Winter is a great time to curl up together with fun books.

Maybe you have lots of snow…or it’s just too cold to play outside. Or maybe you live somewhere that doesn’t experience winter?

Reading together is something we do everyday, no matter the weather!

This winter book list includes delightful books about penguins, snowmen, animals in winter, magical wintry photography, science info about snowflakes, and more!

There’s something for everyone to enjoy.

It’s winter storytime, so gather around…

Our Favorite Winter Books:

1. Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
   Tacky’s perfect friends find him annoying until his odd behavior saves the day. There’s a whole series and we love them all!
2. The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll
   
   When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! They work and work, but their snowmen just aren’t big enough.Soon they have an idea. As the day of the contest approaches, Clayton and Desmond join forces to build the biggest snowman ever.
3. The Biggest Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler
   
   Nell is told by her BIG sisters and her mother that she is too small to help out, but everyone, including Nell, feels differently after her forest friends give her the confidence to build a large snowman
4. Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright
   
   B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”. Hilarity chills the air with playful mixed-media illustrations by Stephen Gilpin as Sneezy attempts to warm himself with some silly results.
5. Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
   
   Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book exploring the subnivean zone reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.
6. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin, Jr.
   
   What will you hear when you read this book to a preschool child?Lots of noise!Children will chant the rhythmic words. They’ll make the sounds the animals make. And they’ll pretend to be the zoo animals featured in the book– look at the last page!
7. Winter is for Snow by Robert Neubecker
   
   In a rambunctious ode to everything winter, two siblings explore a snowy wonderland . . . and end up in the cozy warmth of family.
8. Outside by Deirdre Gill
   
   In this gentle picture book fantasy, a child’s world transforms through his hard work, imagination, and persistence when he opens the door and steps outside, into to the brave new world of his imagination.
9. Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
   
   One by one, a whole host of different animals and birds find their way out of the cold and into Bear’s cave to warm up. But even after the tea has been brewed and the corn has been popped, Bear just snores on!
   See what happens when he finally wakes up and finds his cave full of uninvited guests — all of them having a party without him!
10. Sadie and the Snowman by Allen Morgan
    
    As spring gets closer and closer, Sadie realizes that the snowmen she makes won’t last much longer
11. Footprints in the Snow by Cynthia Benjamin
    
    Pictures and simple text depict forest animals’ tracks in the snow as they rush to their homes during a winter storm.
12. Stranger in the Woods by Carl Sams
    
    Forest animals, awakened by the birds’ warning that there is a stranger in the woods, set out to discover if there is danger and find, instead, a wonderful surprise. There’s a whole series and they’re all gorgeous!
13. Red Sled by Lita Judge
    
    In this almost wordless picture book, a host of woodland creatures take a child’s sled for a nighttime joy ride. Their whimsical ride is gorgeously depicted in bold watercolor, complemented by humorous expressions and pitch-perfect sound effects.
14. The Twelve Days of Winter by Deborah Lee Rose
    
    It’s wintertime! That means it’s the season for mittens, snow, and twelve days of surprises. In this high-energy, school-loving class, the teacher introduces a new winter activity every day. Three penguins—Antarctic fun! Four weather words—brrrr! And twelve treats for tasting—YUM!As the teacher’s gifts add up—teddy bears, paper snowflakes, sugarcubes—and the days get colder, the classroom is transformed into wintery chaos. Are all the winter surprises still inside? Count along with the class to find out.
15. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
    
    There are more animals to find among the trees, and the kindly figure with his “promises to keep” exudes warmth as he stops to appreciate the quiet delights of winter. The handsome new vellum jacket will attract new and old fans as it evokes a frost-covered windowpane.
16. The Tomten by Astrid Lundgren
    
    On small silent feet, the Tomten tiptoes through the snow, keeping watch over the farm on chilly winter nights. One night, a cunning fox comes by. How will the Tomten guard the chickens, and help the hungry fox? These classic stories are a delight for young children, depicting the traditional Swedish character of the house elf, or tomten.
17. One Snowy Night by Nick Butterworth
    
    Percy the Park Keeper helps his animal friends in this popular story from highly-regarded, best-selling author-illustrator Nick Butterworth. Includes a fabulous fold-out poster!Percy the Park Keeper always feeds the animals in the park where he lives. But one cold winter’s night Percy discovers that his little friends need more than food and he must find a way to help them find a warm place to sleep for the night.Percy’s hut is nice and warm but Percy discovers that if you invite one animal in you’ll have to invite them all in and his hut is only small – it’s certainly going to be a squash! There’s
    whole delightful series.
18. Now It Is Winter by Eileen Spinelli
    
    A young mouse is encouraged by his mother to enjoy winter while waiting for spring to come.
19. Winter Story by Jill Barklem
    
    It was the middle of winter and very, very cold. The mice of Brambly Hedge forecasted snow.And they were right. In the morning they awoke to find their doors and windows hidden behind deep drifts. There hadn’t been snow like this for years. “There’s enough for a Snow Ball!” cried the mice with glee, and set to work in the time-honoured way to make an Ice Hall for the festivities. The little mice watched wide-eyed as all the preparations were made.Then at last everything was ready, and the Ball could begin…
    Seasonal books complete this lovely series!
20. The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
    
    A wordless story. The pictures have “the hazy softness of air in snow. A little boy rushes out into the wintry day to build a snowman, which comes alive in his dreams that night.
21. The Shortest Day by Wendy Pfeffer
    
    The beginning of winter is marked by the solstice, the shortest day of the year. Long ago, people grew afraid when each day had fewer hours of sunshine than the day before. Over time, they realized that one day each year the sun started moving toward them again. In lyrical prose and cozy illustrations, this book explains what the winter solstice is and how it has been observed by various cultures throughout history. Many contemporary holiday traditions were borrowed from ancient solstice celebrations.
22. The Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson
    
    Presents facts and folklore about the shortest day of the year, a day that has been filled with magic since ancient times.
23. Stella, Queen of the Snow by Marie-Louise Gay
    
    Winter was never so magical as in this marvelous book about Stella and Sam discovering a familiar landscape transformed by a heavy snowfall. Sam makes his very first snowstorm, and, as usual, he has lots of questions: Where do snowmen sleep? Can you eat a snowflake? Do snow angels sing? Older and bolder, Stella knows all the answers, and she delights in showing Sam the many pleasures of a beautiful winter’s day
24. Snow Sounds: An Onomatopoeic Story by David A. Johnson
    
    Sweep, crunch, swoosh, scrape . . . All night long, snow falls silently, bringing forth a world blanketed in white—and a very noisy day.
    For at dawn’s light, machine, man, and child begin to dig out: first the big highway grader and snow plow, then the smaller town plow, a father’s snow blower, and a boy’s shovel . . . But will the streets get cleared in time?Spare poetry and elegant watercolor paintings cleverly bring to life this unique story of snow removal and the fun onomatopoeic sounds accompanying it.
25. Here Comes Jack Frost by Kazuno Kohara
    
    One cold morning a lonely boy wishes for something to do. His animal friends are hibernating, and he has nobody to play with―even all the birds have flown south. When he meets Jack Frost, the last thing he expects is to make a new friend . . . or to discover how enchanting winter can be!
26. Tracks in the Snow by Wong Herbert Yee
    
    Just outside my window,
    There are tracks in the snow.
    Who made the tracks? Where do they go?A little girl follows tracks outside her window after a fresh snowfall, only to realize that the tracks in the snow are her own from the day before―and that they lead her home.
27. The Snow Angel by Debby Boone
    
    Rose and her grandfather seem to be the only people left in their village who know how to dream and experience the beauty of the world, until a snow angel comes to life and creates a wondrous event.
28. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
    
    Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird.But there is no answer.Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don’t need words. You don’t need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn’t an owl, but sometimes there is.
29. Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft
    
    Have you ever seen a butterfly in the snow?Probably not. Butterflies can’t survive cold weather, so when winter comes, many butterflies fly to warmer places. They migrate. Woodchucks don’t like cold weather either but they don’t migrate; they hibernate. Woodchucks sleep in their dens all winter long. Read and find out how other animals cope with winter’s worst weather.
30. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
    
    No book has captured the magic and sense of possibility of the first snowfall better than The Snowy Day. Universal in its appeal, the story has become a favorite of millions, as it reveals a child’s wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever.
    The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day.
31. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
    
    From the time he was a small boy in Vermont, Wilson Bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystal. Bentley’s enthusiasm for photographing snowflakes was often misunderstood in his time, but his patience and determination revealed two important truths: no two snowflakes are alike; and each one is startlingly beautiful. His story is gracefully told and brought to life in lovely woodcuts, giving children insight into a soul who had not only a scientist’s vision and perseverance but a clear passion for the wonders of nature.
32. Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
    
    Katy, a brave and untiring tractor, who pushes a bulldozer in the summer and a snowplow in the winter, makes it possible for the townspeople to do their jobs. Katy the snowplow finally gets her chance to shine when a blizzard blankets the city and everyone is relying on Katy to help dig out.
33. Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Beuhner
    
    Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you’ve wondered . . . what do snowmen do at night? This delightful wintertime tale reveals all!
34. Snowmen at Play by Caralyn Beuhner
    
    The cool, lovable Snowmen are back in this brand-new sticker activity book, packed with fun things to make and do. Readers can help the Snowmen sit differences, make their way through mazes, create doodles, finish sticker puzzles, and much more. This bright, busy, book will spark imaginations and creativity and is perfect for holiday vacations.
35. Snow Party by Harriet Ziefert
    
    If the first snow falls on the first day of winter, the snow men, snow women, and snow children come out for a special party. The festivities include food, dancing, singing, and some surprises! With breathtaking pastel illustrations and an understated,enchanting story, this is the perfect book for a snowy day . . . or to read while wishing for snow to fall.
36. Snowman in Paradise by Michael Roberts
    
    We all know what happens the night before Christmas, but have you heard the story of the day after Christmas? In this imaginative book, author/artist Michael Roberts takes the traditional poem and turns it on its head…with hilarious results. Featuring a frozen snowman with a sunny disposition, a magical bluebird and a tropical vacation.
37. Snowballs by Lois Elhert
    
    Pull on your mittens and head outside with Lois Ehlert for a snowball day! Grab some snow and start rolling. With a few found objects, like buttons and fabric and seeds, and a little imagination, you can create a whole family out of snow.
38. The Mitten by Jan Brett
    
    When Nicki drops his white mitten in the snow, he goes on without realizing that it is missing.One by one, woodland animals find it and crawl in; first, a curious mole, then a rabbit, a badger and others, each one larger than the last. Finally, a big brown bear is followed in by a tiny brown mouse and what happens next makes for a wonderfully funny climax.As the story of the animals in the mitten unfolds, the reader can see Nicki in the borders of each page, walking through the woods unaware of what is going on.In her distinctive style, Jan Brett brings the animals to life with warmth and humor, and her illustrations are full of visual delights and details faithful to the Ukrainian tradition from which the story comes.
39. The Snow Queen (We like the Mary Engelbreit version!)
    
    Mary Engelbreight’s whimsical illustrations have made her one of America’s most recognized and beloved artists. And now with over 210,000 copies in print, her beautiful retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen is the perfect marriage of an artist’s imagination with that of a storyteller.Combining Mary Engelbright’s clear bright colors and exuberant detail with the classic story about a feisty heroine who will stop at nothing, a conjuror’s twists and turns, and the triumph of love and innocence over wickedness and evil, The Snow Queen is pure enchantment, a lovely gift for children and adult Mary Engelbreight fans alike
40. The Big Snow by Berta Hader
    
    The woodland animals were all getting ready for the winter. Geese flew south, rabbits and deer grew thick warm coats, and the raccoons and chipmunks lay down for a long winter nap. Come Christmastime, the wise owls were the first to see the rainbow around the moon. It was a sure sign that the big snow was on its way.
41. White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt
    
    When the first flakes fell from the grey sky, the postman and the farmer and the policeman and his wife scurried about doing all the practical things grownups do when a snowstorm comes. But the children laughed and danced, and caught the lacy snowflakes on thier tongues.
    All the wonder and delight a child feels in a snowfall is caught in the pages of this book — the frost ferns on the window sill, the snow man in the yard and the mystery and magic of a new white world.
42. The Story of Snow by Mark Cassino
    
    How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered in this visually stunning exploration of the science of snow. Perfect for reading on winter days, the book features photos of real snow crystals in their beautiful diversity. Snowflake-catching instructions are also included.
43. Snow by Uri Shulevitz
    
    “It’s snowing, said boy with dog.
    “It’s only a snowflake,” said grandfather with beard.No one thinks one or two snowflakes will amount to anything. Not the man with the hat or the lady with the umbrella. Not even the television or the radio forecasters. But one boy and his dog have faith that the snow will amount to something spectacular, and when flakes start to swirl down on the city, they are also the only ones who know how to truly enjoy it.
44. Snow by Cynthia Rylant
    
    Cynthia Rylant’s lyrical descriptions of the sights and feelings evoked by falling snow blend gorgeously with the rich and beautiful world created by Lauren Stringer’s illustrations, in which a young girl, her friend, and her grandmother enjoy the many things a snowy day has to offer.
45. Penguin Dreams by Vivian Walsh
    
    Penguins don’t dream! And, they can’t fly either, but in this zany story from the bestselling author and artist team who created Olive, the Other Reindeer, anything goes!
    Before the alarm sings ding-a-ling, one special penguin finds himself flying up, up, up and away. On his journey through space and sky, he meets some wacky winged characters, then lands head first in a penguin paradise. Was it real or was it all a dream?
46. The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel
    
    Rhyme follows rhyme as layer after layer of winter clothing (“bunchy and hot, wrinkled a lot, stiff in the knee, and too big for me!”) is first put on and then taken off to the relief of the child bundled inside.
47. Brave Irene by William Steig
    
    Irene Bobbin, the dressmaker’s daughter. Her mother, Mrs. Bobbin, isn’t feeling so well and can’t possibly deliver the beautiful ball gown she’s made for the duchess to wear that very evening. So plucky Irene volunteers to get the gown to the palace on time, in spite of the fierce snowstorm that’s brewing– quite an errand for a little girl.But where there’s a will, there’s a way, as Irene proves in the danger-fraught adventure that follows. She must defy the wiles of the wicked wind, her most formidable opponent, and overcome many obstacles before she completes her mission. Surely, this winning heroine will inspire every child to cheer her on.
48. Before Morning by Joyce Sidman
    
    There are planes to fly and buses to catch, but a child uses the power of words, in the form of an invocation, to persuade fate to bring her family a snow day — a day slow and unhurried enough to spend at home together.In a spare text that reads as pure song and illustrations of astonishingly beautiful scratchboard art, Sidman and Krommes remind us that sometimes, if spoken from the heart, wishes really can come true.
49. 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.
50. Millions of Snowflakes by Mary McKenna Siddals
    
    “One little snowflake falls on my nose. It makes me shiver from my head to my toes.” A little girl plays outside on a cold winter day, counting each snowflake as it falls softly to the ground. Bundled in her warmest snowsuit, she savors the snow, tasting each flake as it falls on her tongue, and makes snow angels. Simple rhyming text captures the joy of a winter afternoon while teaching basic counting skills.
51. Counting on Snow by Maxwell Newhouse
    
    The premise is simple. He invites children to count with him from ten crunching caribou down to one lonely moose, by finding other northern animals – from seals to wolves to snowy owls – as they turn the pages. But as the animals appear, so does the snow, until it’s a character too, obliterating light and dark, sky and earth.
52. Winter Dance by Marion Dane Bauer
    
    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.

What’s your favorite winter book?