“Snowball moon, bright as noon. Down the hill, winter thrill. Snowball fight. What a night! Frosty fun, nearly done. One more ride…warm inside. Droopy eyes, snowflake skies. Counting sheep…fall asleep. Come back soon, snowball moon!”
– Snowball Moon by Fran Cannon Slayton
The winter season is officially here…though we don’t have a whole lot of snow to show for it. In fact, most of our snow showed up back in November, but I’m sure we are in store for much more in the coming months. Needless to say, it’s been awhile since we were out building snowmen and snow forts, sledding down hills, and enjoying the occasional snowball fight. Luckily, we can live vicariously through some of our favorite winter-themed stories! And we’ve got a brand new round-up of fabulous winter books to share with you this year!
This stack of stories includes tales of adventure, courage, friendship, and fun! It’s not everyday that you set out on an epic journey to find a yeti…or jet down steep hills as winter Olympians. Thankfully, you can still enjoy the thrill as you flip through the pages of these delightful books!
Winter Books (2020)
- Crow in the Snow by Lesley Sims
- Crow wanders out in the snow and starts following footprints to and fro. He passes some snowmen and decides to make his very own snow crow…before heading down to the frozen lake. He spies his friends enjoying a skate, but soon realizes that the ice is beginning to break. Mole falls in and cannot swim, but Crow does not despair. He flies quickly back to the snowmen to borrow a scarf, and pulls Mole to safety. Three cheers for Crow, “he’s the hero of the snow!”
- Bunny Slopes by Claudia Rueda
- Would you like to join Bunny for a ski day?!? Excellent! There’s just one little problem…there’s no snow. This cute, interactive book will have your little ones shaking the pages up and down to make snow fall, tilting the book to help bunny ski faster, and turning the book end-over-end to avoid a big crash. And after a long day on the slopes, you can sit down with Bunny to share a nice, warm cup of hot cocoa – with marshmallows, of course!
- Max and Marla by Alexandra Boiger
- Max and Marla are best friends, and true winter Olympians. They set out with their toboggan and prepare to race down a giant, snow-covered hill…only to discover that their sled needs some repairs. Their race will have to wait for another day. The friends encounter numerous obstacles, but they never give up! As a result, they learn several valuable lessons along the way: taking care of equipment is important, but taking care of yourself is the most important of all; teamwork is everything; preparation is key; and obstacles can be overcome and turned into victories!
- Making a Friend by Alison McGhee
- In this heartwarming story, a boy celebrates winter by building himself a snowman. He spends his winter days playing with his snowman…until Spring arrives and his friend slowly melts into a puddle. The boy wonders where his friend has gone, and discovers that his snowman has just taken on different forms throughout the year – in falling water, rain, fog, and frost on windows. The boy ultimately learns that “what you love will always be with you.” And one cold morning, as the snow is falling down, he finds his friend in the backyard once again.
- The Last Polar Bear by Jean Craighead George
- This story is a sad, yet wonderful, way to introduce little ones to the concept of climate change and global warming…and the effect that it is having on our planet. One cold and snowy day Tigluk comes face-to-face with Nanuq (which means ‘polar bear’ in Inuit). The bear silently sends Tigluk an urgent message…a plea for him to follow her. Tigluk seeks help from his grandmother, knowing that they both must make the journey. But the Arctic has been changing – the thaws coming earlier and earlier each year – they won’t be able to go on foot. They repair an old sealskin kayak and set out to find Nanuq. After paddling through the Arctic Ocean for several days, they notice a small polar bear curled up on one of the few remaining ice floes. It’s not Nanuq…but her cub. Tigluk rises from the kayak and takes the last polar bear in his arms. He names him Pilluk (which means ‘to survive’). Tigluk and his grandmother bring Pilluk back home with them…to teach him how to survive in a warming world.
- All Right Already!: A Snowy Story by Jory John
- If you’ve been following along with us for awhile now, you know that Jory John is one of our favorite authors…and Duck and Bear are two of our all-time favorite characters! We simply can’t get enough of this dynamic duo. And this particular installment is perfect for winter celebrations! Duck, ever the exuberant adventurer, is delighted to see all of the new snow on the ground. He immediately rushes next door to fetch Bear for some snowy fun…but grumpy ole’ Bear isn’t the least bit interested in playing out in the freezing cold. He reluctantly follows Duck outside. It’s not long before Bear starts sneezing – it appears that going from a hot bath, directly out into frigid temperatures, may not have been the best idea. π The good news is that Duck is more than willing to help Bear feel better…in whatever way he can…though he’s not very good at letting Bear rest. Naturally, Bear gets irritated and sends Duck home. But what will happen when Duck starts to fall ill? Will Bear come over to nurse him back to health?
- Snowball Moon by Fran Cannon Slayton
- This rhythmic tale follows a brother and sister as they jet outside on a snowy night…with the “snowball moon, bright as noon.” Sledding, fort-building, and snowball fights…their frosty fun is nearly done for the night. They head inside and jump in bed, and dream of all the snowy days ahead.
- Henry and the Yeti by Russell Ayto
- Henry loves yetis! Yes, the large white creatures that reside in the snowy mountains. The only problem is that Henry has never seen a yeti…and everyone else seems to think that yetis don’t exist. Henry is certain of their existence, and he sets off on an expedition to track one down (despite all of the laughter from his peers). He travels a very long way, summits numerous mountains, and is just about to give up when he comes face-to-foot with a giant yeti. Henry and the yeti become friends…and he makes sure to snap a few photos (as evidence) of the two of them together, before he begins his return journey. Upon arriving home, and unpacking his gear, Henry discovers that he’s lost his camera. His proof that yetis really do exist has completely vanished…and he returns to school to endure even more jeers. But the laughter abruptly stops when an unsuspecting guest shows up to return Henry’s camera.
We may not have any snow, but we’ve still endured some extremely strong winds and chilly temperatures. Sometimes the best remedy for a frigid day…is snuggling up with a nice, warm blanket and a good book! And don’t forget the hot cocoa! π
If you’re looking for some more fun winter stories to share with your kiddos, make sure to check out our favorites from Winter 2019, and Winter 2018!Β Happy Reading!
