About the Holiday
With its longer days, warmer weather, and blossoming flowers and trees, springtime puts us in a brighter frame of mind. There’s inherent optimism in seeing birds build nests and hearing the cheeps of baby birds, in shedding the coats and boots that weigh us down, and even in looking forward to summer vacation. Little ones love exploring during spring, just like Sammy in today’s book!
Sammy in the Spring
By Anita Bijsterbosch
Sammy watches out his window as the birds sing and feed their babies. Sammy wants to play outside and asks his stuffed horse Hobs to come with him. He puts on his socks and shoes then grabs his bike and puts Hobs in the basket. “Sammy likes riding on his bicycle. The flowers smell so good! He can see yellow, white, and pink flowers.”
Copyright Anita Bijsterbosch, 2018, courtesy of anitabijsterbosch.nl.
After his bike ride, Sammy jumps on his scooter and fits Hobs into the basket on the front. They tow a little car behind them. Squirrels scamper in the trees, a family of bunnies peeks through the grass, and butterflies flutter in the air. One even lands on Hobs’ nose! Behind a bush, Sammy spies some sleeping hedgehogs. But the time for hibernating is over. “‘Hey, hedgehogs, wake up! Spring has come,’ Sammy whispers.”
When the hedgehogs wake up, they keep Hobs company while Sammy plays with his car. Then it’s time to drive the tractor and tend the garden. They meet three woolly lambs. “How sweet they are! ‘Baaa, baaa,’ the little lambs bleat.” Next Sammy digs holes in the ground and plants carrot, strawberry, radish, and cucumber seedlings. After all that playing and hard work, Sammy and Hobs go back inside to wash up and have a nice dinner together.
Copyright Anita Bijsterbosch, 2018, courtesy of anitabijsterbosch.nl.
Little ones will be happy to spend time with Sammy and Hobs as they enjoy a spring day together in Anita Bijsterbosch’s adorably inviting story. The imaginative relationship that toddlers and young children have with their favorite toys is charmingly reflected here as Sammy includes Hobs on his bike, scooter, and tractor rides, shows him the lambs and hedgehogs, and gives him his own apple to eat at dinnertime. Bijsterbosch’s language is bright and cheery and paced with the same eager excitement of children playing and exploring.
Bijsterbosch’s bold images and brilliant colors are beautifully displayed in this large board book that cleverly uses full and half pages to show transitions in the action. Smiles abound as Sammy and Hobs meet birds, hedgehogs, lambs, bunnies, and even a tiny pink worm. Young readers are sure to smile too.
A joyful book that little ones will want to hear again and again, Sammy in the Spring would make a great take-along for picnics and other outdoor activities and a sweet addition to home and preschool libraries.
Learn more about Anita Bisterbosch, her books, and her art on her website.
Ages 2 – 5
Clavis, 2018 | ISBN 978-1605373676
National Optimism Day Activity
Sunny Daisy Craft
This cheery springtime flower is easy for little ones to make with some adult help and can brighten any room!
Supplies
- Small paper plate
- Green straw
- Yellow paint
- Green paper
- Tape
- Small flower pot (optional)
Directions
- Paint a circle in the center of the plate, let dry.
- Make petals by cutting around the plate about every 1 ½ inches angled toward the center
- Fold some petals forward and some back to give the flower dimension
- Cut leaves from the green paper
- Tape the straw to the back of the plate
- Display your flower!
Picture Book Review
celebratepicturebooks.com 