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Seasons #1
Spring Is Here
Laughing, playing, dancing,
see the children gay—
Hear them singing, “Spring is here, Spring is here today.”
Could there be a more cheerful time of year than spring? Winter is over, birds are singing, flowers are in bloom . . . and it’s time to play outside! Lois Lenski’s rhyming, pocket-size picture book—published in 1945, and out of print for decades—is back in full, glorious color.
“What a pleasure to rediscover a classic children’s author! And what a pleasure to help today’s children discover one for the first time! Many thanks are due to Random House for re-releasing [her books] with their original covers and illustrations. It is one of the charms of Lois Lenski that she educated children so gently.”—Infodad.com, Four Stars
“The charm and usefulness of these books hasn’t diminished at all since they were first published in the 40’s.”— Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
see the children gay—
Hear them singing, “Spring is here, Spring is here today.”
Could there be a more cheerful time of year than spring? Winter is over, birds are singing, flowers are in bloom . . . and it’s time to play outside! Lois Lenski’s rhyming, pocket-size picture book—published in 1945, and out of print for decades—is back in full, glorious color.
“What a pleasure to rediscover a classic children’s author! And what a pleasure to help today’s children discover one for the first time! Many thanks are due to Random House for re-releasing [her books] with their original covers and illustrations. It is one of the charms of Lois Lenski that she educated children so gently.”—Infodad.com, Four Stars
“The charm and usefulness of these books hasn’t diminished at all since they were first published in the 40’s.”— Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
56 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1945
50 people want to read
About the author
Lois Lenski
187 books197 followersLois Lenore Lenski Covey was an influential American author and illustrator whose work reshaped twentieth-century children’s literature through its combination of artistic skill, documentary realism, and deep empathy for childhood experience. Beginning her publishing career in the late 1920s, she went on to write and illustrate nearly one hundred books, ranging from picture books and historical novels to regional fiction, poetry, songbooks, and literary essays. She is best known for the Mr. Small picture book series, her meticulously researched historical novels, and her groundbreaking Regional books, which portrayed the everyday lives of children across diverse American communities.
Born in Ohio and trained formally as both an educator and an artist, Lenski studied at Ohio State University, the Art Students League of New York, and the Westminster School of Art in London. Although she initially aspired to be a painter, exhibiting work in New York galleries, she gradually turned to illustration and then to writing, encouraged by pioneering children’s editor Helen Dean Fish. Her early books drew heavily on her Midwestern childhood, while later works reflected extensive travel, field research, and close observation of family and community life.
Lenski achieved major critical recognition with her historical novels Phebe Fairchild: Her Book and Indian Captive, and with her Regional novel Strawberry Girl, which won the Newbery Medal. These works were notable for their commitment to authenticity, incorporating dialect, material culture, and social realities often avoided in children’s books of the era. She believed that literature for young readers should neither sentimentalize nor sanitize life, but instead foster understanding, tolerance, and empathy.
Alongside her own writing, Lenski illustrated works by other major authors, including Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could and the early volumes of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy series. Her influence extended beyond publishing through lectures, teaching, and advocacy. In 1967 she established the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, dedicated to providing books to children facing social and economic disadvantage.
In her later years, Lenski continued writing while living in Florida, publishing her autobiography Journey into Childhood shortly before her death. Her legacy endures through her books, her educational philosophy, and ongoing efforts to expand access to literature for children.
Born in Ohio and trained formally as both an educator and an artist, Lenski studied at Ohio State University, the Art Students League of New York, and the Westminster School of Art in London. Although she initially aspired to be a painter, exhibiting work in New York galleries, she gradually turned to illustration and then to writing, encouraged by pioneering children’s editor Helen Dean Fish. Her early books drew heavily on her Midwestern childhood, while later works reflected extensive travel, field research, and close observation of family and community life.
Lenski achieved major critical recognition with her historical novels Phebe Fairchild: Her Book and Indian Captive, and with her Regional novel Strawberry Girl, which won the Newbery Medal. These works were notable for their commitment to authenticity, incorporating dialect, material culture, and social realities often avoided in children’s books of the era. She believed that literature for young readers should neither sentimentalize nor sanitize life, but instead foster understanding, tolerance, and empathy.
Alongside her own writing, Lenski illustrated works by other major authors, including Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could and the early volumes of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy series. Her influence extended beyond publishing through lectures, teaching, and advocacy. In 1967 she established the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, dedicated to providing books to children facing social and economic disadvantage.
In her later years, Lenski continued writing while living in Florida, publishing her autobiography Journey into Childhood shortly before her death. Her legacy endures through her books, her educational philosophy, and ongoing efforts to expand access to literature for children.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 14, 2020
2.5 stars. A nice book with some lovely vintage illustrations, although none quite as nice as the cover. The text felt slightly rushed and lacking, the rhyming felt forced in places.
Read on open library.
Read on open library.
May 13, 2020
An adorable children's book with hand-done calligraphy. Illustrations are adorable. Text is ho-hum. Read on Open Library.
March 25, 2016
Disappointing - too long, with all kinds of flawed rhythm patterns and redundancy. Illustrations are only average. I wish this were more focused and concise.
October 28, 2019
Such a sweet and simple book about seasons. Perfect for a 2-3 year old, or to be used in groups with students to explore seasonal happenings.
July 1, 2017
The best thing about this is the small size, just right for a child to treasure all by himself. Surprisingly not actually dated or noticeably sexist, but still, to my eyes and ears, disappointingly bland. Maybe I'm missing something, though, so I'll round up my 2.5 star rating to 3.
September 12, 2017
This book is about how winter comes to an end and what happens in springtime
July 1, 2011
Julia's favourite page is "The milkman's horse goes tripping / Spring is in the air". We've had to add a milkman to one of our lullabies as a result.
January 9, 2017
I will never cease to be enchanted by Lois Lenski's adorable children's illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews