Today officially marks the beginning of winter here in the northern hemisphere. This is hard for me to believe, because I live in Mobile, Alabama, where the weather feels quite summery for 9 or 10 months out of the year.
I used to live in Colorado, and I have to admit, I miss the snow! There’s nothing quite as magical as waking up to the silence of a fresh snow. Those peaceful mornings watching the snow come down and knowing I was in for a cozy day were some of my favorites, so sometimes I have to turn to a book to relive them, since I now live in a tropical environment. Here are a few of my recent favorites:
A Winter Walk In The City by Cathy Goldberg Fishman, Illustrated by Melanie Hall
A Winter Walk In the City is the perfect board book for the first day of winter. This is a counting book for babies and toddlers, where a young boy counts objects during his walk thorough the city. He counts objects from winter and different holidays that take place once the snow starts falling. I love the illustrations, and the fact that so many holidays are included. This is a great introduction to winter for the youngest little readers.
Ten Ways To Hear Snow by Cathy Camper, Illustrated by Kenard Pak
In Ten Ways to Hear Snow, we meet Lina, a young girl who wakes up to find it snowed while she was sleeping. She decides to go check on her Sitti (Grandma) who is visually impaired. Walking to her Sitti’s home, she thinks about the ways her grandmother might hear the snow, even if she can’t see it. She learns a few more from Sitti herself while they make grape leaves. I loved this modern portrayal of an Arab American family!
Snow Globe Wishes by Erin Dealey, Illustrated by Claire Shorrock
Snow Globe Wishes is one of those pure and wholesome picture books that you can’t get enough of. In this book, we follow a family as they hunker down for the worst snow storm of the season. That night, the daughter makes a sweet wish on a snow globe that everyone will go out in the snow together. This is a beautiful, lyrical story of peace and community, perfect for a cozy winter read-aloud.
Sky Sisters by Jan Bourdeau Waboose, Illustrated by Brian Deines
In Sky Sisters, we follow two Ojibway as they travel to see the SkySpirits’ midnight dance. Alex, the younger sister, has trouble staying quiet because she is so excited. After a few missteps, she learns to control herself and embraces the tranquility of a silent wintery night, just in time for the SkySpirits arrival. I have never seen the Northern Lights, but I could practically feel the crisp winter wind while reading this one.
Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak
Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter is a fantastic book to explain the passing of seasons with our little ones. From leaves and chrysanthemums to robins and deer, we learn about how nature prepares for the transition to winter weather. I can’t think of a more appropriate read for the first day of winter, as this one walks us right out of autumn day and into a snowy winter morning.
A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin
In A Big Bed For Little Snow, we are introduced to a little boy named Snow, who’s just a bit mischievous. You see, Snow keeps jumping on his bed when his mother isn’t looking. As the feathers fly out, they make it snow down on earth! I absolutely adore the illustrations of Snow’s facial expressions. This is the perfect winter story to inspire imagination.
I hope you all enjoyed this list! If you’re like me and in a snowless location, I hope these books bring the magic of a quiet winter morning to you and your little ones.
What are some of your favorite snowy stories to read? Be sure to share in the comments below!
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