenes of young animals at play, children will likely read on with interest.
The warm, gentle illustrations by Noboru Baba—famous for the “11 Piki no Neko” series—are another charm of this picture book.
A Record of PlantsNEW!Photo/Text: Hani Saho
Plants show us many different appearances throughout the year.
They sprout from seeds, sway their leaves as they bloom, and bear fruit.
Moreover, depending on weather conditions—sunny days, rainy days, or snowy days—the way plants look can change dramatically.
Let’s explore such plant growth with children, accompanied by beautiful photographs.
As a new chapter of life begins in March, some children may see themselves reflected in the springtime buds and the flowers in full bloom.
The book is organized by the twelve months of the year.
Besides March, you can enjoy the plants of each season as they arrive.