The Sweetest Gardening Books for Kids to Read this Spring

Hello World! Backyard Bugs by Jill McDonald

This bright and fun board book introduces little readers to the tiny creatures they might see in their own backyard. With simple facts, cheerful illustrations, and interactive prompts, it’s an engaging and accessible way to discover bugs while fostering curiosity about the world around us! Backyard Bugs is perfect for anyone wanting to learn about what’s crawling around in the garden!

Hello World! Garden Time by Jill McDonald

Another excellent addition to the Hello World! series, this educational board book offers a gentle introduction to how gardens grow, from tiny seeds in the soil to the food we eat every day. With simple explanations and colourful, engaging illustrations, it simplifies science concepts in a way that’s easy for little readers to understand. It’s a wonderful choice for toddlers curious about the world of plants and gardening.

In Emily’s Garden by Kate Coombs

In Emily’s Garden is a sweet board book that introduces little readers to the world of poetry through garden-inspired words by Emily Dickinson. With gentle lines from her poems and soft illustrations, this board book offers a calming and engaging reading experience. It’s a delightful way to inspire curiosity about nature and poetry.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Vegetable Garden by Eric Carle

I feel like no list is complete without something related to The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Little readers will join the caterpillar on a playful search-and-find adventure through the garden, looking for hidden vegetables. It’s an interactive and engaging option for toddlers who want a bit of fun while learning about the foods that grow in the garden.

A Garden for Lili by Melissa Iwai

If you’re looking for a warm and joyful story that celebrates community, culture, and the magic of growing your own food, you’ll love A Garden for Lili. As Lili gets ready for her building’s block party, the grandmothers in her community teach her the ins and outs of gardening—from composting to growing fresh ingredients. Along the way, she learns how food and gardens can bring people together.

Everything Grows in Jiddo’s Garden by Jenan A. Matari

In Jiddo’s garden, a young girl discovers more than just fruits and flowers—she learns about her family’s history, identity, and connection to home. As they tend the garden together, it becomes a meaningful link to the land they were forced to leave behind. It’s a heartfelt and beautifully illustrated story about belonging, resilience, and the roots that shape us.

Grandma’s Gardens by Hilary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton

Inspired by their own family story, Hilary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton celebrate the special bond formed through a shared love of gardening. Across generations, gardens become sites of learning, connection, and treasured memories. Grandma’s Gardens is a heartfelt tribute to family, tradition, and the ways love can grow and flourish.

How to Catch a Garden Fairy by Alice Walstead

If you’ve been around for a while, you know I love the How to Catch series. When the Catch Club Kids discover a hidden enchanted garden, they set out on a wild adventure to find the elusive Garden Fairy. Filled with silly traps, magical encounters, and plenty of chaos, this story blends humour with light STEAM elements. It’s the perfect fun and energetic read with a touch of mischief!

How to Catch a Garden Gnome by Alice Walstead

It’s no surprise there’s another How to Catch book on this list! A simple walk through the park turns into a magical adventure when the children stumble upon a hidden garden filled with whimsical creatures—and one very busy garden gnome. As they race against time to catch him, their plans lead to plenty of chaos!

In Our Garden by Pat Zietlow Miller

In Our Garden is a hopeful and uplifting story about community, new beginnings, and the discovery of a sense of home. After moving to a new place, Millie longs for the garden she left behind—until she helps create a rooftop garden at her school. With patience, teamwork, and plenty of hard work, the project starts to grow into something truly special.

Linh’s Rooftop Garden by JaNay Brown-Wood

As young readers help Linh find missing blueberries before her rooftop picnic begins, they’ll explore a colourful garden filled with fruits and vegetables while learning to identify the differences between them. With playful interactive text and charming illustrations, this story makes gardening and healthy eating both enjoyable and engaging.

Logan’s Greenhouse by JaNay Brown-Wood

Logan is on a mission to find his carrots before a fun pet playdate—but his greenhouse is full of lookalike vegetables! As readers help him search, they’ll learn to spot the differences between various plants while exploring an accessible garden space. Interactive and engaging, this story combines a playful seek-and-find format with themes of gardening, inclusion, and healthy eating.

Love Makes a Garden Grow by Taeeun Yoo

In her grandfather’s garden, a young girl discovers the quiet magic of caring for plants and the deep love they share. As she grows, the lessons she learns among the blooms stay with her, even as life changes. Love Makes a Garden Grow is a gentle, beautifully illustrated story about family, memory, and the bonds that develop over time.

Miguel’s Community Garden by JaNay Brown-Wood

A community garden party becomes a cheerful quest to find missing sunflowers as Miguel and his friends explore everything growing around them. Along the way, readers compare different plants and discover what makes each one special. Bright, engaging, and full of charm, this third story in the Where in the Garden series brings gardening and healthy eating to life.

My Nana’s Garden by Dawn Casey

Through visits to her grandmother’s garden, a young girl experiences the beauty of the seasons—and the deep bond they share. When her grandmother is gone, the changing garden helps her understand loss and healing. My Nana’s Garden is a lyrical and touching story about love, grief, and the quiet comfort found in nature.

Over in the Garden by Janna Matthies

Inspired by the folk song “Over the Meadow,” this lively picture book welcomes young readers into a busy neighbourhood garden. As little gardeners dig, plant, and harvest, they’ll count along and enjoy the colourful scenes. It’s a cheerful and engaging read that combines gardening fun with early counting skills.

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

This is one of my personal favourites on this list. The Curious Garden is a beautifully illustrated and inspiring story about the impact of nature, hope, and one person’s ability to make a difference. What starts as one small act of care turns into something much bigger when Liam begins tending a struggling garden in the middle of a grey city. As the garden grows, it gradually transforms the world around him.

The Weedy Garden by Margaret Renkl

Through gentle, thought-provoking questions, The Weedy Garden invites readers to explore a vibrant ecosystem filled with plants and animals. With detailed illustrations and a sense of wonder, it fosters curiosity, observation, and a greater appreciation for the natural world. The book encourages readers to consider what they might discover if they paused and truly listened in a backyard garden.

We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines

Starting a garden isn’t always easy, as Joanna Gaines and her family quickly discover—but every setback becomes a chance to learn and grow. From curious bunnies to early mistakes, their journey is filled with lessons in patience and perseverance. We Are the Gardeners is a warm and encouraging story that shows how hard work and determination can lead to something truly beautiful.

What the Garden Tells Me by Monica Mikai

This lovely picture book celebrates the wonder and wisdom found in gardens, encouraging readers to slow down and appreciate everything. Through thoughtful comparisons between plants and everyday life, it highlights what makes each of us unique. It truly invites readers to reflect and value the world around us, especially in the gardens that surround us.