Children's books for winter ☃️
Can we read? Special edition: Winter
Hi there! 👋
I hope winter is treating you well thus far. If it is — and especially if it isn’t — below you’ll find my special edition on my favorite season of all (and the fact that I can still say this after a blizzard and nearly a week of subzero windchill temperatures is proof that I’m telling the truth).
I’m too excited to share this issue with you so I’ll not waste any more time — let’s point this sled in the right direction 🛷 and go!
Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper, illustrated by Kenard Pak (2020)
One morning, a young Arab-American girl named Lina wakes up to a world “muffled and white.” Snow! It’s grape leaf day, and she wants to go visit her Sitti (her grandmother), who is losing her eyesight and lives in an assisted living facility, so they can cook this together.
Lina bundles up sets out, and on her way there, she notices all the different kinds of snow — the “scraaape, scrip” of digging out the sidewalk, the “snyak, snyak, snyak” of her boots “crunching snow into tiny waffles” as she walks (isn’t that just fabulous?) When she arrives, she and her Sitti spend a tender moment together, heads out the window, which makes Lina realize that even though her Sitti can’t see as well as she used to, she can hear an additional kind of snow.
Pak’s soft, muted digital are really quite lovely here and match the abundant sensory details that Camper is truly gifted at sharing. This is a beautiful, quiet story about the love between and grandparent and grandchild, as well as — of course — ten delightful ways to hear snow.
The Star Child by The Brothers Grimm, illustrated by Bernadette Watts (2010)
“The Star Child,” a Brothers Grimm tale about a young girl who gives away everything she has — her food and all the clothes on her body — to passerby in need has always been one of my favorites to share with my children, so beautiful is its message of deep generosity and selflessness. But it wasn’t until I found Watts’ version — which is soft, tender, and simple enough for even the smallest readers to understand — that I felt able to recommend it to others.
If you want a beautiful, uncomplicated story (full of Watts’ perfectly matched down-to-earth watercolors) that exemplifies the ultimate in compassion and kindness (in winter and otherwise), don’t miss this one.
Lemonade for Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (2012)
In this excellent living math tale*, a brother and sister set up a stand to sell lemonade, limeade, and lemon-limeade even though it’s freezing outside. In addition to overcoming people’s skepticism that this is the right drink in the right season (including their parents), they have multiple problems to solve: where will they get their supplies, how will they pay for them, and what will it all cost? Once they begin selling — successfully, I might add — the math adds up. (You should know by now that I never pass up the chance to make a pun.)
My children and I continue to adore Karas’ signature watercolor illustrations, which are full of humor and life, and this one is a particular favorite: it’s pure fun, and if it also includes a little math education, well, even better.
*Wondering what I mean when I say a title is a “living book?” I answered this question in an Ask Me Anything in 2021.
Snow by Uri Shulevitz (1998)
In addition to being named a Caldecott Honor Book in 1999, Shulevitz’s gentle, poetic classic remains on many bookstore shelves because it’s basically perfect.
Here, under a city that’s gray in every way (Shulevitz’s beautiful watercolor illustrations are poetic themselves), a boy and his dog wait for snow. One snowflake falls, but no one believes him that it’s snowing — people naysay, the radio and TV deny the precipitation, but it keeps snowing. But “all snowflakes know is snow, snow, snow,” until finally the town is covered, and the boy and his dog (and some familiar Mother Goose characters that have come to life) rejoice and frolic through the white.
If this sounds simple, it’s because it is, but it’s also totally magical. Best for older babies and toddlers (but not beyond the enjoyment of slightly older kids), this is one to read to celebrate the loveliness and majesty of winter.
When Winter Comes: Discovering Wildlife in Our Snowy Woods by Aimée M. Bissonette, illustrated by Erin Hourigan (2020)
I originally bought this book sight unseen because I happened to glimpse a preview of one page that showed the family in this book ice fishing — a staple winter activity for my family, and not something you come across in picture books all that often (if ever — I can’t think of another title that features it, so if you know, please let me know!)
So I was delighted to learn that it’s a great book, full of Hourigan’s colorful and engaging colored pencil and digital illustrations and Bissonette’s joyful exploration of wildlife in the winter. It’s not only wildlife, though, and that, I think, is its particular appeal — in addition to taking a peek at what many animals are doing during the cold months, this book celebrates exploring and playing outside and all the joy that comes along with it.
If your family, like mine, relishes sporting your way through winter — or if you need a little motivation to get out and find the fun to be found — don’t miss this one.
A Toad for Tuesday by Russell E. Erickson, illustrated by Lawrence Di Fiori (1974)
One chilly night, best friends Warton and Morton enjoy some beetle brittle so wonderful, Warton decides he must set off immediately to bring some to his Aunt Toolia. He straps on his skis and starts out on his journey, only to be captured by an owl. The owl tells Warton he intends to eat him, but not until Tuesday.
Warton’s courage and frankly astounding courtesy in the face of his impending death is downright inspiring, and that may not even be a strong enough word for it: every evening he lights candles, makes a pot of tea, and carries on a warm and friendly conversation with his captor, who, in a surprise twist of events, ends up needing him —and his friendship — in the end.
Di Fiori’s line drawings are few and far between here but add to the charm of this already incredibly charming tale (a short chapter book probably best for ages 5-9) about one frog’s generosity and ingenuity, and the power of kindness to change us all.
Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen (2014)
I may eventually run out of Joyce Sidman books to review, but it’s unlikely I’ll ever run out of praise. Here, in her fascinating and superb nonfiction collection about what happens to animals, plants, and the earth during winter, she offers young readers yet another glimpse into the wonders of nature.
As if Sidman’s words aren’t spectacular enough, add in Allen’s stunning linoleum-block printed and hand-colored illustrations, and this is a poetry book that will take your breath away. (My kiddos and I are equally compelled and horrified by the page with the hibernaculum chock-full of snakes every year.) This is one to read slowly and savor, and let it inspire you to fall down metaphorical rabbit holes (at least I hope they’re metaphorical) to find more information about the magnificence of the world in winter.
Also highly recommended
There are a lot of these because we read a lot in winter… if I have reviewed any of these titles in the past, I’ve linked to those here.
The Mitten by Jim Aylesworth
Winter Story by Jill Barklem (part of the Brambly Hedge seasonal series)
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett
Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett
The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett
Rabbit’s Snow Dance by James and Joseph Bruchac
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
The Winter Bear by Ruth Craft
An Orange in January by Dianna Hutts Aston
Do Like Kyla by Angela Johnson
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Geraldine’s Big Snow by Holly Keller
A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin
Snowsong Whistling by Karen E. Lotz (poetry)
The Tea Party in the Woods by Akiko Miyakoshi
Good Night, Wind: A Yiddish Folktale by Linda Elovitz Marshall
Winter Waits by Lynn Plourde (part of the lovely Mother Earth series, which are out of print and pricey but worth checking for in your library catalog)
Grandmother Winter by Phyllis Root
Axle Annie by Robin Pulver
Snow by Cynthia Rylant
Before Morning by Joyce Sidman
Brave Irene by Willliam Steig
The Mitten by Alvin Tresselt
Tracks in the Snow by Wong Herbert Yee
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Poetry
Iguanas in the Snow: And Other Winter Poems/Iguanas en la Nieve: Y Otros Poemas de Invierno by Francisco X. Alarcon (one of a seasonal bilingual poetry series)
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, illustrated by Susan Jeffers
It’s Snowing! It’s Snowing! Winter Poems by Jack Prelutsky
Winter Poems selected by Barbara Rogasky
For babies and toddlers
Pippa and Pelle in the Winter Snow by Daniela Drescher
In My Den by Sara Gillingham
Oh! by Kevin Henkes
Walking in a Winter Wonderland as sung by Peggy Lee
Winter by Gerda Muller (wordless but this seasonal series is wonderful)
Rabbit’s Gift by George Shannon
Mittens and Mukluks! Winter in Alaska by Joni Spiess
For older readers, or read-alouds
The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-El
Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed
The Sea in Winter by Christine Day
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
Snow and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
Winterfrost by Michelle Houts
Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson
Astrid the Unstoppable by Maria Parr
Sugar and Ice by Kate Messner
Skating Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Everything else
The Snow Dancer by Addie Boswell
The Hat by Jan Brett
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett
Snowball Moon by Fran Cannon Slayton
Old Bear and His Cub by Olivier Dunrea
Dozens of Doughnuts by Carrie Finison
Angelina’s Ice Skates by Katharine Holabird
Winter Days in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (one of the My First Little House Books)
Winter on the Farm by Laura Ingalls Wilder (one of the My First Little House Books)
Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk
A Day So Gray by Marie Lamba
The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren
The Snow Child retold by Freya Littledale
Under the Night Sky by Amy Lundebrek
Snow Lion by David McPhail
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner (part of the four-book, nonfiction Over and Under seasonal series)
Missing Mittens by Stuart J. Murphy (a cute living math book about even and odd numbers)
Ten on the Sled by Kim Norman
First Snow by Bomi Park
The First Snowfall by Anne Rockwell
Poppleton in Winter by Cynthia Rylant (early reader)
Lucia and the Light by Phyllis Root
Mice Skating by Annie Silvestro
Mouse and Mole: A Winter Wonderland by Wong Herbert Yee
Some Snow Is… by Ellen Yeomans
Want a printable PDF of this entire booklist? Here you go 🖨
Thanks so much for reading this seasonal special edition. If you liked this, never miss one again! Upgrade to a paid subscription today 🫶
If you’re not interested in upgrading but would still like to support this newsletter, please pass it on to someone who might enjoy it. (Thank you!)
Happy winter — and happy reading — to you and your family!
With lots of snowflakes and love,
Sarah
Wonderful, wintry mix (ha!)!
My kids (5 and 8) LOVED Lemonade in Winter. SO MUCH. We read it together every night for over a week and they never tired of counting out the money, doing the math, etc. Thank you for this recommendation!