Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Variable vernal weather spurs this high-spirited seasonal offering from Henkes (The World and Everything in It). The titular question turns refrain as answers centered around the natural world playfully highlight early spring's starts and stops in a northern hemisphere location: "Is it spring?// Yes, said the flowers in the garden down the street." But the response shifts when the "icy and sharp" wind, "thick and gray" clouds, and "still-sleepy" critters declare "not yet," and a late snow emphatically announces "No, no, no!" Thick blue outlining is appropriately suggestive of both clear skies and final frosts, which feature in the tidy squared-off watercolor and ink portraits that accompany crisp lines of text. Employing repeated visuals--a cat, a spotted scarf--artwork continually depicts the season's push and pull, culminating in a picture of a pale-skinned child surrounded by snow-coated blossoms building a snowperson. "Will it ever be spring?" a closing section queries. And finally the sun answers, "Yes, yes, yes," and concluding pages showcase winter's retreat until seasonal change at long last takes hold in a bright burst of blooms. Ages 4--8. (Feb.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K--Through a charming and effortless walk through the signs of the season, Henkes (Finding Things) asks the question, "Is it spring?" "Yes, said the flowers in the garden down the street. Yes, said the buds on the branches in the park." And then, "Not yet, said the wind, turning icy and sharp," and "No, said the late snow." In northern states or not, children who anticipate every season from summer to spring will appreciate this homage to the caprices of change. Illustrations in the pastels of birthday cards are elevated in sweet scenes of snowfall, a cat curling in the flowers and sunshine, baby bluebirds in a nest with their beaks uplifted, and a tiny ephemeral snowman, all but doomed by the sun and blue skies. That's the book, simply delivered, in frames offering the promise of what's just around the corner. VERDICT A lighthearted book for preschoolers who ask these kinds of questions and need Henkes's kind of answers.--Kimberly Olson Fakih
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In a book that's sure to become a seasonal favorite, Henkes uses his signature ink and watercolor illustrations and a rhythmic text to explore the contradictions and hallmarks of spring in northern climates for young children. "Is it spring? Yes, said the flowers in the garden down the street." But a few page-turns later, "Not yet, said the wind, turning icy and sharp." The compositions are strong, giving a clear sense of story for group reading, but they're also full of details to notice on repeat readings and lap-sits. A red polka-dotted scarf, for instance, travels through the pages, blown out of a stroller by the wind early on, popping up on a snowman and a fence, and cushioning a nest of baby birds in the final image. Recurring animal characters give shape to the meditative (and sometimes humorous) text. Birds appear, build a nest, and lay eggs. Squirrels emerge from their dark homes and explore. A brown tabby cat with white socks basks in the sun, bats at a snowfall in confusion a few pages later, and at book's end dozes in the sun, content. "Will it ever be spring? Yes, yes, yes, said the sun." A showstopping double-page spread shows snow melting into puddles and bursts of cherry blossoms, messy and full of life. Poetic in the best possible way, this perfectly contained picture book pleasingly captures the joys of a turbulent season. Adrienne PettinelliJanuary/February 2026 p.59 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Henkes answers the question on everyone's lips and within everyone's hearts each winter. "Is it spring?" Some signs indicate yes: the flowers down the street, the buds on the trees, the birds in the sky. But wait! An opposing opinion comes from the wind, "turning icy and sharp." The gray clouds swoop in, and the sleepy animals stay in their homes. "Is it spring?" A late snow bedecking the tulips gives a resounding "No, no, no!" "Will it ever be spring?" This time the affirmative comes from the very sun itself, "warming the wind and melting the snow and calling the animals out of their dark homes." "Yes! Yes! Yes!" Henkes leans into the frustration experienced by both children and adults yearning for green grasses and balmier days. Relying on minimal yet well-chosen words and elegantly crafted art, he beautifully evokes the betrayal many feel when snow unexpectedly returns; the pinks, purples, and greens that appear in scenes of flowers, grasses, buildings, and benches are often obscured by thick layers of snow. Henkes deftly allows color to work its magic on readers' emotions; even the shifting hues of the page backgrounds behind the titular refrain are well chosen. Masterfully captures that nebulous time when spring feels simultaneously imminent and worlds away. A seasonal triumph.(Picture book. 2-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
