Children's Book Suggestions | Spring Holidays

There are so many holidays in March & April that we could barely fit them on this month's display sign! Here are a few of our favorite books for the 8 holidays coming up:


March 11 | Ramadan Begins

March 19 | Nowruz (Persian New Year)

March 19 | Spring Equinox

March 23 | Purim

March 25 | Holi

March 31 | Easter

April 9 | Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan Ends)

April 22 | Passover

May 5 | Pascha (Orthodox Christian Easter)

Updated February 16, 2024
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)Oregon City Public Library
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Seven special somethings : a Nowruz story
Khorram, Adib
Paper Book
A picture book celebrating Persian New Year by award-winning author Adib Khorram Kian can't wait for Persian New Year! His family has already made a haft-seen, and Kian's baba and maman told him that all the things on it start with S and will bring them joy in the new year...

A modern family celebrates a traditional Persian holiday. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 19 | Nowruz (Persian New Year)

Ramadan
Eliot, Hannah
Paper Book
Learn all about the traditions of Ramadan with this first book in the brand-new board book series Celebrate the World, which highlights celebrations across the globe. In the ninth month of the year, when the first crescent moon rises in the sky, it's time to celebrate Ramadan! In...

A simple introduction to the holiday for the youngest readers. (Board Book Age 0-2)

March 11 | Ramadan Begins

Lailah's lunchbox : a Ramadan story
Faruqi, Reem
Paper Book
Lailah solves her problem with help from the school librarian and her teacher and in doing so learns that she can make new friends who respect her beliefs. This gentle, moving story from first-time author Reem Faruqi comes to life in Lea Lyon's vibrant illustrations. Lyon uses decorative...

A story exploring the dynamics of fasting in an elementary school environment. (Holiday Picture Book Age 7-10)

March 11 | Ramadan Begins

Moon's Ramadan
Kazi, Natasha Khan
Paper Book
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection A School Library Journal Best Book A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book A Bank Street Best Children's Book With radiant and welcoming art, Natasha Khan Kazi's debut picture book is a modern holiday classic that...

A moon's eye view of the monthlong holiday, which begins on the first night of the crescent moon and ends one lunar cycle later with Eid al-Fitr. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 11 | Ramadan Begins

Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr
Khan, Sara
Paper Book

Follow a family through a month of Ramadan activities, including Eid al-Fitr! (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 11 | Ramadan Begins

The gift of Ramadan
Lumbard, Alexis York
Paper Book
Sophia wants to fast for Ramadan this year. Her grandma tells her that fasting helps make a person sparkly--and Sophia loves sparkles. But when her attempt at fasting fails, Sophia must find another way to participate. This lovely multigenerational family story explores the many ways to take part in...

A family helps a child who's too young to fast find other ways to observe Ramadan. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 11 | Ramadan Begins

Ramadan Kareem
Yuksel, M. O./ Aly, Hatem (ILT)
Paper Book
From M. O. Yuksel and Hatem Aly, the acclaimed creators of the award-winning In My Mosque, comes Ramadan Kareem--a delightful, diverse celebration of Ramadan around the world. Don't miss this modern classic that celebrates the emotions and joy of this important holiday. Come in and...

A global look at one of the most important months for Muslims around the world. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 11 | Ramadan Begins

The monster in the bathhouse
Merabian, Sina
Paper Book
How to Catch a Monster meets Persian myth in this engaging picture book set in a lively Iranian bathhouse the day before the Persian New Year as three boys encounter something unexpected. The bathhouse is always busy the day before Nowruz. Everyone wants to be clean for...

Three small boys spot a monster in the bathhouse as they prepare for Nowruz celebrations. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-7)

March 19 | Nowruz (Persian New Year)

The wheel of the year : an illustrated guide to nature's rhythms
Cook, Fiona
Paper Book
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND KIRKUS BEST MIDDLE GRADE BOOK OF 2023 "This book is, in a word, immaculate." Kirkus (Starred Review) A beautifully illustrated, interactive guide to ancient, nature-based holidays and...

A great resource for families who celebrate nature-based holidays with ties to pre-Christian European traditions, which includes activity ideas for the 8 major spokes in the Wheel of the Year--including Ostara or the Spring Equinox. (Holiday Book Age 8-12)

March 19 | Spring Equinox

Once upon an Eid : stories of hope and joy by 15 Muslim voices
Saeed, Aisha
Paper Book
A joyous short story collection by and about Muslims, edited by New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed and Morris finalist S. K. Ali Once Upon an Eid is a collection of short stories that showcases the most brilliant Muslim voices writing today, all about the most joyful holiday of the year:...

Short stories about Eid provide a wonderful sampler platter-style introduction to 15 contemporary Muslim authors. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

April 9 | Eid al-Fitr

A spring treasury of recipes, crafts, and wisdom
Ferraro-Fanning, Angela
Paper Book

A great selection of spring-themed activities without ties to specific religious traditions. (Children's Nonfiction Age 6-8)

March 19 | Spring Equinox

And then it's spring
Fogliano, Julie.
Paper Book
Following a snow-filled winter, a young boy and his dog decide that they've had enough of all that brown and resolve to plant a garden. They dig, they plant, they play, they wait . . . and wait . . . until at last, the brown becomes a more hopeful shade of brown, a sign that spring may finally be...

My favorite spring readaloud, written by acclaimed children's poet Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Caldecott Medal winner Erin E. Stead. (Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 19 | Spring Equinox

Spectacular spring
Goldstone, Bruce
Paper Book
Spring is a season of beginnings, from blooming flowers to active animals. People spend more time outdoors, days grow longer, and umbrellas pop open as the weather shifts from snow to rain. There's so much to see and do in spring--and this book will prepare you for all of it! With...

Vibrant photo collages describe the changes in the natural world that happen every spring, along with activity ideas for younger children. (Children's Nonfiction Age 4-8)

The spring equinox : celebrating the greening of the earth
Jackson, Ellen B.
Paper Book
No matter how long and dreary the winter, we all take comfort in the knowledge that spring will soon follow. But ancient peoples had no such assurance that the ever-darkening days of winter would reverse themselves and the earth would renew its growth. Their fear led to rituals and ceremonies, many...

An overview of Spring Equinox traditions around the world, with companion books for the Autumn Equinox, Winter Solstice, and Summer Solstice. (Holiday Picture Book Age 9-12)

March 19 | Spring Equinox

Happy springtime!
McMullan, Kate
Paper Book
When winter is at its coldest and darkest, take heart! Every day the sun shines longer, Spring is on its way! All winter, the days grow a little bit longer, The nights grow a little bit shorter, until the day becomes exactly as long as the night. On that day we...

A celebration of spring by the beloved author of I Stink! (Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 19 | Spring Equinox

Hello spring!
Rotner, Shelley
Paper Book
A vibrant celebration of the natural changes and human joys of springtime   A cacophonous celebration of nature's return to vibrancy after a long, quiet winter, Hello Spring! features bright, enticing photographs from award-winning National Geographic...

Short, poetic text and engaging photos of kids playing in nature introduce readers to the natural wonders of spring. (Children's Nonfiction Age 4-8)

March 19 | Spring Equinox

Snowman - cold = puddle : spring equations
Salas, Laura Purdie
Paper Book
Poetry + Math + Science = A new way of looking at spring Math meets metaphor in this eye-opening exploration of spring. Each clever equation is a tiny, perfect poem that prompts readers to look at the ordinary and see the miraculous. Can you look at an egg in a nest and see a...

Poetry and math combine in this concept book about the changes that occur as spring brings warmer weather. (Children's Nonfiction Age 4-8)

March 19 | Spring Equinox

Sweet tamales for Purim
Bietz, Barbara
Paper Book
Many Jewish families helped settle, diverse communities in the desolate, desert terrain of the Wild West. Although Sweet Tamales for Purim is a work of fiction, it is inspired by a true event. In 1886, the Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society of Tucson planned a Purim...

A Jewish family celebrates Purim in the Southwest. (Picture Book Age 5-7)

March 23 | Purim

Purr-im time
Waldman, Jenna
Paper Book
"A welcome addition for secular and religious collections alike." --School Library Journal "Filled with movement and joy" --Kirkus Reviews "Upbeat . . . (these) kitties clearly live in an active, exuberant Jewish community" --Publishers Weekly A PJ...

A trio of adorable kittens celebrate Purim with costumes, sweet treats, and other traditions. (Holiday Picture Book Age 3-6)

March 23 | Purim

The royal recipe : a Purim story
Rubinstein, Elana
Paper Book
Named a 'BEST BOOK of 2023' by School Library Journal! An Association of Jewish Libraries "Holiday Highlights" Title for Spring 2023! "Will enhance multicultural literature collections of early reader chapter books" --School Library Journal<...

A Jewish girl accidentally summons a modern-day Haman and must save her grandparents' restaurant in time for their Purim celebration. (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)

March 23 | Purim

The book of Elsie
Levy, Joanne
Paper Book
Elsie Rose-Miller loves celebrating the Purim holiday and can't wait for the annual costume party at her local synagogue. Elsie plans to dress up as the fierce and smart Queen Esther, who saved all the Jewish people. But when financial hardship and a terrible incident of hate-inspired...

A Jewish tween organizes a fundraiser to support her favorite holiday celebration: her synogogue's Purim party. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

March 23 | Purim

Holi colors
Singh, Rina
Paper Book
Experience Holi with every color of the rainbow! This Hindu celebration known as the festival of colors and the festival of love signifies the end of winter, the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. A time to laugh, play, visit friends and get messy! Little ones will love...

This concept book uses the Hindu festival to help the littlest readers learn their colors. (Board Book Age 0-2)

March 25 | Holi

Holi Colors!
Jatkar, Deven
Paper Book
t is the day before India's Festival of Colors, Holi! Maya is looking forward to splashing and spraying colors with her friends and family. She falls on her head and wakes up in a black and white world with a chaos of colors.Why do everyone and everything look so different? Will Maya be able to play...

A young girl finds herself in a black-and-white world the day before Holi and must return its colors before the festival begins. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 25 | Holi

Festival of colors
Sehgal, Kabir
Paper Book
Learn all about Holi, the Indian Festival of Colors, in this lush picture book from bestselling mother/son duo Surishtha Sehgal and Kabir Sehgal. Spring is here, and it's almost time for Holi, the Indian Festival of Colors. Siblings Mintoo and Chintoo are busy gathering flowers...

A brother and sister duo prepare for Holi, including harvesting flowers and crushing the dried petals to make colorful powder to toss during the celebrations. (Holiday Picture Book Age 2-8)

March 25 | Holi

Holi hai!
Soundar, Chitra
Paper Book
"Soundar's clear, concise text provides an excellent introduction to Holi and its significance, as well as a beautiful story about love and forgiveness, making it a great choice for reading alone or sharing with family."--Booklist Celebrate the...

A young girl struggles with disappointment when she isn't able to toss her favorite color in the Holi celebrations. (Children's Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 25 | Holi

We're going on an egg hunt
Hughes, Laura (Illustrator of children's books)
Paper Book
A perfect story for Easter and springtime, this delightful read-aloud also features ten lift-the-flaps! We're going on an egg hunt. We're going to find them all. We're REALLY excited. Hooray for Easter Day! Join a family of bunnies...

An Easter egg hunt twist on the classic rhyme "We're Going on a Bear Hunt." (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 31 | Easter

Elijah's easter suit
Jackson, Brentom
Paper Book
In a story full of style, sass, and significance, ayoung boy goes on a quest for the perfect Easter church outfit, inspired by elders from his community. Along the way learns about the importance of Easter traditions to his family, his ancestors, and the Black church. Elijah is...

A young boy searches for the perfect Easter suit, a Christian tradition with historical resonance in his Black church. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 31 | Easter

Bunny Bus
Paquette, Ammi-Joan
Paper Book
Hop, hop, hop, STOP!Are you ready to climb aboard the Bunny Bus? Up one hill. Down another. Come join the eager troop of animal friends as they bounce along to the Easter Parade. Along the way, Bunny Bus needs a washing, but his pals are happy to help.

The most charming animal bus outside of a Miyazaki movie picks up children on their way to an Easter parade. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 31 | Easter

Minerva Louise and the colorful eggs
Stoeke, Janet Morgan.
Paper Book
Minerva Louise, the feather-brained fowl Publishers Weekly called "unquestionably a star," is enjoying springtime on the farm . . . until she finds some very peculiar eggs. Blue eggs, pink eggs, striped and spotted eggs.And they're in the strangest places--which hen is laying her eggs on top...

The Amelia Bedelia of fictional chickens solves the mystery of colored eggs on the farm. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 31 | Easter

Pick a perfect egg
Toht, Patricia
Paper Book
The creators of Pick a Pine Tree and Pick a Pumpkin return with another seasonal celebration, one that deserves a spot in every Easter basket. Pick a perfect egg with care-- Choose a white one nestled there. Gather more and softly...

A sweet story that walks children through the process of dying Easter eggs. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 31 | Easter

Bear finds eggs
Wilson, Karma
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller Bear and his friends hunt for missing eggs in this new picture book adventure in the bestselling series. Mama Meadowlark can't find her eggs! Bear and his friends pitch in to help and search high and low. Each time they find...

The protagonist of Karma Wilson's beloved Bear books joins his friends for an egg hunt in their forest community. (Holiday Picture Book Age 3-7)

March 31 | Easter

Max's chocolate chicken
Wells, Rosemary.
Paper Book
Max and his sister Ruby go on an egg hunt and vie with each other for the prize--a chocolate chicken.

In possibly the greatest Easter book of all time, Max can't keep his bunny paws off the chocolate chicken prize for the Easter egg hunt winner. (Holiday Picture Book Age 3-7)

March 31 | Easter

Is this . . . Easter?
Yoon, Helen
Paper Book
What's the deal with all the eggs? With her trademark visual humor and comic timing, Helen Yoon takes a look at a puzzling holiday tradition. Look, an egg! An egg left by a bunny! What does that mean? It means it's time to celebrate . . . Easter! Or is it time to celebrate...

A group of dogs debates the age-old question: are eggs for eating or are they for painting? (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 31 | Easter

Here comes the Easter Cat!
Underwood, Deborah.
Paper Book
This New York Times bestseller brings acat with flair to spare, an Easter Bunny with a job to do, and a hilarious break from sticky-sweet Easter fare-for fans of Patrick McDonnell, Mo Willems'sElephant and Piggie, and Ben Clanton's Narwhal and Jelly. Why should the Easter...

A cheeky cat makes his case for taking over for the Easter bunny. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 31 | Easter

First words of Easter
Marie, Madeleine
Paper Book
Introduce your little one to the story of Easter with this colorful first words primer. Perfect for curious little ones, this book tells the story of Easter in bite-sized pieces. Short sentences and colorful illustrations guide children through the momentous story-...

A concept book that uses the Easter story to teach simple words to babies and toddlers. (Board Book Age 0-2)

March 31 | Easter

Petook : an Easter story
Houselander, Caryll.
Paper Book
The birth of new chicks underscores the joyous message of new life.

Illustrated by the wonderful Tomie dePaola, this modern folktale celebrates the Easter story. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 31 | Easter

The tale of three trees : a traditional folktale
Hunt, Angela Elwell
Paper Book
Featuring beautiful illustrations, this best-selling children's book helps children understand the significance of Easter.   "Once upon a mountaintop, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up ..." So begins...

Three trees have grand dreams for themselves that come true in unexpected ways when they cross paths with Jesus. (Children's Nonfiction Age 4-8)

March 31 | Easter

On that Easter morning
Pasquali, Elena
Paper Book
This exquisitely illustrated retelling of the Easter story brings its familiar events to life. Alison Jay has illustrated many books for children, and her beautiful paintings are instantly recognisable. Join the crowds cheering as Jesus enters Jerusalem, the disciples sharing a...

An illustrated retelling of the Biblical Easter story. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 31 | Easter

The night before Eid : a Muslim family story
Khalil, Aya
Paper Book
Celebrate the end of Ramadan with this luminous Muslim family story about faith, history, and delicious foods. On the night before Eid, it's finally time to make special sweet treats: Teita's famous ka'ak. Zain eagerly unpacks the ingredients from his grandmother's bulky...

An Egyptian-American family prepares for the feast that marks the end of the month-long Ramadan holiday. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

April 9 | Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan Ends)

Ali the Great and the Eid party surprise
Faruqi, Saadia
Paper Book
Eid Mubarak! Can Ali Tahir use his creative powers to save the holiday party? It's Eid--Ali's favorite day of the year! The family has fun plans for this special day after the Muslim holiday Ramadan. But Ali's brother, Fateh, is being cranky and keeps spoiling everything! Can Ali find a way to cheer...

Ali helps his little brother enjoy their family's Eid party. (Easy Reader Grades K-2)

April 9 | Eid al-Fitr

He is risen : rocks tell the story of Easter
Rokus, Patti
Paper Book
This unique and unforgettable picture book uses rock art and simple text to tell children the story of the miracle of Easter--the resurrection of Jesus. Through the arrangement of a few rocks and powerful words directly from Scripture, the entire Easter story is told in He Is Risen:...

The Biblical story of Easter illustrated in striking rock collages. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

March 31 | Easter

Afikomen
Cohen, Tziporah
Paper Book
Honor, Sydney Taylor Book Award In this wordless time-travel adventure, three children at a Passover seder visit ancient Egypt to help baby Moses find his way safely to Pharaoh's daughter. When a family settles at the table for Passover, their dog nabs the afikomen bag (containing...

A magical piece of afikomen transports three children back to ancient Egypt in this wordless Passover story. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

April 22 | Passover

The Passover guest
Kusel, Susan
Paper Book
Sydney Taylor Award Winner A girl's kindness to a mysterious magician leads to a Passover miracle. Beautifully illustrated and deftly told, this story full of hope, tradition-- and just a touch of magic-- is a new Passover classic in the making. It...

A young girl in 1930s Washington, D.C. experiences a bit of Passover magic in this historical fiction tale. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

April 22 | Passover

An invitation to Passover
Olitzky, Kerry M.
Paper Book
When Hannah's extended family isn't able to join her for their traditional Passover seder, she invites her diverse group of friends to experience the holiday with her. From Ha-joon's Korean kimchi, to Monique's hymn lyrics, each friend brings a bit of their own culture to the celebration. And with...

A group of diverse classmates join their Jewish friend Hannah for a Passover seder at home. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

April 22 | Passover

Welcoming Elijah : a Passover tale with a tail
Newman, Lesléa
Paper Book
Winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award and the National Jewish Book Award, Welcoming Elijah by celebrated author Leslea Newman, unites a young boy and a stray kitten in a warm, lyrical story about Passover, family, and friendship. Inside, a boy and his family sit around...

A boy preparing to welcome Elijah for the Passover celebration finds a stray kitten outside his home. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

April 22 | Passover

More than enough : a Passover story
Wayland, April Halprin
Paper Book
A family's Passover celebration is equal parts warmth and charm in this cozy picture book, with the traditional seder song"Dayenu"as the grateful refrain. In this story told in spare, lyrical prose, a Jewish family prepares for their Passover seder, visiting the farmer's market...

The traditional song "Dayenu" shapes this gentle story about a family preparing their Passover seder. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

April 22 | Passover

Beni's tiny tales : around the year in Jewish holidays
Zalben, Jane Breskin
Paper Book
Join Beni and his family as they celebrate a year in Jewish Holidays, including all their favorite craft activities, recipes, songs, and stories for each occasion. The perfect gift book that gives all year long. Chronicling a full year of Jewish festivities--from...

Jane Breskin Zalben introduces a new generation of her Beni stories with Beni's children, nephews, and nieces with stories, recipes, and activities for each of the Jewish holidays--including Passover. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

April 22 | Passover

Beautiful eggs : a journey through decorative traditions from around the world
Lindstrom, Alice
Paper Book
A large-format board book for Easter that celebrates traditions of egg-decorating from around the world in exquisite cut-paper illustration. Discover a world of beautiful pattern and color! Decorated eggs are found all over the world in many different countries. They are a wonderful...

Explore different methods of egg-decorating around the world, including spectacular pysanky from Ukraine. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

May 5 | Pascha (Orthodox Christian Easter)

P. Zonka lays an egg
Paschkis, Julie.
Paper Book
When dreamy hen P. Zonka starts laying eggs, the other chickens are in for a spectacular surprise! Extraordinary hen P. Zonka spends her time taking in the beauty around her- the shiny green of the grass, the buttery yellow of the dandelions, the deep blue of the sky. The other...

A farmyard chicken lays a spectacular egg inspired by the Ukrainian egg decorating tradition. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

May 5 | Pascha (Orthodox Christian Easter)

Rechenka's eggs
Polacco, Patricia.
Paper Book
Old Babushka, known throughout all of Moskva for her beautifully painted eggs, is preparing her eggs for the Easter Festival when she takes in an injured goose. She names the goose Rechenka, and they live happily together until one day when Rechenka accidentally overturns a basket, breaking all of...

A beloved Ukrainian-American illustrator pays homage to art of pysanky in this story about a grandmother who takes in an injured goose while preparing eggs for Easter. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)

May 5 | Pascha (Orthodox Christian Easter)


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