Spring reading for kids can be fun and challenging especially if you live in cooler climates. After being cooped up indoors for most of the winter, the last thing most kids want to do on a sunny day is sit still to read a book. We get it, but there are so many great spring-themed books for kids.

The secret to getting my boys to read year-round when they were younger, was to make reading part of our bedtime routine year-round. I read them naptime and bedtime stories. After they learned to read, they read aloud to me and to each other, and finally, they read to themselves. Since spring can be quite rainy, reading also became a favorite rainy-day activity. I hope your kids enjoy these springtime and rainy-day favorites.

Spring is Here: A Bear and Mole Story by Will Hillenbrand – Mole is excited to celebrate the coming of spring with his friend Bear, but Bear can’t seem to wake up. Mole decides he’ll bake a delicious treat to wake him. Can mole do it? For ages 2-4

The Knowing by Ani DiFranco – Singer, and songwriter Ani Di Franco created this picture book for young readers to teach them about being an individual and also cherishing their place in their family, community, and world. For ages 3-5

The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination by Brad Montague – At the Fantastic Bureau of Imagination. where imagination is nourished and guarded Special Agent Sparky delivers mail to the correct departments of thought, but when too many people stop using their imaginations, the mail for the Cave of Untold Stories gets too full and threatens to topple the whole bureau. Sparky must recruit more agents to share their big ideas, songs, stories, and dreams For ages 4-8

Fred and Mavis by Kurt Becker – Fred and Mavis are two strangers who become unlikely friends. It encourages kids to keep an open mind and not pre-judge others. Trusting someone who is different from you can be hard, but their friendship helps them overcome obstacles and learn to work as a team. For ages 4-9

Wild Baby Animals by Deborah Lock – Kids will learn about squirrels, foxes, bears, monkeys, and more in this colorful book with adorable pictures that provide visual reading clues to help young readers build vocabulary and confidence as they read. For ages 5-7

How to Host a Sleepover by Jean Reagan – You have the snacks,  games, and movies ready, but what happens if one of your sleepover guests gets homesick? This story of two friends having their first sleepover tackles that question and helps calm any sleepover jitters, so the fun can begin. For ages 5-7

Archimedes and the Adventure in the Backyard by Carmel Cohen -  This is an interactive multimedia S.T.E.A.M. book with fun facts, videos, and experiments your kids can replicate at home. For ages 6-12

Weather Experiments by Jessica Stoller-Conrad – More than 25 hands-on activities to learn about rain, wind, hurricanes, and more. For ages 8-12

Diary of a Martian: The Discovery by Stephen B. Haunts – Set in a futuristic world with magnetic shoes, AI assistants, and artificial atmospheres, Elliot must deal with the trials of adolescence and extraterrestrial adventures. What will the world of the future be like and what challenges will a kid like Elliot face? For ages 9-16

The Karma Map by Nisha Sharma – Tara signs up to participate in a cultural program in Northern India that will help her learn about her Indian roots. She’s assigned to be a temple guide in Northern India with a young photographer named Silas. At first, they don’t get along, but as they learn more about the histories and shared culture of their families they become close. For Y.A. readers