When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes (review)

In brief, occasionally spare lyrical text, Henkes describes the seasonal changes that herald the advent of spring, from the gradual disappearance of snow to the arrival of flowers, green grass, newborn creatures, and a deluge of rain. Spring “changes its mind a lot, but when Spring is finally here to stay, you will know it. . . .There will be buds and bees and boots and bubbles. There will be worms and wings and wind and wheels.” The waiting isn’t over, then, though because “now, you have to wait for Summer.” The brevity and content of the text, simplicity of the vocabulary, and large, comfortable illustrations make this a solid storytime title and a potentially enjoyable read-alone selection for primary-grade readers. Henkes creates a childlike and child-friendly cadence with the rhythms of his writing, and the robust, thickly outlined art carries plenty of kid appeal as well. Rendered in brushy acrylic paint, children and critters engage with the flower-flecked verdant landscape while skies alternate between stormy and clear. Expect this to see heavy use in classrooms and library story hours; the trio of white kittens that appear on the cover and within the pages will also ensure that it easily partners with Henkes’ popular Kitten’s First Full Moon (BCCB 3/04) as well.