35 of the Best March Picture Books for Kids
Can we agree that March is always confused? One minute, the wind blows so hard it knocks over your trash can; the next minute, the sun is shining, and your kids are begging to wear shorts or go swimming. Winter refuses to leave, but spring is clearly peeking around the corner. The seasons change, but not without a little drama first. And if you homeschool as we do, or even if you’re just home with your young children a lot, you feel it. The end of winter is long! Everyone’s restless, screen time is at an all-time high, and the house feels like it’s getting smaller by the second. This is where picture books save us! So today I’m sharing 35 March picture books for kids you don’t want to miss!
Every single year, right around the change of seasons, I pull out our stack of March books and rotate our shelves. It’s such a simple thing, but it shifts the whole mood in our home. Suddenly, we’re talking about muddy puddles, life cycles, Irish saints, baby animals, and the first day of spring instead of whining about the weather. March is packed with themes we love and can sometimes be easy to overlook, like:
- St. Patrick’s Day
- the changing seasons
- seeds and gardens
- windy weather
- nature waking up
- and even a lead-in to Earth Day
It’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your home library without overhauling everything. This list is a mixture of living books, faith-centered titles about St. Patrick, and a few just-for-fun, funny books that make everybody laugh. So grab your coffee, friend. Here’s our March book list! The best books we pull out year after year!
March Books for Kids
Let’s talk about St. Patrick’s Day. In our home, we absolutely celebrate! I want my kids to know the real man, not all leprechauns, rainbows, and pots of gold. St. Patrick wasn’t a cartoon character. He was a missionary, a bishop, and a man who loved Jesus and brought the faith to Ireland. That’s a good thing to teach our kids during March. So I always include our faith-centered books about St. Patrick.
Faith-Focused Books About St. Patrick
Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola: If you can only choose one, this is a great book to start with. Tomie dePaola, one of my absolute favorites, has a way of telling stories for children! The illustrations are simple but meaningful, and the storytelling makes St. Patrick real to young readers. It’s a wonderful book for young children, but older children can appreciate it too.
​Saint Patrick by Ann Tompert: A beautifully written and rich picture book that tells the true story of Saint Patrick. From his captivity to his courageous return to Ireland to share the love of Christ.
The Story of Saint Patrick’s Day by Patricia A. Pingry: A charming introduction to the life of Saint Patrick and the origins of the holiday that bears his name.
St. Patrick’s Day by Gail Gibbons: If your kids are asking factual questions, this is a great way to introduce traditions and history in simple text. It’s easy to understand and works well for early elementary young readers who want information but not a textbook.
Pin March Picture Books for Kids
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Now, I still love all the fun things for St. Patrick’s Day too, so here are a few playful books in our stack. I don’t think it’s wrong to enjoy a fun story about leprechauns as long as it’s not the only thing your kids hear about.
St. Patrick’s Day Books for Fun
St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting: This one isn’t directly about the saint’s biography, but it has such a sweet Irish spirit. It’s about bravery and determination, and it’s one of those children’s books that feels gentle and strong at the same time.
Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaola: This one is just delightful. It’s one of our favorite books for March. The absurdity of a giant potato? Hilarious. My kids always giggle. It’s a perfect book for reading aloud dramatically.
Jamie O’Rourke and the Pooka by Tomie dePaola: Another favorite of my kids! It’s a funny and heartwarming tale of Jamie O’Rourke, the lazy farmer, and the mischievous pooka who turns his luck upside down.
Fiona’s Luck by Teresa Bateman: A clever young girl outwits leprechauns to restore luck to Ireland. It feels like an old folktale with rich language and beautiful illustrations.
How to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam Wallace: This is one of those funny books that kids want to read over and over. It’s interactive, silly, and perfect for younger children who love imaginative play. This is a fun one to read while kids create their own leprechaun trap.
The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing: A playful, rhyming picture book that follows two excited siblings as they set clever traps to catch a leprechaun. This one is a fun and festive read-aloud.
What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting: A playful look at the sneaky tricks and magical mischief that leprechauns get up to on St. Patrick’s Day.
March Books for Kids to Celebrate the Changing Seasons
March is muddy, windy, and unpredictable. When the seasons change, kids notice everything. They’re wired to observe, so lean into it.
March Picture Books for Kids that Welcome Spring
Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak: This is a gorgeous book! The illustrations follow a child walking through nature as it wakes up. It’s a quiet and observational story.
When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes: The simple text makes this perfect for preschoolers. It shows how seasons change. First, everything is brown and muddy, but then slowly color returns. It helps little ones understand that spring doesn’t just explode overnight.
And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano: If you’ve ever planted seeds with your kids and waited, and waited, and waited, this spring book will feel painfully relatable. It beautifully captures the end of winter.
Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson: Fletcher the fox discovers the joy and beauty of spring as the world around him bursts into colorful blossoms.
The Happy Day by Ruth Krauss: A sweet, simple story where woodland animals celebrate the arrival of spring and the first blooming flower.
In Like a Lion Out Like A Lamb by Marion Dane Bauer: A lively story that captures the wild storms of early March and the gentle, calm arrival of spring.
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel: By far another family favorite! A warm and gentle story about the enduring friendship and everyday adventures of Frog and Toad.
March Weather Picture Books for Kids
Worm Weather by Jean Taft: Short, rhythmic, and still so much fun! Kids in rain boots splashing in puddles. This one says yes to those muddy boots!
The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins: This cumulative tale is a classic. Each page builds as the wind carries more and more objects away. It’s a fun story that even toddlers can follow.
When the Storm Comes by Linda Ashman: If you have a child who gets nervous during storms, this is a wonderful book to read together. It models calm and reassurance.
March Picture Books for Kids About Seeds, Gardens & Life Cycles
As we move closer to the first day of spring, I always bring out our seed and garden books, even though we’ve yet to plant a garden since we’ve moved…8 years ago. We still enjoy reading and learning about seeds, gardens, and life cycles. Kids love watching life cycles unfold. It’s one of the most tangible ways they see that when seasons change, growth follows.
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle: This is a great book for introducing perseverance and growth. The tiny seed travels through changing seasons until it finally blooms. It’s simple enough for very young children but meaningful for older children.
A Seed Is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston: A gorgeous book! We love the entire series of these books! The illustrations alone make it worth owning. It explains seeds in poetic language while secretly teaching science.
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner: This one beautifully shows what’s happening above the soil and underneath it at the same time. It’s a perfect way to show kids that growth isn’t always visible.
The Dandelion Seed by Joseph Anthony: Beautifully illustrated picture book that follows a tiny dandelion seed’s journey on the wind, teaching children about perseverance, nature, and the wonder of life cycles.
Miss Maple’s Seeds by Eliza Wheeler: A whimsical story about a nurturing little woman who gathers and cares for lost seeds, gently teaching children about life cycles, growth, and finding where they’re meant to bloom.
My Garden by Kevin Henkes: An imaginative story about a little girl who dreams up a magical garden of giant tomatoes and chocolate bunnies, celebrating creativity, nature, and the wonder of growing things.
Lola Plants A Garden by Anna McQuinn: This charming, springtime story is about a little girl who plants flowers and patiently watches them grow.
We Are Gardeners by Joanna Gaines: Heartfelt story inspired by their family’s real-life gardening journey, teaching children about teamwork and the valuable lessons that grow alongside a garden.
Animal Stories as Nature Wakes
When nature wakes in March, so do the animals. Birds return, bees buzz, and baby animals start to arrive.
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey: Such a classic! A great way to introduce wildlife and family themes!
The Honeybee by Kristin Hall: If you want rhythm and beauty with buzzing bees, this is it.
A Butterfly Is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston: This book pairs beautifully with conversations about life cycles and metamorphosis.
An Egg Is Quiet by Diana Hunts Aston: A nonfiction picture book that explores the many shapes, colors, and wonders of eggs in nature.
Mossy by Jan Brett: A delightful story about Mossy, a turtle with a garden on his shell. If you haven’t experienced the beauty of Jan Brett’s picture books, you’re truly missing out.
The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco: When Mary Ellen grows restless, Grandpa leads a town-wide hunt for a bee tree, teaching her that even the sweetest rewards take effort to find.
How We Use Our March Book List
Here’s what this actually looks like in real life. I don’t read all of them, force a schedule, or stress if we miss one. I display them throughout the house:
- In a basket in the living room
- On our homeschool room shelf
- Or stacked on the ottoman in the living room
Sometimes we’ll add an activity or coloring page and sometimes we just read. Because reading just a few minutes to your kids daily is enough. If you want to make it extra special, this is the perfect opportunity to:
- Add one to Easter baskets
- Create a simple St. Patrick’s Day book basket
- Or print a reading challenge for your young readers (don’t miss the end of this post for a free printable)
Where I Shop for Books
Listen, I love new books, but I also love it when I stay in our budget. So, I check:
- Used bookstores
- ​Local Once Upon a Child
- Goodwill
- Library sales
- ThriftBooks
ThriftBooks has especially been such a good thing for building our home library without guilt. I’ve never been disappointed in my Thriftbook orders. If you want to build a home library and I’m having trouble finding the book when I’m out thrifting, this is my go-to! You can join their reading rewards program and earn free books, too! Highly recommend, especially if you’re a homeschool family! Ready to print the entire list? Hit the download button below to print the list to take to the library or out shopping.
Why March Reading Matters
March feels transitional because it is. It’s the end of winter and the beginning of something new and what better way to introduce the shift before a busy spring really begins than with books. Books help kids process all that is changing. They start to notice: the wind, mud, different birds, and the smell of spring in the air. When we slow down and read about it, we teach them to pay attention and to notice the beauty around them.
​Reading Goal Printable
If you have a reluctant reader or two, I’ve found that using a simple goal printable to encourage them works great! So I have a free printable March Reading Goal printable for you! Drop your email address below to have it sent directly to your inbox. Print as many copies as you need!
Whether you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in a faith-centered way, preparing for the first day of spring, exploring life cycles, or just surviving muddy afternoons, this list of books is there for you! Now, you don’t need all 35 of these March picture books for kids. Just choose a few great books that meet your family in the season you’re in. And we’ve already established that March is wild, but it’s the perfect time to anchor your day by curling up with your kids and opening a really wonderful book.
I’d love it if you left me a comment below. Let me know which books are your family’s favorites for March.
Earth Day Fun and More
Free Printable Earth Day Bingo and Memory Game: Make Earth Day fun with this Free Printable Earth Day Bingo and Memory Game. An easy, low-prep activity that gets kids having fun and enjoying Earth Day.
​Fun Earth Day Crown Craft for Kids (Free Printable): If you’re looking for a simple way to celebrate Earth Day with your kids, this Fun Earth Day Crown Craft for Kids (with Free Printable!) is an easy, hands-on activity that sparks creativity and gives your little ones something adorable they can proudly wear all day long.
The Best Easter Picture Books for Christian Families: Discover a handpicked collection of the best Easter picture books perfect for Christian families, filled with faith, fun, and meaningful stories to celebrate the season with your little ones.
