Warm Reads for Wintry Days

I will be the first the admit that I really do not like winter weather. Driving on snow and ice is nerve-wracking for me, my feet absolutely can not stand to be forced into thick socks and boots, and seriously, don’t even get me started on wet clothes or runny noses. I have a tendency to spend winter days hibernating at home as soon as the snow starts to fly, which can lead to some stir crazy kiddos on occasion. One of our go-to activities to beat the boredom when we’re inside is reading- big shock there right? Seriously though, #thebigone has attempted to force #thelittleone to cuddle with him approximately 97 times over the past 24 hours… Reading together on the couch on a cold day is pretty much the best way to maximize brother-cuddle-potential. Fuzzy blanket, great books, fleece jammies- can’t beat that combination.

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After doing our Snowbots craft earlier this week, we decided to stick with a winter theme and pull together a small selection of our favorite wintry books, both old and new. Some have received #thebigone’s seal of approval, and others are so new to our family that he hasn’t even had a chance to look at them yet- but I have, and loved them!

We’ve also got a craft coming up on the blog tomorrow inspired by one of these great picture books, so be sure to check back and see what sort of artsy stuff we’ve been up to the last several days.

In no particular order, here are our favorite wintry reads to pull out when the weather gets blustery… [And we live in upstate New York, so blustery weather is common like, 10 months out of the year, unfortunately].

Natasha Wing & Amy Wummer’s The Night Before the Snow Day was seriously a no-brainer purchase for our home library. We love the entire series with it’s characteristic ‘night before Christmas’ rhythm, and this was no exception. It’s a perfect book for any household where kids are crossing their fingers, turning their jammies inside out, and wishing real hard for that elusive day off from school!

I was a huge fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder from childhood on up, and could not get enough of her adventures with Ma, Pa, Mary, and Baby Carrie. Winter Days in the Big Woods (My First Little House Books) is the perfect compromise for younger readers, who may not have the focus or attention span needed for the longer chapter read-alouds of the traditional Little House readers. #thebigone loves these books, and is just about ready to move onto the longer editions, but still reaches for these versions often. And who can blame him? There’s something so magical about imagining you’re tucked inside a log cabin, toasty by a fire while Pa plays his fiddle & Ma sews.

Do Like Kyla (Orchard Paperbacks) is a book we’ve had at home since #thebigone was quite young, but it’s only recently became a favorite. After having spent time volunteering with #thebigone’s classmates this year, I’ve come to appreciate the narration in the book, which is written quite authentically from a young person’s perspective. I also love seeing the enamored younger sibling trailing Kyla on a winter day, knowing that given the chance, this is exactly what my boys would do as well. (#thelittleone imitates everything his big brother does, sometimes to the point of making me a little insane!) This is a great choice for an older sibling with a loving little tag-a-long.

Lynn Plourde’s Snow Day is a fantastic book for younger audiences. The whimsical and novel text features some fun words to listen to (plumpy, sniggle, dance-a-prance), and it pairs perfectly with Hideko Takahashi’s vibrant & cheerful illustration. A quick, lyrical read about a family enjoying their snow day together, it’s a great choice for days when everyone’s getting in on the reading cuddles.

If you enjoy having parts of books sung to you (often loudly, occasionally off-key), The Twelve Days of Winter: A School Counting Book is the book you need in your home library. Kids love the familiarity of the structure, especially so soon following Christmas and the ubiquitous counting carol. I’ve read several similar tales to #thebigone’s class (The 13 Nights of Halloween and A Pirate’s Twelve Days of Christmas most recently), and the kids love chiming in with what’s coming next. Even those still working on reading independently can easily contribute to a read-along with this book, so it’s ideal for boosting confidence.

When you feel ready to tackle your silliest Spanish accent, Skippyjon Jones Snow What is the perfect book for your family to check out. We’ve been big fans of Judy Schachner’s mixed up Siamese cat for years (known affectionately as Mr. Kitten-Britches to his mama- adorable!), and this volume did not disappoint. If Spanish accents and crazy Spanglish-hybrid words aren’t your thing, we were able to find this book on CD, which gives the kids a chance to listen and read along while fluent reading is modeled to them (and I can accomplish a quick chore around the house. Score!)

Outside is one of those books I mentioned that we just added to our collection, and it’s so new that #thebigone hasn’t even had a chance to take a look at it yet. I picked it up because I was so infatuated with Deirdre Gill’s incredible, fanciful illustrations of a young boy’s adventures in the snow. I know the dragon in particular is going to catch my oldest’s eye, and I’m hoping he’ll see a lot of himself in the boy’s imaginative winter play. This is a book you definitely need to thumb through in the store, at the very least, because the artwork is just gorgeous.

Another book from a series of perpetual favorites for us, There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow! always proves to be a hit. Lucille Colandro & Jared Lee have found the magic formula for causing hysterical giggles every single time, and while I thought it was just my kid, several volunteering sessions in his classroom later, I have come to find that all the kids can not get enough of this series. (Spoiler alert, the secret to the fun is always vomit. You’ve been warned!) There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow! is a great, quick read with a unique illustrative style, and it’s perfect for a silly afternoon with your little ones.

What winter books do you and your little ones love reading together?

In case you’re curious, I’ve always got great ideas for books to add your home library right here!
And don’t forget to check back tomorrow for another fun art project inspired by one of the books featured here! 

Standard Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission from purchases you make through the links in this post (at no additional cost to you), which allows me to continue providing free content on the blog.