These brand-new winter books are SNOW good! With clever storylines that will amuse, entertain, and educate readers paired with skillfully illustrated pictures that capture the beauty of the winter season, you are not going to want to miss these gems!
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I’m Going to Build a Snowman by Jashar Awan, 2023
(Ages 3 and up)
Full of humor and charm, this is easily my favorite new winter-themed story! On the first snowy day, a young boy has grand plans of making the perfect snowman to share adventures with. His final creation confirms that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that perfect is simply a perspective. Uplifting and playful, this story is a real delight!
Snowflakes On Our Tongues by Mike Ornstein, illustrated by Pauline Gregory, 2023
Riotous rhymes highlight hysterical barnyard antics in this new winter book that is an exceptional read aloud for little ones. It’s almost impossible not to want to join in on the refrain of the various animals singing “Snowflakes on our tongue” making this sure to be a hit with preschool classrooms.
If I Had a Polar Bear by Gabby Dawnay, illustrated by Alex Barrow, 2023
(Ages 3 and up)
In this amusing rhyming book, a young child lists all the reasons a polar bear would make an excellent pet. From riding on her back to school to gazing upon the Northern Lights and taking part in whimsical activities, the narrator makes a strong case for having a polar bear as a companion.
Winter: A Solstice Story by Kelsey E Gross, illustrated by Renata Liwska, 2023
(Ages 4 and up)
Gorgeous illustrations featuring hues of blues and whites follow a group of woodland animals joining together to celebrate the winter solstice. Though it may be the longest night of the year, the animals help “shine the light” by sharing gifts to help each other through the long cold winter. This sweet story is beautiful on many levels.
Penguin Huddle by Ross Montgomery, illustrated by Sarah Warburton, 2023
(Ages 4 and up)
Each night a colony of penguins cluster together to stay warm until one stormy night they become stuck in a giant penguin huddle. The eye-catching illustrations follow them as they seek help near and far. The heartwarming conclusion is perfectly satisfying.
Brave Little Bear by Steve Small, 2023
(Ages 4 and up)
As a family of bears wakes up from their hibernation, a young cub named Eva excitedly prepares for their adventure of traveling to a new valley. Her brother Arlo, on the other hand, wishes they could remain in their cozy cave forever. As they cross a mountain, they face a giant snowstorm, and it is up to Arlo to find his bravery to save his sister. With striking illustrations and just the right amount of drama, this is an excellent story with a message of being courageous in the face of adversity.
The Magical Snowflake by Bernette Ford, illustrated by Erin K. Robinson, 2023
(Ages 4 and up)
This bewitching tale stars a young girl whose wish for snow results in a magical snowflake that creates a winter wonderland. Mesmerizing illustrations bring the snowy scenes to life in this magical story capturing the enchantment of winter.
The King Penguin by Vanessa Roeder, 2023
(Ages 4 and up)
As a King Penguin, Percival believes that he is meant to rule all the other penguins. Sick of his selfish behavior, the other penguins throw him out of their colony and Percival is forced to find a new flock of followers to reign over with hilarious results. This book is an absolute delight, particularly the play on matching the penguins’ personalities to their classifications.
A World Full of Winter Stories: 50 Folk Tales and Legends from Around the World by Angela McAllister, illustrated by Olga Baumert, 2023
(Ages 5 and up)
My kids LOVE legends and folk tales from other countries, so they were extremely excited for this winter-themed treasury. Each story is only two to three pages long making it ideal for bedtime reading or sharing aloud to a class of students.
The Power of Snow by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Bryony Clarkson, 2023
(Ages 5 and up)
This clever book teaches children the power of exponential growth using a snowstorm. As two flakes fall, they are soon doubled, continuing to multiply with each turn of the page. Mathematical equations are included on the bottom of each page introducing the concept of exponents that represents the increasing number of snowflakes. With its beautiful collage artwork and math tie-in, this one is sure to be popular in classrooms.
