While putting together our winter book club, “Over and Under the Snow,” we pulled out all sorts of winter books that we love. Some of these books we love for their wonderful illustrations. For others, our hearts were captivated by magical tales put together with words.
Winter is a magical time of the year. During winter the world is a wonderland very different from the other seasons.
As the fresh snow glitters, some of us are called to play and experience the stillness of the winter world. For the rest of us, this season is for cozying up with our families and enjoying time together. We love to use this time together to read some good books.
That is why, we are sharing some of our favorite winter books. Whether you are a play in the snow or a cozy-up kind of person (you can be both), there is always a time for a good story.
Our Favorite Winter Books
Magical Winter Adventures for Young Children
The Snowman
By: Raymond Briggs
We have this book as a board book and it is one of my girls' favorites! I like that because it doesn’t have words so you can focus on different things in the pictures. You can use it to work on vocabulary or to focus on the excitement of building a snowman. We like that it takes you on the adventure of the snowman. I love that it is an open-ended book that you can use however you like.
A Thing Called Snow
By: Yuval Zommer
I really like the art in this one. I like that it describes snow and ways to think about it. It adds imagination and points out the joy of snow. I think it is a fun snow book.
Mice Skating
By: Annie Silvestro
Again, I love the pictures. I think it is a really cute story. The mouse shows great problem-solving and is a good friend. Even though her friends say no she isn’t offended she just continues to find joy herself and wants to share that. It's a nice reminder to follow your passion and not worry too much about what others think. And come on, who wouldn't love to see little mice ice skating and knitting tiny hats?
Snow Bears
By: Martin Waddell
As mentioned before, we love stories about bears (or any animals). The book Snow Bears is no different. This is a sweet story of a mom playing in the snow with her cubs. My kids love this book and I love that it reminds me to take time to enjoy playing with my little bears.
Magical Winter Adventures for School-Aged Children
Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the ForestBy: Phoebe Wahl
I love the art! This book has one of my favorite illustrators of children’s books. I just love the imagination of this teeny tiny witch who goes and helps. It’s a beautiful way to imagine the forest and outside. I love books that encourage that!
Winter in the Forest
By: Rusty Finch
A pop-up surprise book that my kids love! The pop-ups are hardy enough for babies to use and the pictures are magical. We love the contrast of the pictures.
Stranger In The Woods: Snowflake Edition
By: Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick
This book is a photographic adventure through the woods on a winter day. The pictures are magical and the conversation of the animals is one of our favorites.
Family Traditions and Togetherness
Owl Moon
By: Jane Yolen
A super fun book. It's a kind of book that is full of anticipation of the dad and daughter being really quiet. It has a different feeling than other books that we read at our house. It gives you a peek into the girl's family and traditions. You can feel the girl's joy in aging up into this family tradition. It inspires me to create these kinds of traditions with my family.
Snowman At Night
By: Caralyn Buehner
Full of fun snowman illustrations that my kids love, this book is a winter treasure. I love how this book is a story told completely through pictures. My boys love the imaginative story of what snowmen do while we are sleeping.
All You Need for a Snowman
By: Alice Schertle
This is a fun story about building a snowman. We love that the finished snowman has a full spread! We love how it turns the simple act of building a snowman into a fun story.
Bear Snores On
By: Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
A favorite character at our house is Bear. We love how this story talks about him hibernating while his friends warm up for the winter. It gives you a subtle peek into the winter world of animals but follows a fun story of friends.
Educational Winter Exploration
Over and Under the Snow
By: Kate Messner
I like this one because it is scientific and factual. It’s not just imagination but it’s actual creatures that live outside. Then it plays into your imagination because you don’t always see what is under the snow or even over the snow. So, I like that it can play into your imagination but it is science and real. It’s real observations and makes kids want to look for those clues of the footprints and the creatures around them. I also like that it leans into parents going on adventures with their kids and observing things. It shows the balance between the parent’s knowledge and the kid's imagination on their adventure.
Animals in Winter
By: Henrietta Bancroft & Richard G. Van Gelder
Of course we love learning about animals at our house. This book shows us about different animals in the winter and what they do in the snow. The science focus of this book and learning the fun facts about animals is so much fun!
If You Go Down To The Woods Today
By: Rachel Piercey
There are really cute winter pages. This is my favorite I Spy book. It is really fun to snuggle up when it is snowy and do these winter pages. I also really like that it is I Spy but also has a poem on each page. That way you can play or read. Or both!
Hello, Snow
By: Hope Vestergaard
I love that this book is easy to read for early readers but also tells the story in a poetic way. In fact, this book is a perfect story for my preschoolers. They love the excitement of going out to play in the snow. I love how it takes you through each step of a fun snow day including getting ready and finishing up the fun.
Classic Winter Stories
The Mitten
By: Jan Brett
A classic tale with beautiful illustrations. We love how you can always see something new in the pages of this book.
The Hat
By: Jan Brett
Just like “The Mitten,” this book is full of beautiful illustrations that we love to explore. We think this is a silly story. I recently read this story to a preschool class and they thought the ending was hilarious!
Winter Poetry and Reflections
Winter Wishes
By: M. H. Clark
This book is full of poems. It is a book that you have to slow down and say the meaning for younger readers. It has some mature ways of thinking. This opens the door for discussing these harder concepts with your children. It has cute illustrations (which is a way I choose books). The book talks about wishing others goodwill as a gift they are giving with the new year. I like that it isn’t materialistic but it is sincere thinking and caring about someone. It is really sweet.
Flower Fairies of the WinterBy: Cicely Mary Barker
The Flower Fairies series is one of my favorites to explore. Each fairy is named after a specific flower, which is a great way to learn about different flowers. Plus, the series is filled with adorable poems. And the backstory of the author adds an extra layer of interest to the whole experience.
As the winter season continues, pick some books and snuggle up for a time. Sharing our favorite reads has been a treat. All in all, it has allowed us to reflect on why we enjoy reading these books with our families. Of course, we’re convinced there’s a story waiting for every reader to enjoy. So, grab something cozy, discover a new book, and let the magic of the winter world bring some excitement and curiosity to your family.
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