Common Sense Media Review
By Mandie Caroll
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cheery, calming walk from winter to spring with boy and dog.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In GOODBYE WINTER, HELLO SPRING, a boy sets out, bundled in snow gear and trailed by a fluffy husky dog, to explore the woods and land surrounding his home during a winter evening. As he walks, he talks to the snow, the trees, the fish cuddling under the frozen surface of a pond, the leaf-barren trees, and more. A snowstorm blows in, so he returns home and is next shown at dawn as the rising sun makes the hills glow. The boy and his dog leave the house again: This time, he's wearing shorts and a hooded sweatshirt and, again, he talks with nature as he walks—to the slushy snowmelt, new leaves, waking animals, the "green grass all, all over"—and slouches out of his hoodie as the spring day warms.
Is It Any Good?
This simple, quiet tribute to the end of winter and beginning of spring will enchant readers of all ages. The progression of dark picture spreads devoid of bright colors to landscapes full of movement, life, and color perfectly capture the feeling of this particular seasonal transition. The conversation the boy has with elements of nature in Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring is a device meant to show seasonal details, but it also inspires curiosity about the outdoors. The peace the boy must feel as he walks and talks vibrates off the dreamily illustrated pages, gently encouraging readers to think about the outdoors not just as a place to visit but a relationship to foster. This is a great pick for the warming, lengthening days of late winter and early spring.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the elements of winter and spring that are portrayed in Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring. What things in the book do you also see in winter and spring where you live? What's different?
The boy says hello to different parts of the natural world on his walks, and they talk back! Was this surprising to you? Why do you think the author wrote the story this way? Do you, like the boy, have a relationship with nature? What's it like?
What things are you curious about when it comes to winter and spring? What do you like about the seasons changing, and what's hard about it, if anything?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Kenard Pak
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Animals ( Dogs , Fish , Wild Animals ) , STEM ( Nature )
- Character Strengths : Curiosity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
- Publication date : February 18, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 3 - 6
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : February 26, 2026
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