Spring in Rochester is a great time to get outside, get muddy, and see what’s springing up. It’s also a good time to plant new seeds that will sprout this season —and continue to grow year after year. We’re not just talking about daffodils, daylilies, and black-eyed Susans; we’re talking about the seeds of literacy! Whether the kids in your life are babies or teens, give them books to explore with a caregiver or on their own. Early introductions to literacy skills will create the pathways in their brains now that will keep them reading, learning, and growing in the future. Need some suggestions? Check with your local library or look for one of these outdoorsy-themed books below!
PICTURE BOOKS
Baby Botanicals: Peekaboo, Flowers! & Good Morning, Garden!
By Jillian Miao & Riley Samels
Doubleday, 2026
Rhyming text and bright illustrations will get readers excited to point out the plants and animals in these two books.
By Shannon Anderson & Jaclyn Sinquett
Feeding Minds Press, 2025
Through journal and sketchbook entries, two girls figure out how to grow blueberries in their classroom.
By Jana Curll
Nosy Crow, 2025
A snail finds its path through the outdoors—sometimes making its own way—in this literal and metaphorical story.
By Sherri Maret
Muddy Boots, 2026
Count from day one to day twelve, with each number revealing a naturally magical piece of spring.
The Weedy Garden: A Happy Habitat for Wild Friends
By Margaret Renkl & Billy Renkl
Greenwillow, 2026
So many things can be found in a garden—especially when it is full of natural plants we call weeds! Readers can explore the pages and see what they can find.
MIDDLE GRADE
By Adiab Jaigirdar & Avani Dwivedi
Quill Tree, 2026
Nadia spends Ramadan in Bangladesh and learns how global warming is negatively affecting the country.
By Sharon G. Flake
Knopf, 2026
Hattie works hard on her family’s farm and also works hard at fitting in at her new school in this historical novel-in-verse.
By Christopher Roubique
Viking, 2026
Kyta gets his chance to save the world and fulfill a prophecy when he must steal back the Egg of the World Turtle on which everything lives.
By Ross Montgomery
Candlewick, 2026
Tick, his brother, and their loyal horse must warn the King when invaders attack their kingdom and threaten their peaceful lives.
By Tae Keller
Random House, 2026
A prophecy and wildfire test the friendships of three seventh graders—and the entire city of Seattle.
YOUNG ADULT
By Carolina Ixta
Quill Tree, 2026
A heartbroken teen resolves to stop a corporation from building warehouses on her community’s green spaces and reconnect with her ex.
By Suzanne Young
Simon & Schuster, 2026
Years after a fire burns down a luxury hotel in the Everglades, a group of teens find the exposed ruins and try to uncover the deadly truths that are no longer buried.
By David Ferraro
Page Street, 2026
Callum, a witch, must safely deliver Auggie across the sea from London to New York to get a new deal from the Devil to whom he lost his soul.
By Liara Tamani
Greenwillow, 2026
Josie wants to ride her horse, not work in her family’s high-end restaurant. Shawn has been bull riding for years, but is done with his stepdad’s drinking. When the two fall for each other, they try to keep all their dreams alive.
By Christina Ferko
Sourcebooks Fire, 2026
Penny arrives at Camp Whitewood for a summer retreat in the woods with therapy to recover from her father’s death, but when someone dies, it becomes clear that Penny isn’t just seeing things.
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of (585) Kids.
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