Winter is officially here! Although, the weekly forecast might have you wondering if Jack Frost is taking a vacation this year. I can’t believe it was in the 50s on Christmas day here in Michigan! Normally, I love freezing temperatures and plush snowbanks, especially now that I don’t have to drive in inclement weather. It used to give me a purpose for embracing my inner hermit, but now that Oliver is a rambunctious toddler, I find we are going stir crazy from staying cooped up in the house. So, when thermometers rose into the 50s, Oliver and I made our great escape and walked to the library to read about winter instead. Here are five picture books about winter we are reading this week:
Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak
Follow a brother and sister as they walk to town, conversing with nature and greeting the signs of the approaching winter. Pak’s illustrations are dreamy and somehow capture the quiet muffled sounds snow makes. I adore this story!
Stella Queen of the Snow by Marie-Louise Gay
Little brother, Sam, experiences his first snowstorm, and older sister, Stella, delights in answering his many questions about the transformed landscape while showing him how to best enjoy a snowy day. Whimsical watercolor illustrations capture the wonder and imagination of the two siblings.
The Mitten by Jan Brett
I couldn’t resist sharing this favorite from my own childhood. An adaptation of a Ukranian folktale, the Mitten tells the story of white mitten lost in the snow, and all the woodland animals that burrow inside to make it their new home. The illustrations are rich in detail, and I remember poring over them when I was younger.
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Could any wintertime picture book list be complete without this Caldecott Medal-winning classic? The Snowy Day follows Peter, full of wonder, as he explores his city, which has been transformed by a blanket of snow.
The Twelve Days of Winter by Deborah Lee Rose, Illustrated by Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis
My son, Oliver, hasn’t started school yet, nor am I a good singer, but that doesn’t interfere with his LOVE of this book. Following the format of the song, the Twelve Days of Christmas, the Twelve Days of Winter captures the passion for learning (and the chaos too) of an elementary classroom as students participate in wintertime activities. The illustrations are rich in detail and personality and beg to be explored by young readers!
Do you have any favorite books about wintertime? Tell me about them in the comments!
By Golly, Ollie! 
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