15 Snow Books for Kids

Our family recently enjoyed a few days of snow. The kids LOVED playing in the snow. However, after three day of spending more time dressing the kids for the snow than actual time spend out in the snow, I was ready for it to melt already.

Just because the snow is now disappearing doesn’t mean we can’t continue to enjoy the white winter wonderland in the books we’re reading.

Here are 15 great snow books for kids, perfect for snowy days… or for days you’re wishing for snow.

	*All You Need for a Snowman* by Alice Schertle “One small snowflake fluttering down–that’s all you need for a snowman. …EXCEPT” This wonderfully illustrated book about snowman building invites the listener to participate in anticipation as each item needed for a snowman is followed by a teasing “except” or “but” before you turn the page.
	*Snow Friends* by M. Christina Butler Little Bear realizes snow isn’t much fun when he’s playing by himself. As he builds a friend out of snow he is joined by Otter and Rabbit. Once the first snowman is finished the three friends realize they have each other to play with but the snowman is all alone. They quickly get to work building him a friend so he’s not alone.
	Snow by Cynthia Rylant A young girl, her friend, and her grandmother enjoy the many things a snowy day has to offer. Rylant vividly describes different types of snow from the snow that ”comes softly in the night” to the kind that “begins to fall in fat, cheerful flakes.”
	*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, but she’s in for a surprise when she finds where they lead.
	*The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder* by Mark Cassino A great beginning explanation of snow for children. A few of the questions answered include: How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? Stick to the book, apparently the font on the Kindle version is too small to read.
	*Snowmen at Night* by Caralyn Buehner This adorable book combines many amusing details about the secret life of snowmen and where they go at night with illustrations that are expressive and full of personality.
	*Snowflake Bentley* by Jacqueline Briggs Martin 1999 Caldecott Medal An inspiring true story about a scientist who was determined to capture the beauty of snow crystals for everyone to see. This book contains a wonderful story line as well as additional facts and details of Bentley’s life and work.
	*The Secret Life of a Snowflake: An Up-Close Look at the Art and Science of Snowflakes* by Kenneth Libbrecht This book is the perfect look into the work of a modern-day scientist studying and photographing snow. This book contains a lot of beautiful photographs of single snowflakes. The format is better suited to older children.
	The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel A wintery play of the traditional House that Jack Built rhyme. Pictures replace repeated words making this a perfect book for children to join in and “read” along.
	*Flannel Kisses* by Linda Crotta Brennan A rhyming poem for young children explores the contrast of a wintery day from hot oatmeal to cold floor and warm clothing to the snowy outdoors. A great book to start a discussion of different senses and contrasts of the winter.
	*First Snow* by Emily Arnold McCully First Snow is a delightful story about a mouse family that goes sledding on the first day it snows. The wonderful illustrations tell this story with very few words. This is a great chance to let your child be the storyteller.
	*When Winter Comes* by Nancy Van Laan What happens to leaves, fish, flowers, field mice, and other living things when ponds freeze and the air turns cold with snow? This story follows a curious child and his parents as they venture out into the cold for the first snowfall and find out what happens to things in nature that seem to disappear during the winter.
	*White Snow Bright Snow* by Alvin Tresselt 1948 Caldecott Medal winner This book is another about the first snowfall of winter. As the adults scamper about doing practical things to prepare for snow, the children simply celebrate and enjoy the snow in many ways.
	Let it Snow by Maryann Cocca-Leffler This book focuses on the wonders of winter from building snowmen to drinking hot chocolate by the fire’s warm glow. Let It Snow is also a good springboard for discussing or reviewing seasons as it talks about spring coming next.
	The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats 1963 Caldecott Medal winner Little Peter wakes up to a world transformed by snow. Follow along as he explores this new world blanketed in winter whiteness.

Do you have a favorite wintery book or activity? We’d love to read about it in the comments section below.

Comments

Joanne Mitchell says:

January 28, 2013 at 10:12 am

The Mitten by Jan Brett
Possibly hundreds of activities that can extend from this book. I used it for an activity with the Pre-4H kiddos in our group years ago to go along with the animal tracking activities that the older kids were doing. We didn’t have snow so I poured flour on the ground. We made cheese stuffed “fox paws” as part of our snack. Etc, etc, etc They loved it!

Allyson says:

January 29, 2013 at 8:02 am

How could I forget The Mitten? That’s one snow book we haven’t read yet this year. I thought we had it on our shelves, but apparently not.

I love your idea of animal tracking in flour!