Picture Book Highlights | Winter

By Monica C. RSS Thu, December 22, 2022

The days are shorter and the temperatures have dropped. It's offcial, winter is here. It's time to bundle up, time to go out for brisk walks and nice hot chocolate. It is also a great time to cozy up at home with some great picture books about this season.

Here are some suggestions:

So Much Snow by Kristen Schroeder; illustrated by Sarah Jacoby

Follow seven forest creatures, from a tiny mouse to a giant moose, as they hunker down in a snowstorm. As the week progresses, the snow piles up and up--even past Moose's antlers! On Sunday, the sun starts to melt the snow, and it seems that, as the next week passes and it grows sunnier, spring has finally sprung. But wait...is that more snow?!

Ebook available from Overdrive

Twinkle, Twinkle Winter Night by Megan Litwin; illustrated by Nneka Myers

Whether it’s the moon in the crisp, cool sky, flickering candles in a neighbor’s window, or the dazzling lights strung up about town, winter is a time of glowing warmth and cozy closeness. Celebrate winter with this magical twist on a beloved nursery rhyme that brings the shimmering season of lights to life.

Emile and the Field by Kevin Young; illustrated by Chioma Ebinama

Emile loves the field close to his home--in spring, summer, and fall, when it gives him bees and flowers, blossoms and leaves. But not as much in winter, when he has to share his beautiful, changeable field with other children...and their sleds. This relatable and lyrical ode to one boy's love for his neighborhood field celebrates how spending time in nature allows children to dream, to imagine...and even to share.

Ebook available from Overdrive 

Winter is Here by Kevin Henkes; illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Snow falls, animals burrow, and children prepare for the wonders winter brings. With a simple and poetic text, Kevin Henkes teaches basic concepts of language and the season while Laura Dronzek’s stunning paintings beautifully capture the joyful wonders of winter.

My Winter City by James Gladstone; illustrated by Gary Clement

A young boy wakes up in the early light of a winter morning, pulls on his boots and mittens, and steps out into the snowy city with his dad. They trudge through the snow, their dog bounding along beside them, then a slushy, steamy bus ride takes them to the tobogganing hill for some winter fun. The boy describes all the sights and sounds of the day, from the frost in Dad’s beard and the snow “pillows” in the park, to the noisy clunking snow plows and the singing buskers they pass on their way home. That night, the boy lies awake under cozy covers, reflecting on the day, as snow blankets the world outside his window.

Winter Dance by Marion Dane Bauer; illustrated by Richard Jones

Snow is coming, and it's time to get ready! The squirrel gathers nuts, the geese soar south, and the snowshoe hare puts on its new white coat. But what should the fox do? Each animal advises the fox that its own plan is best, but the fox thinks otherwise—yet it's not until he meets a golden-eyed friend that he finds the perfect way to celebrate the snowfall.

When Winter Comes: Discovering Wildlife in our Snowy Woods by Aimée Bissonette; illustrated by Erin Hourigan

Though a forest may be blanketed in snow or a lake frozen over, families who enjoy the outdoors in winter, happily bundled up to play in the energizing weather, know that wildlife is still teeming there. The fallen log that is used to hide behind in a snowball fight is a shelter for tree frogs, caterpillars, ladybugs, and slugs. The drifts of fallen snow that families snowshoe across have winding tunnels made by meadow mice in search of seeds and bark. The towering trees families ski among shield birds from winter winds.

Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre

With gorgeous photo illustrations, award-winning author April Pulley Sayre sheds sparkly new light on the wonders of snow. From the beauty of snow blanketing the forest and falling on animals’ fur and feathers to the fascinating winter water cycle, this nonfiction picture book celebrates snowfall and the amazing science behind it.

Snow Horses by Patricia MacLachlan; illustrated by Micha Archer

On the very last evening before the new year, when the snow is falling soft and thick, two black horses wait for the jingle of their sled. As they ride about town, they will spread light to their beloved neighbors, bidding farewell to the last night—and saying hello to the first morning.

Ebook available from Overdrive


Be sure to check our catalog and Overdrive Kids eReading Room for these titles and many more being added!


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