Perfect Winter Read Alouds

It’s been a really mild winter where I live. In fact, we’ve only had a dusting of snow once or twice. And, I noticed our daffodils peeking out in the front garden bed because it’s been so mild! But, that being said, it’s not going to stop me from sharing a picture book list full of titles that make perfect winter read alouds.

And remember, reading aloud to kids shouldn’t stop the moment they learn how to read on their own. There are a ton of benefits to reading aloud to older kids as well. When reading aloud, older kids can increase their critical thinking skills while also increasing their own emotional intelligence. Reading aloud picture books can also increase student literacy skills with extensive vocabulary and exposure to literary concepts such as symbolism.

This book list includes some crowd favorites that are classics, but I also made a point of including a number of new titles as well – books that you may not have seen yet. Check out your local independent bookstore, if you’re lucky enough to have one close or check out your local public library!

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25 Perfect Winter Read Alouds

After the Snowfall by Rich Lo

A fox peeks out of his den at a white forest
All is silent
A buck stands camouflaged
A great horned owl sits on a nearby branch
The fox climbs out of this den
He passes squirrels eating
He passes mice foraging
The fox reaches a stream where he takes a cold drink
A family of mallard ducks swims by
Across the stream, river otters rest on a rock
Suddenly, the earth trembles. Towering over the fox, a moose takes a cold drink
His thirst quenched, the fox heads home
He passes rabbits hiding in a hollow tree
Chattering crows greet the fox outside his den
After the snowfall.

Best In Snow by April Pulley Sayre

From the beauty of snow blanketing the forest and falling on animals’ fur and feathers to the fascinating winter water cycle, this nonfiction picture book celebrates snowfall and the amazing science behind it.

Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin

When it was quiet, Little Snow grinned and then jumped, jumped, jumped!

Little Snow loves the new big, soft bed Mommy made him for the long, cold winter nights. But Mommy says this bed is for sleeping, not jumping! What happens when he can’t resist jump, jump, jumping on his new fluffy, bouncy bed?

Bright Winter Night by Alli Brydon and Ashling Lindsay

On one bright winter night, a group of woodland creatures emerges from the forest. Despite their differences, they start to build something together, using items found on the forest floor. What are they making? And how quickly can they build it? Something special is happening tonight, and soon the animals are off―in a race to catch a glimpse of one of nature’s most astounding wonders! With lyrical text and sparkling artwork, Bright Winter Night is a celebration of the joy and beauty of nature and the special gift of friendship and togetherness.

First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming

Alive with swirling snow and lots of outdoor fun, the first ten days of winter bring special gifts for a special friend. This cumulative tale will have children chanting along as they discover all the trimmings needed for the most perfect snowman ever!

First Snow by Bomi Park

Look out. Now look up. From the sky one flake falls, then another. And just like that—it’s snowing.

In this beautiful book from debut creator Bomi Park, a young girl wakes up to the year’s first snowy day. From her initial glimpse out the window to her poignant adventures—rolling a snowman, making snow angels—the girl’s quiet quests are ones all young readers will recognize. Simple, muted text and exquisite, evocative art conjure the excitement of a day spent exploring the wonder of snow—and the magic that, sometimes literally, such a day brings. As subtly joyful as a snow day itself, this book will find its home in the hearts of young adventurers everywhere.

Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak

Join a brother and sister as they explore nature and take a stroll through their twinkling town, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with everything from the setting sun to curious deer, they say goodbye to autumn and welcome the glorious first snow of winter in Kenar Pak’s Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter.

It’s Snowing! by Gail Gibbons

Small, soft flakes fall quietly from above. It’s snowing! People like to sled and ski in it, but what exactly is snow? How does it form? Included in this crystal clear introduction to one of winter’s wonders is information about different types of snowstorms, regions where snow falls, and how to prepare when a snowstorm approaches.

The Lights That Dance In the Night by Yuval Zommer

From tiny specks of dust to gleaming rays in the dark, the northern lights travel across the Arctic, uniting every creature in a celebration over land and sea.

In this wonderfully festive picture book, Yuval Zommer imagines the northern lights’ fleeting journey from space to Earth and how they weave a special magic for the animals and people living in the frozen lands below.

With its heartfelt themes of kinship, curiosity, and the wonders of nature, it’s a perfectly cozy story for families to read together.

Lines by Suzy Lee

It starts with a line. Whether made by the tip of a pencil
or the blade of a skate, the magic starts there.

And magic once again flows from the pencil and imagination of internationally acclaimed artist Suzy Lee. With the lightest of touches, this masterwork blurs the lines between real and imagined, reminding us why Lee’s books have been lauded around the world, recognized on New York Times Best Illustrated Books lists and nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international honor given to children’s book creators. This seemingly simple story about a young skater on a frozen pond will charm the youngest of readers while simultaneously astounding book enthusiasts of any age.

Little Red Gliding Hood by Tara Lazar, illustrated by Troy Cummings

Little Red Riding Hood straps on ice skates in this fractured fairy tale! A figure-skating enthusiast, Little Red has worn out her skates and must win a pairs competition to earn new ones. But who will be her partner? The Dish is already skating with the Spoon, and Hansel has Gretel. You won’t believe what big eyes, sharp teeth, and furry paws her partner has . . . all the better to spin her with!

Little Snowplow by Lora Koehler, illustrated by Jake Parker

On the Mighty Mountain Road Crew, the trucks come in one size: BIG. That is, until the little snowplow joins the crew. None of the other trucks think that the little snowplow can handle the big storms, but he knows that he can do it—and just to be sure, he trains hard, pushing loads of gravel, pulling blocks of concrete, and doing plow lifts to get ready. But when a blizzard arrives, will the little snowplow’s training be enough to clear the streets and handle unexpected trouble? Taking its place beside classics such as The Little Engine That Could and Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, this tale of a plucky little plow will find a clear path to readers’ hearts.

The Mitten by Jan Brett

When Nicki drops his white mitten in the snow, he goes on without realizing that it is missing.

One by one, woodland animals find it and crawl in; first, a curious mole, then a rabbit, a badger and others, each one larger than the last. Finally, a big brown bear is followed in by a tiny brown mouse and what happens next makes for a wonderfully funny climax.

As the story of the animals in the mitten unfolds, the reader can see Nicki in the borders of each page, walking through the woods unaware of what is going on.

In her distinctive style, Jan Brett brings the animals to life with warmth and humor, and her illustrations are full of visual delights and details faithful to the Ukrainian tradition from which the story comes.

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow. 

Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! by Maureen Wright, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand

It’s time for Big Bear to hibernate, so Old Man Winter keeps telling him: “Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep.” But Big Bear doesn’t hear very well. He thinks Old Man Winter has told him to drive a jeep, to sweep, and to leap. Big Bear just can’t seem to hear what Old Man Winter is saying. Finally, Old Man Winter finds a noisy way to get Big Bear’s attention. Cozy illustrations rendered in pencil and mixed media by Will Hillenbrand bring this bedtime story to a fitting conclusion.

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert

Ehlert creates a wintry world with her signature style by collaging vibrant cut paper and textured found objects, like buttons, fabric, and seeds, to illuminate the most wonderful time of the year. Readers young and old will marvel at the innovation in this dazzling snow-filled tale and just might feel inspired to build their own unique snow creations.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

In 1962, a little boy named Peter put on his snowsuit and stepped out of his house and into the hearts of millions of readers. Universal in its appeal, this story beautifully depicts a child’s wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever. The quiet fun and sweetness of Peter’s small adventures in the deep, deep snow is perfect for reading together on a cozy winter day.

So Much Snow by Hyunmin Park

It snowed all night long. It snowed so much that when two children awake in the morning and want to go outside to play, a shovel isn’t even close to being enough. It’s SO MUCH SNOW!

Ten Ways to Hear the Snow by Cathy Camper, illustrated by Kenard Pak 

One winter morning, Lina wakes up to silence. It’s the sound of snow — the kind that looks soft and glows bright in the winter sun. But as she walks to her grandmother’s house to help make the family recipe for warak enab, she continues to listen.

As Lina walks past snowmen and across icy sidewalks, she discovers ten ways to pay attention to what might have otherwise gone unnoticed. With stunning illustrations by Kenard Pak and thoughtful representation of a modern Arab American family from Cathy Camper, Ten Ways to Hear Snow is a layered exploration of mindfulness, empathy, and what we realize when the world gets quiet.

Tracks in the Snow by Wong Herbert Yee 

Just outside my window,
There are tracks in the snow.
Who made the tracks? Where do they go?

A little girl follows tracks outside her window after a fresh snowfall, only to realize that the tracks in the snow are her own from the day before―and that they lead her home. This diminutive and sweet picture book is as cozy as a cup of hot chocolate.

Twinkle, Twinkle Winter Night by Megan Litwin, illustrated by Nneka Myers

Shimmer,

Glimmer,

Glowing

Light –

Twinkle, twinkle, winter night.

Whether it’s the moon in the crisp, cool sky, flickering candles in a neighbor’s window, or the dazzling lights strung up about town, winter is a time of glowing warmth and cozy closeness. Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night captures this charm, making it perfect for bedtimes and sing-alongs on days when the sun goes to sleep early—and winter wonders shine bright.

We Want Snow: A Wintry Chant by Jamie A. Swenson and Emilie Boon 

In this raucous, rhyming plea for snow, a group of youngsters imagines the cold-weather delights they’ll enjoy once winter arrives. From sledding down hills and skating on ponds to building snow forts and snowmen to sharing crackling fires and mugs of hot cocoa, they want snow and plenty of it! The snow can’t arrive soon enough. But once the flakes start to fall, are the youngsters in for more than they bargained for? Readers young and old will enjoy this celebration of winter’s snowy activities, recalling past pleasures and imagining future ones.

When the Snow Falls by Linda Booth Sweeney, illustrated by Jana Christy

With sparkling flakes calling from outside, this sister and brother bundle up for an outdoor adventure with Grandma. In the hushed woods, they see and hear wildlife thriving under a new blanket of snow.  In the bustle of town, they help their grateful Grandpa dig out. Then, it’s time to get sledding!

Winter Dance by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Richard Jones

Snow is coming, and it’s time to get ready! The squirrel gathers nuts, the geese soar south, and the snowshoe hare puts on its new white coat. But what should the fox do? Each animal advises the fox that its own plan is best, but the fox thinks otherwise—yet it’s not until he meets a golden-eyed friend that he finds the perfect way to celebrate the snowfall.

Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell

A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home?

Paintings rich with feeling tell this satisfying story of friendship and trust. Wolf in the Snow is a book set on a wintry night that will spark imaginations and warm hearts, from Matthew Cordell, author of Trouble Gum and Another Brother.