Keep warm while you explore this new book list with some of the best children’s books about winter!
Updated December 2023
As we leave the hustle and bustle of the holiday season behind, it’s the perfect time to slow down and settle into a fresh new stack of beautiful picture books.
No matter the weather, these cozy books will keep you warm all winter long. So grab a mug of cocoa, snuggle up, and enjoy some new reads this season!
Children’s Books about Winter
1. Winter Dance by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Richard Jones
Follow Fox as he walks through the forest, discovering all the ways animals get ready for winter. We love how this book nestles interesting facts in simple poetic text.
2. Waiting for Snow by Marsha Diane Arnold, illustrated by Renata Liwska
A group of adorable animals discover what your own kids know all too well- waiting is hard.
3. First Snow by Bomi Park
A beautifully peaceful book that reflects the quiet magic of a first snowfall.
4. A Day So Gray by Marie Lamba, illustrated by Alea Marley
Two friends discover that a change of perspective really changes everything!
5. Snow by Sam Usher
Kids (and parents!) everywhere will recognize the unending frustration of getting ready for a day of winter fun.
6. Blizzard by John Rocco
Blizzard follows John Rocco’s actual experience as a young boy during a snowstorm in 1978. Your kids will love following his 4-day adventure, from school cancellation to a courageous trip to the nearest store.
7. Here Comes Jack Frost by Kazuno Kohara
We always find Kazuno Kohara’s distinctive illustration style irresistible, and this winter story is no exception. The legendary Jack Frost comes out to play with a lonely boy in the snow, and they have all kinds of mischievous fun.
8. So Much Snow by Kristen Schroeder, illustrated by Sarah Jacoby
Snow piles up and up in the forest and all the animals wonder… how high will it go? We’re especially smitten with the sweetly illustrated animals in this story; they look soft enough to touch!
9. A Winter Treasury of Recipes, Crafts and Wisdom by Angela Ferraro-Fanning, illustrated by AnneliseDraws
Full of enough activities to keep your family busy all season long, this whimsically illustrated guide is a wonderful celebration of winter.
10. The Thing About Yetis by Vin Vogel
Your kids will definitely relate to Yeti, who loves winter… but misses summer too! We love how this book explores a somewhat complicated emotion in a totally playful way.
11. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino with Jon Nelson Ph.D., illustrated by Nora Aoyagi
This great nonfiction book answers all your kids’ questions about snow; a must-have for your winter bookshelf!
12. Before Morning by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes
With sparse text and detailed illustrations, this book tells the simple story of a snowy wish come true.
13. The Snow Dancer by Addie Boswell, illustrated by Mercè López
A young dancer finds the perfect stage in a blanket of freshly fallen snow.
14. Supertruck by Stephen Savage
He may look like an ordinary garbage truck, but when snow falls, this superhero can change in a flash and save the day!
15. Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre
Simple text is perfectly paired with gorgeous winter photographs. Don’t forget to turn to the back for interesting facts about snow!
16. White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin
Originally published in 1947, this classic Caldecott winner describes a neighborhood transformed by snow. Poetic and beautiful, it’s definitely worth coming back to every year.
17. Mice Skating by Annie Silvestro, illustrated by Teagan White
Who can hibernate when there’s so much winter fun just waiting to be had? With the coziest illustrations and most adorable mice, this book might just inspire you to take a trip to the nearest skating rink.
18. Lines by Suzy Lee
Without a single word, the message of this gorgeous book comes through loud and clear: everyone makes mistakes; get up and try again.
19. If Winter Comes, Tell It I’m Not Here by Ciraolo Simona
When an older sister teases a summer-loving boy about the terrible upcoming winter, he dreads its arrival. Luckily, he discovers there’s all kinds of fun to be had in colder seasons too!
20. Tracks in the Snow by Wong Herbert Yee
Who does this strange set of tracks belong to? Follow a young girl as she sets off to solve a snowy day mystery.
21. Winter Is Here by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
Each of Kevin Henkes’ seasonal books is pure perfection, so of course we love Winter is Here. Your kids will enjoy recognizing the signs of winter, both inside and out.
22. Arctic White by Danna Smith, illustrated by Lee White
It seems like absolutely everything is white during an arctic winter, but a journey across the tundra leads a girl and her grandfather to a discovery full of the most beautiful colors she’s ever seen.
23. William Wakes Up by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Chuck Groenink
William is happy to scooch over for each new animal guest, and your kids will be delighted by every unexpected addition. This fun rhyming book makes for a perfect winter read aloud.
24. A Thing Called Snow by Yuval Zommer
Follow Fox and Hare, best of friends, on a forest journey to discover snow for the very first time.
25. Snow Birds by Kirsten Hall, illustrated by Jenni Desmond
This book of poems is a beautiful ode to those feathered friends who brave the cold winter months up north.
26. Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper, illustrated by Kenard Pak
A girl journeys to her grandmother’s house and discovers a myriad of sounds in the fresh snow. This book will get you listening to the world around you in a whole new way.
27. A Loud Winter’s Nap by Katy Hudson
Can Tortoise’s friends convince him to stay awake for all the winter excitement? Your kids will be itching to get outside after reading about all the fun to be had this season!
28. Bear and Wolf by Daniel Salmieri
Quiet and beautiful, two animals meet nose to nose and discover a new friendship in the snowy woods.
29. A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin
We love this sweet companion to A Big Mooncake for Little Star: a new story that reads like an old myth.
30. Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story by Sean Taylor and Alex Morss, illustrated by Cinyee Chiu
A grandmother and child explore the changing landscape together. We especially love the clever cutaway scenes depicting all the ways the world sleeps in winter. And don’t forget to check the back of the book for all kinds of interesting facts about hibernation!
Want even more creative ideas?
Check out our Winter Fun Creativity pack!
Cozy up with some of our favorite wintertime activities for creative kids! This pack has 40 pages of winter-themed art activities that will keep your kids busy even on the snowiest day!
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