We walked out of my sister’s house one morning last week to big ol’ fat snowflakes coming down. Riley and Brody were howling with excitement despite the fact the quick snow flurry was short-lived and didn’t stick at all. If I’m honest, it got me all excited for the first real snowfall we will have this winter and got me eager to bust out all our favorite picture books about snow!
Living in the Northeast all my life I got real jaded towards snow as I got older. I loved it as a kid but as an adult it always seemed like a nuisance and, while I loved how it looked, I’d be over it after the first snow.
Having Riley has completely changed my tune about snow (also maybe the fact I don’t have to go out in it now to get to work changed that too). I love her excitement and last year, during winter 2020, we played out in the snow so much and I actually found solace in our snowy day adventures during that time.
I think that is what so many of our favorite snowy day books evoke — that absolute joy and fun that an impending snowfall brings. Something that it’s easy, as an adult, to not remember.
So if you are looking for some cozy and wonderful children’s books about snow these are our favorite to curl up with. These picks are more geared towards toddlers and preschool ages.
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Best Books About Snow & Snowy Day Fun
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
A perennial, classic favorite for a reason!
A simple yet delightful book about a little boy named Peter who wakes up to find that there is snow on the ground in his city and heads out for a little adventure in the snow. Absolutely captures the wonder and awe in that first snowfall of the season.
It won the 1963 Caldecott Medal and was one of the first full color picture books to feature a young Black boy as the main character. A must-have for your shelves!
Want developmentally and age appropriate picture books?
Love to read with your little one but feel too busy or overwhelmed to find new books to read with them that is great for their age? Check out Bookroo — it’s a wonderful book subscription box for kids that Riley LOVES getting and it saves me time when engaging and age appropriate books show up at our doorstep! You can read my review of Bookroo for more info.
Ten Ways To Hear Snow by Cathy Camper
This one is a new favorite kids book about snow for us as it just came out in 2020 and showed up in one of our Little Feminist book club box.
I honestly love this beautiful book so much! While so many of our favorite snowy day books are about the fun of a snow day, this one was much more about the things we notice on a snow day when we are mindful and pay attention — particularly the things we might hear when we lean into the stillness and quiet of a snowy day.
It’s about a young girl who, on her way to her grandma’s to make warak enab, experiences some different ways to HEAR the snow. She and her grandmother, who is losing her eyesight, talk together about the ways they hear the snow.
Definitely one of my favorite new books about snow for preschoolers! I love the warm relationship between Lina and her grandmother and I love how much there is to talk about with this book now and even as she grows. We had so much fun listening to the snow sounds after reading this book.
Bear & Hare Snow!
One of my favorite books about snow for toddlers and one that Riley asked for over and over again because she LOVES this series. Do I think that it’s anything super revolutionary as a book? NOPE but these two pals, bear and hare, are always so cute and we loved watching the two play in the snow together as Hare (who LOVES snow) tries to find a snow activity that Bear (who definitely doesn’t like snow as much as Hare) will love.
Stella, Queen of the Snow by Marie-Louise Gay
The sweetest little story, part of a great series, about an older sister answering all the questions her little brother, whose first time it is seeing and experiencing snow, has and guiding him through his first snow day. Now she doesn’t always answer all the questions correctly but she answers them authoritatively as older sisters do — but Sam sure believes them.
It’s definitely more of a preschool-aged or older book. Riley loved Sam & Stella and also laughing at some of the answers Stella gives Sam. She enjoyed this book at 3 years old and 4 years old so far.
Little Owl’s Snow by Divya Srinivasan
We love this snowy offering from a series we love so much! As the season changes and a lot of owl’s friends settle in to hibernate, something happens — the snow starts to fall! Like our little ones, we get to watch Little Owl experience the wonder of his first snowfall.
Riley loved it as a 2 year old but we’ve definitely had more interesting conversations as we’ve read it at 3 years old and 4 years old — particularly because the book shows how different animals aren’t awake for the snow but some are so we could talk about hibernation.
White Snow Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt
Another classic book that should have a place on your seasonal shelves! In this one, as the impending snow starts to fall, all the grownups start rushing around doing all the preparations and things grownups do (read: stressing) when the snow starts to fall as the kids revel in the delight and wonder of the snowfall. It’s a nice book that balances the practical aspects of snow (like what to wear) and the fun we can have in the snow! I personally love the illustrations (it’s from the 1940’s!) too.
Snow by Cynthia Rylant
What a lovely, treasure of a book that has been a favorite of ours the past couple years. It’s so lovely in its gentle, lyrical nature and its soft illustrations.
It’s definitely more a book ABOUT snow (rather than a story) and that FEELING that snow brings in different scenarios — the snow that falls when we are sleeping, the snow that brings us home early from snow, the snow that is ever so lightly coating things, etc.
It’s really a must-read and really does a great job at evoking those feelings snow brings through the text and the illustrations. Makes me feel nostalgic for the snow days of my childhood! Great for preschoolers and up!
I hope these snow books help get you and your little ones excited for the snow and provide some cozy wintry reading! I’d love to hear your favorite books about snow for toddlers and preschoolers! We are always looking for more.
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