Celebrate spring, and Easter, with books!

With the arrival of spring, and Easter, the world comes back to life in green and blue after months of grey and brown. As you emerge from your winter hibernation, you can bring a little spring into your family's life with these colorful, entertaining books.

One Little Seed by Elaine Greenstein (Viking, ©2004, $10.99). Just as infants gradually grow into toddlers, spring brings the slow journey from seed to flower. Colorful illustrations illuminate this journey, while simple phrases tell the story of the growth and regeneration of a sunflower. Greenstein's illustrations bring you literally below the earth, making you wish for a little patch of earth to plant your own spring flowers.

Bently & Egg by William Joyce (Harpercollins, ©1992, $6.95). Given the task of egg-sitting one sunny afternoon, Bently Hopperton, dismayed by the plainness of the egg he's watching, makes a fateful decision. He paints the egg. Little does he know there's an Easter Egg hunt happening that very day, and he and his egg are taken on an incredible journey. William Joyce has created a softly colored world where every page reveals a surprising adventure. This unique Easter story will become a favorite with readers from three to "grown-up."

The Golden Egg Book by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard (Golden Books, ©2004, $8.99). Remember Golden Books? Being reissued in a new "Big Little Golden Book" format, The Golden Egg Book is one of many Golden classics making an encore performance. Margaret Wise Brown's whimsical way with words coupled with Weisgard's classic illustrations are the perfect pairing for telling the story of Little Bunny and the egg that he finds. A warm tale, this book will perk up your toddler readers as they start to venture out into the fresh spring air.

It's Easter, Pooh! (Random House, ©2003, $3.99) is a Disney board book meant for the youngest egg-gatherers in the family. Pooh and his pals enjoy an Easter Egg hunt, and your toddler gets the chance to point out sparkly colored eggs and hunt right along with Pooh. Cute, short, durable, and full of sparkly illustrations, this book is one of my daughter's favorites.

If you're looking for a good spring read to share with your little ones, these books are sure to please. With a blanket, and some warmer spring weather, these books beg to be shared with your family out under the newly blue sky this spring. Enjoy!