Seasonal Reads

Books for little and big people that pay homage to the seasons

Oct 05, 2024

Firstly, hello!

It’s been a little bit, Mother Readers.

Forgive my silence over the last few months, I was wintering. I took a break from all creative pursuits, cocooned myself in a little bubble beside the wood burner and read, read and read some more. It was glorious.

Spring has now sprung in my part of the world. Blossoms, butterflies, bees and beautiful weather have brought me back to creating, not just consuming, stories.

When I first dreamed up Mother Reader at the beginning of this year I envisaged writing to you monthly about all the books I read for pleasure, for myself and with my children, including chapter books, picture books and non-fiction books as well as recommended themed book lists.

So here I am (at last!) with a round up of my favourite books and book series that celebrate all four of the seasons.

For context, if you are new to Mother Reader, I’m

Stephanie Elizabeth

, a slow, simple, seasonal living home lover who nests on the Mornington Peninsula, Bunurong Country, at the bottom of mainland Australia with my musical husband and two wildlings (aged 6 and 4).

This list is a personal curation and by no means definitive. Which is why after perusing, I hope you will add to this compilation your own recommended seasonal reads, for young and old alike.

Millie-Mae Through The Seasons

By Natalie J. Marshall

These sweetly illustrated and simply told stories of a little girl experiencing a day in each season have been treasured by both my children since they were teeny tiny. You can find all four stories bound in one book (as pictured above) or in a board book box set. Grandmother Reader owns the later and was the one who first introduced us to the world of Millie-Mae.

Sing me the Summer

By Jane Godwin & Alison Lester

“Always in Autumn a soft golden light. Here is the day… and here is the night.”

Two powerhouse Australian children’s authors collaborated to create this melodic picture book that celebrates the magic of day and night throughout the changing seasons. Alison Lester’s illustrations are particularly nostalagic for me as I grew up being read Magic Beach and Imagine by Nana Reader.

All Through the Year

By Jane Godwin & Anna Walker

“September comes with daffodils and blossom buds and rain.”

Another beautifully told Jane Godwin story of a year in the life of one family. This delightful picture book aligns the months to the seasons of the southern hemisphere.

The ABC Book of Seasons

By Helen Martin, Judith Simpson & Cheryl Orsini

“Seasons come. Seasons go. Sun shines. Winds blow. Rain falls. Plants grow.”

This is one of a beautiful series of picture books which are revered in our family. Other titles include Feelings, Food, Machines and my sons favourite Cars, Trains, Boats and Planes. Like the other titles previously mentioned, the illustrations by Cheryl Orsini make these picture books keepers in our household. The prose is lyrical and often guides interaction from little people.

Seasons in the City

By Megan McKenna

Brightly illustrated, this non-fiction picture book takes kids on a world trip to experience different cities at different times of the year. Think cherry blossoms in Tokyo and tulips in Amsterdam.

What are you doing today Mother Nature?

By Lucy Brownridge & Margaux Samson-Abadie

We borrowed this book from the library and were absolutely spellbound by it. Taking our time we slowly savoured a few stories each day (there are 48 in total) so we could soak in the incredible tales of nature and how it changes throughout the seasons around the world. This is everything you want in a non-fiction read aloud - captivating content and magical illustrations. I’d love to personal own a copy of this book it’s that good. There are others short story collections in this series which we have yet to read - Wild Languages of Mother Nature and Round and Round goes Mother Nature. And off I go to email my library to request they purchase copies of both pronto!

Brambly Hedge

By Jill Barklem

It would be remiss of me to not include the classic Brambly Hedge stories in a seasonal reading line up. You can purchase the Summer, Spring, Autumn and Winter stories separately but I highly recommend the complete collection.

The Flower Fairies

By Cicely Mary Barker

“Now reigns the Lady Summer, round whose feet a thousand fairies flock with blossoms sweet.”

We adore these sweet poems with their charming personifications that Cicely Mary Barker began publishing over 100 years ago. Like Brambly Hedge you can purchase the Flower Fairies of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter individually, but the complete collection is a timeless treasure.

Heartwood Hotel series

By Kellie George & Stephanie Graegin

Follow Mona the Mouse, a maid at the grand Heartwood Hotel, through these four chapter books, each set in a different season of the year. These are loveable stories with a gentle dose of drama that make for great read alouds for ages 5+.

Little House series

By Laura Ingalls Wilder

So far we’ve read Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prairie and were enthralled with both. These classics follow Laura and her family through everyday life living off the land, in tune with the seasons on the American frontier. We can’t wait to read more.

Slow Seasons

By Rosie Steer

I have been slowly working my way through this beautiful book as the year transpires. It’s a gem. Rosie guides us through the Wheel of the Year traditions through the lense of her Scottish homeland. If anyone knows of a similar title told from a southern hemisphere perspective I am keen to read it!

Seasons - Mornington Peninsula

By Kate Donnelly

This is a very localised recommendation, but if you enjoy coffee table wanderlust you will love this beautiful photographic journey through the seasons of my home region.

Wild Power

By Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer

You could consider this recommendation a curve ball but this book changed my life. Before I read it, I had never thought of menstruation as a monthly seasonal cycle but once you lean into this line of thinking it has the power to change your relationship with yourself and deepen your connection to the external seasons too.

There we have it!

I hope you enjoyed my seasonal reading round up. I feel like there are many books I haven’t listed so I now hand it over to you, fellow Mother Readers, to share your favourites.

A little sidenote…

I intentionally choose not to link directly to websites to purchase these titles. I am an avid library lover, secondhand op shopper and local, independent, book store supporter. If any of these books speak to you, I encourage you to seek them out via these three places first before resorting to big box stores.

I’m keen to continue showcasing others reading habits, rhythms and book recommendations via the Portrait of Mother Reader series so if you are interested in sharing the ins and outs of your own reading life like

and

have then please reach out:

Off I go to bed now with Matt Haig’s newest The Life Impossible…