Books are blooming here like the violets in a springtime yard - so many wonderful picture books, and they enrich our world, like violets in a springtime yard.

--- “Harlem's Little Blackbird: The story of Florence Mills” (Random House, 2012; $17.99) written by Renee Watson and illustrated by Christian Robinson. Florence Mills was the child of former slaves, born in 1896. She grew up in Washington, D.C. Even as a child she was recognized for her singing ability. When the family moved to New York City, Florence and her sisters performed in Harlem. Florence continued to earn starring roles and perform in sold-out houses. “She flew from stage to stage, all over the country from the East Coast to the West Coast …” She performed in London to great applause and acclaim. When she died in 1927 “more than 150,000 flooded the streets of Harlem to say goodbye.”

Watson tells us, “What made [Florence] a remarkable woman was that she used her fame and fortune to help others.” This is a lovely story about a talented woman who would not be stopped by race barriers.

--- “Imogen The Mother of Modernism and Three Boys” (Cameron+Company, 2012; $16.95), written by Amy Novesky and illustrated by Lisa Congdon, tells the story of Imogen Cunningham, “one of the finest photographers of the twentieth century.” Imogen decided as a teenager she wanted to be a photographer and her father build her a darkroom in the woodshed. After graduating from college, she opened a portrait studio in New York City. She married and soon was mother to three sons. But she had a passion for photography.

“She built a darkroom at home and turned the garden into a wonderland for her boys and a workshop for herself … While she worked, her boys played, and Imogen photographed them … And for one hour every afternoon, while the boys napped, Imogen focused on her flowers, including a common magnolia blossom she shot close up.” This book does what all good biographies do, makes me want to know more, makes me want to see Imogen's photographs.

--- “Fish for Jimmy” (Holiday House, 2013; $16.95), written and illustrated by Katie Yamasaki, is based on a true story from her family. Members of Yamasaki's family were sent to internment camps. Her great-grandfather was sent to prison “for fear [he was] a spy for Japan.” Her grandfather's cousin sneaked out of the internment camp “to find fish for his very young son.” In the book, little Jimmy refuses to eat once he and his mother and brother arrive at the internment camp. He grows paler and weaker until his brother Taro decides to sneak out of the camp and catch fish in a mountain stream. “He silently asked the river fish to help his brother. A fish swam to the swaying fingers, and Taro caught it.” Taro takes seven fish back to the camp - and his brother finally eats. Photos at the back and the author's note remind us that this is a real story, a story not to be forgotten.

--- “Grandpa Green” (Roaring Brook Press, 2011; $16.99) was written and illustrated by Lane Smith. Grandpa Green is invented but the love and tenderness and whimsy with which this story is told are as real as green grass. Grandpa Green “was born a really long time ago.” And he loves to garden. The images from Grandpa Green's long life are shown as topiaries. “…he sometimes forgets things/like his favorite floppy straw hat. But the important stuff, the garden remembers for him.”

This lovely book is perfect for this green season, or any season, and was named a Caldecott Honor Book in 2012.

A more recent Caldecott Honor Book is the wonderful nighttime story “Sleep Like a Tiger” (Houghton Mifflin, 2012), written by Mary Logue and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. “Once there was a little girl who didn't want to go to sleep even though the sun had gone away.” Her parents say she doesn't have to but she does have to put her pajamas on, and then wouldn't it feel good to wash her face and brush her teeth and tuck into her nice clean sheets. She wants to be sure she's not the only one and asks about the snails and the whales and the bats and the cats. All sleep, even the tigers. There's love here, too, in this wonderful poem and Zagarenski's beautiful and inspiring illustrations.