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For readers of all ages, a new season brings new reading selections. And even if you live where the only snowflakes and blizzards you see are in the pages of picture books, winter is a great time to explore aspects of cold and snowy weather with younger readers. Whether you have a kid who’s curious about what snow would look like up close, or you want a book that captures the joy of an unexpected snow day, the titles below will help children explore winter weather and the shifts of the season.
Check out snowflake photographs taken by Wilson Bentley, take a hilarious and rollicking sled ride with James Yang’s unusual group of riders, experience the solstice through the poetry of Susan Cooper, and find out what it would be like to go camping in the cold environment of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters. These books can help young readers learn about how people and animals live in freezing climates and explore the joy that can be found in the longer, darker days of winter. Grab your favorite blanket and a cup of hot chocolate, and curl up with your kids and these picture books about winter weather.
Picture Books About Winter Weather
Curious About Snow by Gina Shaw
The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper, illustrated by Carson Ellis
With poetic text and painted illustrations, this picture book by the award-winning author and illustrator pair depicts the celebrations, hopes, and traditions surrounding the shortest day of the year.
Go, Sled! Go! by James Yang
Geisel Award-winning author and illustrator James Yang has created a charming and amusing picture book about a sled ride with some unexpected passengers. The colorful illustrations and repeating text make this a good snow-day book for the littlest winter explorers!
So Much Snow by Hyunmin Park
Capturing the joy and whimsy of a snow day, Park’s So Much Snow gives a glimpse into the wonder of waking up to feet and feet of snow as a kid. Sparse text and a minimalist art style make this an imaginative read for the first snow of the year.
One Winter Up North by John Owens
Set in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, this story follows a family as they venture into the snowy woods for a camping adventure. As they snowshoe through the winter landscape, they learn about animal tracks and how humans and animals survive the cold months.
If you have a winter-loving reader, check out more snowy picture books here and find some more thoughts on using picture books to read seasonally in this article.
