This is a wonderful book. The illustrations are gorgeous and the story is cute and funny. Children of all ages will enjoy it. It’s funny without being too silly and is a great book to create a calm moment or for a bedtime story.

Was wanting to read this on the Spring equinox but work instead got in the way and only remembered it once it was long past that time. Fortunately it seems as if all the flowers are out, the weather is now just starting to warm and the only "flakes" we have falling is the pollen from the trees.

Good-bye, Winter! Hello, Spring! is a story that explores one batch of red squirrels possibly as the squirrel pups learn what it means for one season to give to another. Instead of being happy with what their father tells them is going on they choose to explore the events going on around them and as a result find themselves in a bit of a pickle.

What I must say is that this book was beautifully illustrated and has nice full colored illustrations to cover the pages. Although the colors were rather mute including with the mallard ducks the details most definitely made up for that lack. To me, though, the only thing that I may complain on the illustration portion was the fact that the squirrels seemed rather much smaller than they should have been in real life thus making for an awkward perspective over all.

All in all this is one book that although not clear on seasonal change much may still interest children who are curious about the changes in the world around them and the resulting adventures that take them happily out into the woods or any green spot nearby.

**I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is an adorable book with really nice pictures!

Good-bye, Winter! Hello, Spring! by Kazuo Iwamura is a cut story about three young squirrels, Mick, Mack, and Molly, waking up to spring's arrival and melting snow. They venture out to see where the snow goes when it melts. They end up on a fallen tree in a stream that turns into a lake. Getting scared they meet some ducks that take them back to the shore and explain that the water in the lake goes into the river then the sea. They also tell the ducks that they will be leaving for the north, but will be back again and meet them next spring.

The original book was written in Japanese in 1985 and translated to English. This was probably why the cadence of the rhyming text has some rough spots and some of the rhymes seem forced. I did stumble a couple of times when reading to my grandchildren, but it wasn't too bad. I absolutely loved the illustrations. They are watercolour images with the animals looking very realistic even thought they were anthropomorphized. The colours are muted and perfectly depict the spring season waking up the world. This was a cute spring adventure story that also teaches a few things about spring along the way. My grandkids enjoyed the story and listened attentively. After reading we went back through and talked about the illustrations, the signs and spring and the danger of riding a tree trunk down a stream for young children. A winning story for us and one I recommend to families with young children, daycare, kindergartens and primary classrooms.

"A new spring story from the Japanese master of children's book illustration, Kazuo Iwamura."

Beautifully illustrated story for young children told through the point of view of squirrel siblings who upon going out to play discover melting snow. Spring is upon us and it's a lovely and fun lesson on the changing seasons. Children will be delighted to go on an adventure with the squirrels as they discover the changing season, get into mischief and are rescued and brought back home.

Children will be delighted with this one.

Pub Date: 05 Mar 2019
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

My thanks to NetGalley, NorthSouth Books Inc., and the author Kazuo Iwamura for this book. This is a story of three squirrel-siblings who embark on an adventure in the river that is full of melted snow. This was first published in the Japanese in the 80s and was translated recently to English and it is part of a series of seasonal stories. The illustrations are gorgeous and remind me of the cartoon I used to watch when I was little. I love it when the main characters are small animals who talk and behave properly. It reminds me of Narnia and the borrowers. Such a lovely book and a much needed distraction.

Thank you, NorthSouth Books Inc., Kazuo Iwamura, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My girls liked this story and enjoyed the pictures.

Another adventure of Mick, Mack and Molly into the spring. Little squirrels are surprised to see their pretty snow melted. So they go for an adventure finding out where does the snow go. A prettily illustrated book, like all Mr. Iwamura's oeuvre, and this one rhymed also, and an easy read for parents with little children.

Three curious squirrel kids emerge one day and discover that the snow is disappearing. Where is it going? The three follow their curiosity through a warmly painted landscape to discover the truth of the changing seasons.

Overall, quite cute. This is a fun book for any reading, but it's definitely one I'll consider for a science unit for my youngest readers around springtime.

Three adorable squirrel siblings learn how snow turns into water by having a misadventure on a floating log. A sweet story to welcome a joyous season. With delightful illustrations by the author.

Two titles have come to my attention that are perhaps confusingly similar – both from the same author, same publishing house. They're part of the same set, too. "Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring!" is a wonderful look at the end of winter, as three squirrel siblings have a dramatic escapade courtesy of all the snowmelt in their forest. What's even better is the sustained rhyming narrative, making this a joy to read – and the great visuals don't hurt much, either. "Hooray for Spring!" has the three critters enjoying their nature discoveries, until they spot a hungry little chick, and cannot for the life of them find anything suitable for it to eat. It's a charming piece itself, but on the back of the first book you cannot hope but regret the verse format did not come along for the ride too. Five stars for the poetry and drama of the longer title, but still a strong four for its follow-up. The whole year is available across multiple other volumes, so surely this is a set to collect and adore.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
Three squirrel siblings go on an adventure as they follow what happens to the snow. Spring has come and the snow is melting. The three squirrels follow the snow melt to a stream where they hop on a log. They ride the log until the stream empties into a lake. Here they are rescued by ducks and brought back home where they tell their parents what they have learned.

This was a very cute little book, with lessons on mistakes and learning from them. Perfect for little ones. My son loved it and actually set through the whole book.

What a wonderful, beautiful, adorable story I am so happy someone has translated from Japanese. Magical illustrations and a lesson or two, with these three sibling squirrels I can’t wait to read more about!

Thank you to NetGalley, and the publisher for the eARC. This is a cute read for children to see a squirrel's perspective on the seasons changing from winter to spring. We go on a cute little adventure with the squirrels as they explore the land during spring.

Good-bye, Winter! Hello, Spring! is a lovely picture book about three sibling squirrels who learn about what happens to snow when Winter ends and Spring arrives. The melting snow sends them on an adventure. This tale shows there is no better way to learn than through experience.

Very sweet watercolor illustrations of the woodsy setting with brightly colored woodland critters.

This picture book has been translated from Japanese which have been successfully translated into lyrical rhymes. All I can say is that I wish this tale was longer!

Gorgeous images and a sweet story. I loved it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Wasn’t much to it. I saw potential for this one but feel like it feel short. My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is so adorable! It features a group of squirrels exploring the woods as winter turns to spring. I loved that winter is slowly fading away because that slow transition is challenging for little kids to wrap their brains around. Kids will sometimes thing on the first day of spring it's suddenly warm weather, but it's a slow process. This book was also short and sweet with beautiful illustrations. This is a great book for preschool and early elementary aged kids!

Thanks to Netgalley for sending me a sneak peek at this updated picture book!

Beautiful imagery that calls back to my 1980s childhood. Easy to understand lessons. Great for younger readers as the seasons change.