Our Favorite Four-Seasons Children's Books
- Jodi Adams
- Feb 27
- 10 min read
Updated: Mar 18
At our house, we read A LOT of children's books, and we want to share some of our favorites with you! In this post, we've included our favorite board books and picture books that feature all four seasons of the year. Feel free to skim the list and see if any appeal to your family. We hope you enjoy!
Board Books
Weather
By: Jill McDonald
Publisher: Doubleday (2016)
Recommended Ages: 1+
Book Description: This book teaches young children about different types of weather and shows them how to dress for each different day.
Why We Love It
Sturdy pages
Great introduction to weather for babies and toddlers
Language is clear and simple; engages the reader with simple commands and questions
Bright, colorful illustrations
Part of the Hello, World! series that covers a wide variety of kid-friendly topics
My First Seasons
By: DK
Publisher: DK Children (2022)
Recommended Ages: 0+
Book Description: What’s the best thing about summer? What do farmers harvest in the fall? From finding out which baby animals are born in spring to experiencing all the outdoor fun of a winter wonderland, babies and toddlers will love learning all about the things you can see and do in each season.
Why We Love It
Includes weather, wildlife, and activities for each season of the year
Bright, colorful photographs illustrate each word; easy-to-read labels
Interactive reading experience perfect for teaching babies and toddlers about the world
Sturdy pages and chunky tabs are great for little hands
Wally Takes A Weather Walk
Written By: Bree Sunshine Smith
Illustrated By: Floss Pottage
Publisher: Penguin Random House (2023)
Recommended Ages: 1+
Book Description: Wally Takes a Weather Walk teaches toddlers the science behind what they see outside. What is wind? Why are there two rainbows? What makes snowflakes unique? Follow inquisitive Wally as he walks through summer, fall, winter, and spring, picking up facts about the seasons and weather conditions as he interacts with the natural world. Each page is a chance to spark curiosity around the magic waiting just beyond your front door.
Why We Love It
Cute rhyming story that's perfect for babies and toddlers
Includes interesting weather facts that can be sprinkled in as kids get older (and start asking lots of weather-related questions)
Provides a QR code to access additional weather and science activities for kids
Written by an Emmy award-winning meteorologist who knows her stuff
I have never learned so much from a board book! 😂
Picture Books
Bringing the Outside In
Written By: Mary McKenna Siddals
Illustrated By: Patrice Barton
Publisher: Random House Children's Books (2016)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description: A rollicking book that reminds young readers to go outside and play!
We’re bringing the outside in, oh,
bringing the outside in. . . .
Nothing takes the place of splashing in a puddle or jumping into a pile of autumn leaves. Along with the mud and sand that gets tracked indoors come memories that live forever! Mary McKenna Siddals has written a joyous anthem that encourages children to play in the dirt.
Why We Love It
Fun, rhythmic language
Cheerful illustrations
Encourages kids to go outside and get dirty 😋
Perfectly captures the fun (and messiness) of each season
Fort Building Time
Written By: Megan Wagner Lloyd
Illustrated By: Abigail Halpin
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf (2017)
Recommended Age: 3+
Book Description:
"Spring is a daffodil-hunting, umbrella-holding, rain-watching, mud-squishing time.
A rainbow-finding, spaceship-drawing, book-reading, fort-building time!"
Winter, spring, summer, fall. Each season brings new materials to make the perfect fort. From leaves to snow, from mud to sand, there is a different fort throughout the year. As a group of friends explore and build through the seasons, they find that every fort they make is a perfect fort.
Why We Love It:
Very interesting and fun-to-read text
Beautiful illustrations
Encourages kids to go outside and play and find fun in every season
We agree: Every season is fort-building season! 😊
Sometimes Rain
Written By: Meg Fleming
Illustrated By: Diana Sudyka
Publisher: Beach Lane Books (2018)
Recommended Age: 3+
Book Description: Sometimes it rains, sometimes it snows, sometimes the sun shines, and sometimes the trees change color. But no matter what the seasons bring, there is lots of fun to be had! This lyrical exploration of the four seasons and all of the wonder that they bring is illustrated with vibrant watercolors.
Why We Love It:
Cute rhyming text
Gorgeous, unique illustrations
Beautifully captures the magic of each season
Meet the Wild
Written By: Lindsay Kellar Madsen
Illustrated By: Mie Frey Damgaard
Publisher: Little Otter Press (2023)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description:
Come explore the changing seasons.
Let the WILD be your guide.
Just bring your curiosity.
It's time to play outside!
Join two little explorers as they splash in puddles, squish summer berries, and wiggle sandy toes outdoors. Meet the Wild is the perfect preschool nature book for schools, outdoorsy families, or anyone looking to encourage outdoor play all year long.
Why We Love It:
Adorable rhyming text
Bright, colorful illustrations
Invites kids to experience nature with every sense in every season
Love to support fellow mom-authors and high-quality self-published books!
Mouse's Wood
By: Alice Melvin
Publisher: Thames & Hudson (2022)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: Mouse first ventures out in wintry January to visit his friend Squirrel. Mouse moves on to wake up Hedgehog for the arrival of spring, and as he continues along the path in the wood, Mouse's journey from friend to friend maps out the changes in seasons from January to December.
Why We Love It:
Expertly-crafted rhyming text
Stunning illustrations (The cover does not do this book justice- every interior illustration is gorgeous!)
Flaps, fold-outs, and peek holes provide interest on each page
Teaches kids the months of the year
Guide at the back details animal and plant life that can be found in the wood year-round
A gem in my book! 😊
The Scarecrow
Written By: Beth Ferry
Illustrated By: The Fan Brothers
Publisher: HarperCollins (2019)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description: All the animals know not to mess with old Scarecrow. But when a small, scared crow falls from midair, Scarecrow does the strangest thing...he saves the tiny baby crow. Soon a loving bond grows between the two unlikely friends. But is it strong enough to weather the changing of the seasons?
Why We Love It:
Masterful rhyming text
Fabulous textural illustrations that highlight the beauty of each season
Great message about the power of friendship and helping others
Inspires me to write better children's books! 😊
Not Now, Cow
Written By: Tammi Sauer
Illustrated By: Troy Cummings
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed (2021)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: Rooster and his farm friends are ready for springtime play. But not Cow, who can’t seem to dress for the weather. She's decked out in a parka and mittens as the first flowers bloom, ski-pants and a wool hat as the summer sun beats down, and a bathing suit and flip-flops when snow starts to tumble. Readers will love shouting out the catchy refrain “Not NOW, Cow!” while learning all about the seasons!
Why We Love It:
Simple, cute rhyming text with a fun refrain
Adorable illustrations
Teaches kids about the seasons and the appropriate attire for each
Silly and funny!
The World of Worm - Seasons
By: Esther van den Berg
Publisher: Clavis Publishing Inc. (2024)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description: Worm is busy all year round. In spring, he sows flowers. In summer, he visits the baby animals. In fall, he rakes leaves, and, in winter, he dresses up nice and warm. Which things does he use? And what happens in the forest? Discover the four seasons together with Worm.
Why We Love It:
Crisp, colorful illustrations
Worm is adorable! 😃
Very approachable text with lots of simple questions to engage the reader
Teaches kids about the seasons and the plant and animal life common to each
More than Sunny
By: Shelley Johannes
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers (2021)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description:
Is there anything better than a sunny day?
How about a day that’s sunny . . . and birdy?
Or breezy and buzzy?
Blue and wishy?
Cloudy and fishy?
In this enchanting, buoyant picture book, a pair of siblings find the bright side during all the seasons of a year—bringing optimism, curiosity, and wonder to each situation they encounter, no matter the weather.
Why We Love It:
Playful illustrations
Characters' personalities shine on the page and remind me of Avery and Nolan 😊
Love that it encourages curiosity and exploration!
From Season to Season!
By: Ethan Long
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co. (2021)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: Adventure awaits in another exciting trip through Happy County―where each new season packs plenty of surprises! Farmer Dell rides his tractor through the crops all summer long; Jimmy and Sammy search for Grammy Tammy in the autumn corn maze; Dolly and Molly build an igloo with the fresh winter snow; and Miss Humdiddy’s flower garden buzzes with pollination when spring arrives. This primer compendium is filled with lovable characters and educational content connected to weather, geography, earth science, word identifications, as well as the concepts of shapes, patterns, telling time, and grammar―all delivered through plenty of clever scenarios to keep little ones engaged and curious.
Why We Love It:
Similar style to Richard Scarry's Busytown books
Lots of characters and storylines to follow and tons to look at on every page
Interactive reading experience with questions and activities for kids
Teaches kids about a variety of topics while making learning fun
Includes songs and humor to break things up and keep kids engaged
Can be read all in one sitting or a few scenes at a time
I Love You to the Moon and Back All Year Long
Written By: Amelia Hepworth
Illustrated By: Tim Warnes
Publisher: Tiger Tales (2023)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description: This is a warm celebration of the love between parent and child. In spring, the cub marvels at the way the new plants grow; summer brings hot days of playing under the sun; in fall, the two crunch in leaves that have fallen from the trees; and when winter comes around again, the snowflakes cheer the winter skies as they fall asleep beneath the Moon’s light. This is the perfect book to share with a little one at bedtime.
Why We Love It:
Sweet story
Adorable illustrations
Great message
Perfect bedtime read for little ones all year long
A Year of Everyday Wonders
Written By: Cheryl B. Klein
Illustrated By: Qin Leng
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers (2020)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: With each new year come countless little wonders. From the highs—first snowfall, first new umbrella, first beach trip—to the lows—first missed bus, first lost umbrella, first sunburn—every year older means another cycle of everyday experiences.
Why We Love It:
Cute story with so many seasonal milestones
Very relatable for kids
Darling illustrations that fit the tone of the story perfectly
A book I would read over and over again! 😊
Together With You
Written By: Patricia Toht
Illustrated By: Jarvis
Publisher: Candlewick Press (2022)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description: For one grandmother and grandchild, keeping dry in spring showers is easy when dashing through the drops side by side. In summer they stay cool with a squirt of the hose, then savor frozen treats in the shade. In autumn, snug in sweaters, they fly a kite while leaning into each other against the wind. And winter finds them nestling under blankets, sipping cocoa and watching the snow quietly fall. Narrated as a kind of love letter from a young child to a grandparent, this picture book pairs Patricia Toht’s safe, tender text with gentle art from Jarvis that meets it at every turn. An ideal gift from grandparent to grandchild (or the other way around), this charming story makes it clear that “no matter the weather, whatever we do, every day’s better together with you.”
Why We Love It:
Sweet rhyming story
Lovely illustrations
Perfect read for grandparents and grandchildren to share any time of year
city dog, country frog
Written By: Mo Willems
Illustrated By: Jon J Muth
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children (2010)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: In spring, when City Dog runs free in the country for the first time, he spots Country Frog sitting on a rock, waiting for a friend. “You’ll do,” Frog says, and together they play Country Frog games. In summer, they meet again and play City Dog games. Through the seasons, whenever City Dog visits the country he runs straight for Country Frog’s rock. In winter, things change for City Dog and Country Frog. Come spring, friendship blooms again, a little different this time.
Why We Love It:
Sweet story about an unexpected friendship and how it changes through the seasons
Beautiful watercolor illustrations perfectly capture the characters and seasons
Lovely ending!
I Love You All Year Round
Written By: Sam McBratney
Illustrated By: Anita Jeram
Publisher: Candlewick Press (2007)
Recommended Ages: 2+
Book Description: When seeds, plants, and other creatures begin to change in the spring, Little Nutbrown Hare has lots of questions, including wondering what he will turn into one day. By summer, he notices colors everywhere—lovely greens, reds, and blues—but there’s one color he likes best of all. In autumn, the wind sends leaves flying, inspiring some hiding and chasing—and a funny surprise for Big Nutbrown Hare. And when wintertime comes, Little Nutbrown Hare makes a discovery: that “I Spy” is especially fun to play in the snow. This collection of simple, endearing tales, starring two of the world’s most beloved characters, is perfect for sharing with little hares any time of year.
Why We Love It:
Includes four separate stories (one for each season)
Stories can be read together or separately throughout the year
Stories are simple, short, and written in a very kid-friendly manner
Little Nutbrown Hare's curiosity and wonder is captivating for kids
Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend!
By: Cori Doerrfeld
Publisher: Dial Books For Young Readers (2019)
Recommended Ages: 3+
Book Description: Change and transitions are hard, but Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! demonstrates how, when one experience ends, it opens the door for another to begin. It follows two best friends as they say goodbye to snowmen, and hello to stomping in puddles. They say goodbye to long walks, butterflies, and the sun...and hello to long evening talks, fireflies, and the stars. But the hardest goodbye of all comes when one of the friends has to move away. Feeling alone isn't easy, and sometimes new beginnings take time. But even the hardest days come to an end, and you never know what tomorrow will bring.
Why We Love It:
Simple, sweet story with a message of hope
Charming illustrations
Great book for helping kids through a move 😊
We sincerely hope that you enjoy these books as much as we have! To receive monthly book recommendations, sign-up for my newsletter at the bottom of this page. Otherwise, if you have any favorite four-season book recommendations for us, please type them in the comments below. We are ALWAYS looking for fun new books to read! 😊
Happy reading from our family to yours!
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