It’s getting a bit colder here in New Jersey, so I thought I’d take a moment to share a few favorite winter books. Although I’m heading to warmer climates this week to present at a conference in Arizona, this list of books for winter is great for any temperature. As you move through this list you might consider a handful of ways for students to respond as readers – using one of the reading response ideas from this blog post.
I created this list to include both print and digital options for readers of any age. You might pick these selections up at a local library or use the Amazon links I included below to access the paperback and Kindle versions of each title. In my new book co-authored with Pam Allyn, titled Taming the Wild Text: Literacy Strategies for Today’s Readers we share lots of reasons why it is important to give students access and support as they dive into print books and ebooks on digital devices. Whether you’re building your classroom library for wintertime or looking for a resource to send home a newsletter for families I hope you’ll find a few new favorites on this list.
Books for Winter: Winter Books for Today’s Reader
The Snowy Day (paperback, hardcover, Kindle)
In this classic from Ezra Jack Keats, students can dive into this beautiful story in either print or digital format. This favorite is perfect for an author study or inspiring student storytellers to think about a small moment from their own wintertime experiences.
Where Do Polar Bears Live? (paperback, Kindle)
If your students are excited about animals, you might want to take a look at this polar bear book. It includes lots of fun facts and information on an animal we often associate with wintertime and snowy weather.
Case of the Sneaky Snowman (paperback, Kindle)
I love a good mystery book and am excited to add a Nancy Drew selection to this list. Looking to get students hooked on a new series this winter? This title is one of many to choose from in the updated Nancy Drew series.
Explore My World Snow Leopards (paperback, Kindle)
Another fun animal choice, this informational text shares fun facts about snow leopards. Students can read this National Geographic book in both paperback and Kindle versions.
Download this poster with favorite reading tools for teachers.
Curious About Snow (paperback, Kindle)
The folks at the Smithsonian have put together this informative book with information about snow. If your students are asking a lot of “why” questions about wintertime this book is full of answers!
Snow (paperback, hardcover)
This beautifully illustrated book by Cynthia Rylant is a wonderful choice for winter books for students. You might incorporate this into an author study unit or use this as a mentor text for student writers.
The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder (paperback, Kindle)
What does snow have to do with the science classroom? If you’re looking to make content area connections, this book will help students dive into wintertime with a new lens of thinking.
Stella, Queen of the Snow (paperback, hardcover)
Do you follow the Stella and Sam series? This book takes these favorite characters through wintertime together as they play in the snow.
Clifford’s First Snow Day (paperback, hardcover)
Clifford is another favorite character on this list that takes part in a snowy adventure. This fun read is great for prompting discussions on wintertime with students.
Don’t forget to grab your list of favorite reading tools for the classroom – download it here.
The Biggest Snowman Ever (paperback, audiobook)
You might be familiar with other Steven Kroll seasonal books like The Biggest Pumpkin Surprise Ever or The Candy Witch. In this book students will hear a snowy story full of colorful illustrations.
Curious George in the Snow (paperback, Kindle)
I love Curious George books and here is a wintertime selection for students. This story takes readers on an adventure with this favorite character.
The Mitten (paperback, hardcover)
The Mitten is one of my favorite winter books for students and there are so many activities it can inspire. Your students might create their own wintertime stories or choose one of the animals featured in this Jan Brett book to research and learn more about.
Red Sled (hardcover, Kindle)
Earlier this year I led a lesson for kindergarten students where we spend time telling stories from wordless picture books. Red Sled is a terrific choice for readers of all ages who can use the illustrations to tell stories.
Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter (hardcover, Kindle)
This book is a great selection to introduce as the weather starts to change. You might ask students to reflect on the way the seasons change in their part of the world (or other parts of the world) using this text as inspiration.
What did I miss? Share your favorite wintertime books in the comments below if you have a special activity you love to use with books for winter you can add it there too!
