I have to admit, I’m sad Christmas is over. I love everything about the holiday and wish there was a way to press a pause button to make it go slower. Now we are entering that long, hard winter stretch that is filled with questionable weather, stir-crazy kiddos, and endless nose wiping.
One way my kids and I beat those winter blues is by curling up with a pile of books and, if I’m feeling generous, a cup of hot cocoa. {Last year I invested in reusable travel mugs for my kiddos and they’ve been a great way to take warm drinks to the couch or even in the car.}
Books are a great way to escape into a world different than our own and experience something we may not otherwise see. Reading is also a wonderful way to bond as a family, especially when the same books are read from year-to-year.
Here’s a list of wintery reads perfect for young toddlers all the way through school age kiddos.
Red Sled by Lita Judge
We stumbled upon this book at our library several years ago when my daughter was a tiny toddler. It’s light on text, making it a perfect read for very young children. The story is primarily told through the illustrations. Red Sled tells the tale of what happens to a child’s sled when it is used at night by local woodland animals.
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
I love how Lois Elhert uses collage to create her illustrations. This book has very simple text and is good for young kiddos but it can inspire older children as well. I particularly love the idea of keeping a bag of items that can be used to make a snowman. Something like that would be perfect to pull out on a snowy day!
Little Owl’s Snow by Divya Srinivasan
If your kiddos are familiar with Little Owl they will probably enjoy his new adventure. Follow Little Owl as he discovers some of the changes that happen when autumn segues into winter. This is an entertaining, yet informative, glimpse into the winter woods. It’s also a gentle way to begin thinking about some of the animals that hibernate and those who stay up all winter long.
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
This darling book has withstood the test of time and is a great one to pull out on a winter morning. I must say, although I usually prefer books rather than movies, Amazon Prime has a delightful animated version. At under 40 minutes, it’s also a nice and short choice when you want a seasonal ‘movie night’ without keeping the kids up too late.
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
Kate Messner has several books with the concept of looking over and under a common area in nature and, in my humble opinion, they are all worth a read. In this particular book, she does a wonderful job of taking the reader outside on a snowy day and comparing the difference between what we can see and what’s happening under the snow. This is a great book to read before going on a snowy afternoon nature walk.
The Hat by Jan Brett
Have you ever picked up a book by Jan Brett? Not only are her stories perfect for kids of all ages, but her illustrations are superb. She does a lovely job of using the illustrations to give more details to the story as well as foreshadow events to come. In this particular text, a little hedgehog finds a woolen hat that gets stuck on his prickles. He becomes frustrated when some of his barnyard friends laugh at his predicament but he’s in for a surprise at the end!
The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett
I’ll be totally honest: I haven’t had the chance to read this newest Jan Brett book. I saw the delightful cover when I was trying to wrangle my reluctant preschooler out of our local bookstore a few weeks ago. At the time it was more important to make it to the car rather than stop and check out yet another awesome book so I haven’t had a chance to read it…yet! Jan Brett rarely disappoints so I’m sure we’re in for a treat when it comes in at our local library!
The Mitten by various authors
You’ve probably heard of this book; the Jan Brett version is fairly popular. However, did you know this story is originally a traditional Ukrainian folktale? Other authors, like Alvin Tresselt and Jim Aylesworth, have adapted it with their own slant and my kiddos and I enjoy them all. Reading all the versions is a fun way to get familiar with the story while also gently introducing the idea of comparing and contrasting.
The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren
I was introduced to this Swedish story a number of years ago by a fellow teacher who always reads it to her class in the winter. In it, a kindly, elf-like creature helps take care of the farm while the humans are asleep. He talks to the animals in a special language and reassures them while tucking them in for the night. The catch? The people have never seen him but know he’s around because of his tiny footprints in the snow.
Three Pebbles and a Song by Eileen Spinelli
A mouse family is getting ready for winter by gathering food and supplies to get them through the cold, snowy months. However, the youngest member keeps getting distracted by the things he sees and hears. Sounds reminiscent of human kiddos, right?! The storyline of this visually beautiful book helps remind the reader to be appreciative of everyone’s individual gifts.
If you have a favorite wintery book, drop a link in the comment section below. I’d love to add some more books to our library ‘hold’ list!
