Hello, Spring Baby!

By Jess Racklyeft

Reviewed by Margarite Igras

Jess Racklyeft is a prolific award-winning Australian author and illustrator, with over 40 picture books and board books under her wing. She won the 2022 CBCA Children’s Book of the Year for her richly detailed work called Iceberg, one of her many books about the effects of the changing seasons on plants and animals and in this case, an iceberg.

 Her latest book, Hello, Spring Baby! aimed at 3- to 6-year-olds, introduces the very young reader to the season of Spring and the life cycle of a bird, which will be followed later this year, by the life cycle of penguins in Hello, Winter Baby!  Her love of bright colours is reflected in some of her picture book titles, Australia Country of Colour, World of Colour and First Colours.  

The season of spring arrives, with the warm sun painting winter skies bright blue. Soon there is movement in the nest as the world welcomes a new arrival amidst fields of daisies brilliant sunflowers, buzzing bees, serenading birds, and nosy neighbours in the field. The baby grows and soon learns to get stronger, learning to fly under the watchful eyes of caring parents. Days are longer, the sun bright. Like the flowers, you stand tall! Seasons change and so do you…

The gentle lyrical text is well supported by the variety of flora and fauna and the rich watercolour illustrations that beam from the 24 pages. There are birds, rainbows, sunflowers, bees, blue skies, green fields, and the preparation for the winter ahead.

A beautiful introduction to the season of Spring. 

 Affirm Press 2025

Jess Racklyeft