I Begin with Spring

I Begin With Spring by Julie Dunlap and illustrated by Megan Elizabeth Baratta was a great book. Kids need more books like this– it is so wonderful because it ties in a work of classic literature and makes it readable for kids of all ages. It is full of beautiful watercolor illustrations, and brings the work of HDT to life.

Henry David Thoreau is considered by many to be the environmental father of the green movement. As a teacher, scientist, historian, student, author, and naturalist, Thoreau has made a number of contributions to the ecological movement, his most significant including his own personal published reflections on conservation and his search for the meaning of life through the relationship he had with nature. His published works have “helped to launch the American environmental movement that continues to this day,” and understanding Thoreau is key to conservation efforts today. By studying Thoreau and putting his ideals into practice, we can overcome the challenges facing the modern environment.

This carefully crafted gem recounts some of the highlights of Henry David Thoreau's life. It paints vivid scenes with few words and reads like a field guide of the artist's life with whimsical annotated illustrations of animals, plants, and sceneries from his life. This inspiring read reminds readers to live fully and appreciate the little things that nature gifts us while constantly thirsting for more knowledge. Ideas at the end of the book inspire young readers to make careful observations of their own like this naturalist and literary genius.

I Begin with Spring is an illustrated book about Henry David Thoreau's life and the progression of the seasons of the year. The many beautiful watercolor illustrations of the nature he loved and of the things he used in daily life are both informative and charming. The detailed descriptions of the natural world will make this appeal to any child who is interested in nature and the changing of the seasons, as Thoreau was. This is a picture book, but the text is quite dense and some pages have no images at all so this would not be a good fit for most very young children. This would be a wonderful book for children interested in nature or Thoreau or any adult Thoreau fan.