"One attraction in coming to the woods to live was that I should have leisure and opportunity to see the spring come in."
—Henry David Thoreau from Walden; Or, Life in the Woods

I spent several hours on Saturday afternoon outside in the sun and warmth raking up the last of the dead leaves and fallen pine cones and branches in our yard. It was invigorating preparation for today, the first day of spring, long awaited after a mild but dreary winter in New England. Currently the sun is shining through the window next to me and I'm reminded of the signs of springtime I noticed already on Saturday: new flower buds poking out of the ground (though some have been doing so for a while thanks to this wacky winter's unseasonable weather at times), birds chirping and nests spotted in trees, bike riders taking advantage of the mild temperature, garden preparations beginning, and the sun setting later and later each day. So it's with great joy that I share our updated Guide/Reviews Database booklist Spring Books for Primary Readers with you. Happy reading this season underneath your favorite tree or at your favorite spot in nature!

Now excuse me while I go enjoy my favorite first-day-of-spring tradition: a free Rita's italian ice...mmm!