These children’s books about snow will add a bit of magic to your wintry days. Grab a blanket, curl up by the fire, and get cozy with these fantastic stories!
We love children’s books about snow, especially in Miami!
It sounds funny to say this, but it’s true. My kids have learned more about winter from children’s books about snow than through actual snow. That’s what happens here in Miami when the temperature barely drops below 70 degrees. When it suddenly hits 68, everyone breaks out their boots, scarves, and favorite sweaters, but we still long for a real taste of winter!
So it is in the south. But thankfully, there are stunning children’s picture books about snow that delight children and bring the winter spirit and cold weather into their homes, no matter where they live.
RELATED: We have more children’s winter books on the blog, so be sure to check out that list, too!
Children’s books about snow capture the beauty of a wintry day
Snow is a natural wonder that, with nothing more than a gentle whisper, creates magic across the miles.
In mere moments, snow can change the entire appearance of the view outside your window. It brings newness to the world, as well as intimacy, evoking images of families cuddling under blankets by the fire and animals hibernating together to stay warm.
The world is blanketed with a soft layer of sugar, crystals dazzle from trees, and it looks as if a fairy sprinkled the world with her magic dust.
The children’s books about snow featured below convey these awesome wonders of winter and the sparkling snowy season. Enjoy!
RELATED: We have more than 100 fabulous children’s book lists here on Happily Ever Elephants. Be sure to check them out!
Frequently asked questions
Children’s winter books are fabulous for storytime or for sharing with kids over steaming cups of hot cocoa! On the chilliest of days, we love getting cozy under warm blankets and reading books about winter that talk about snow, building snowmen, and going sledding. We also love any books that teach us how animals prepare for the winter. These types of stories make for great winter read-alouds when you’re stuck indoors!
The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats, is one of the most classic children’s winter books of all time. The story about a boy quietly experiencing the first snowfall of winter is a gem.
Bunny Slopes, by Claudia Rueda, is an absolute delight! An interactive book, children love shaking, turning, and tilting the book to help Bunny ski down the mountain. I will also forever love Philip C. Stead’s Samson in the Snow. This book is pure perfection. Not only does everyone love a giant wooly mammoth, but the snowy illustrations are magnificent, and the themes of friendship, compassion, and empathy make this quiet read-aloud an absolute must for every bookshelf! Both of these books are featured below.
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RELATED: Have you checked out our excellent list of kindergarten read-alouds? They make storytime rock!
These are our favorite children’s books about snow
Bunny is going to conquer the bunny slopes, but he needs your help! This children’s book about snow features an adorable skiing rabbit, and it is an interactive dream. Shake the book to make it snow, tilt it to help bunny down the slope, and turn it this way and that to help Bunny get out of the way of the obstacles in his path! This is one of our most cherished interactive books, as we love the way it makes readers the master of the story in an effort to help Bunny down the mountain.
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Samson, a giant woolly mammoth, shares his dandelions with a red bird who is looking to cheer up a sad friend. When the bird flies away, Samson is left wondering what it would be like to have a real friend of his own. Samson subsequently awakens from a deep sleep, only to find the world covered in snow. He immediately worries about the red bird, so he sets off to find her to ensure she’s warm. As Samson journeys through the snow, he finds that warmth can be found in more ways than one. A testament to friendship, compassion, and kindness, we simply love this quiet, beautiful story!
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In this classic children’s book about snow, a young boy wakes up to discover a winter wonderland. He goes outside to experience the first snowfall of the season, and as he plays, his eyes open to the wonder and possibility of the new world at his fingertips. Everything changes when draped in a soft white blanket!
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Larry the snowball is one lucky ball of ice. He’s so lucky, in fact, that his new friend, Izzy, keeps him around so that Larry can experience all four seasons. Except, every time Izzy takes Larry out of the freezer, Larry finds himself in a bit of a bind. After all, what’s with that warm sun? Kids young and old will find themselves shouting “help! I’m melting!” right along with Larry, and they will learn the meaning of true friendship as they watch Izzy come to Larry’s rescue again and again. A perfect children’s book about snow to share with your littles!
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Written as an invocation, this quiet beauty tells the story of a young girl who wishes for just a little more time for family togetherness. The child yearns for a snow day so her mother, a pilot, will be grounded and forced to stay home. Through Krommes enchanting scratchboard illustrations, readers witness what happens while the child sleeps soundly and her deepest desires are fulfilled: she will wake up to a blanket of snow outside her window.
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In this wordless Caldecott award winner, a girl in a red coat braves a harsh snowy day on her way home from school. As she walks, she comes across a lost and scared wolf pup. The girl befriends the pup and what follows is her journey through a harsh winter day to return the pup to its family. She travels long and far, though. So long and so far, in fact, that she loses her way. How will she ever get home? The emotion conveyed in every one of these stunning illustrations is simply exquisite.
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Badger is a bit impatient – he can’t wait one more second for snow! Hedgehog tries to explain that snow will happen in due time, but Badger just can’t wait! The animals use their most creative tricks to bring on the snow, like tossing pebbles at the sky and sifting powdered sugar off the roof, but alas, the tricks don’t work. Yet one morning after a slumber party, the animals wake up to discover a perfect winter wonderland. Absolutely love these adorable illustrations!
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Blizzard is a fabulous picture book based on the author’s real-life experience during the infamous blizzard of 1978 which brought fifty-three inches of snow to Rocco’s Rhode Island town. Beginning with just a few flakes and ending with mounds as high as stop signs that kept him from opening his front door, Blizzard tells the story of a transformative snowfall, including the magic, the anxiety, and the tremendous relief at seeing the first snow plows break through the drifts.
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A modern-day version of The Snowy Day, this is the quiet story of a young girl who wakes up to the first snowfall of the year. The child goes outside to play, making snow angels and snowmen, and as she plays, she discovers the wonder and awesome simplicity that snow brings to her world.
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When their Little Girl goes away for winter vacation, StingRay, Lumphy the buffalo, and their friend Plastic, a red ball, head outside to experience their first snow day. The three take part in traditional snow activities, making hilarious hypotheses about the world around them and relishing in the warmth their friendship provides. There’s nothing better for children than reading about toys that come to life!
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Holy cow is this a beauty! As someone who doesn’t live in a snowy locale, this children’s book about snow perfectly engaged my senses and helped me imagine what it would be like to walk through a quiet, snowy neighborhood. As Lina walks to her grandparent’s house one morning, she wanders through the silent day, only to learn that if you listen closely enough, you may discover things you would never have noticed before. An exploration of mindfulness and empathy, this is yet another stunner that so lovingly captures the magic of a snowy day. This stunning story is also available in Spanish, here!
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In this beautiful children’s book about snow, a little girl and her grandma enjoy the beauty of a winter day. The descriptions of the different types of snowfall are simply stunning, and when paired with the lush, detailed illustrations on every page, you feel like you are right there experiencing the snowy day, too. You can feel it, taste it, hear it – and every word of this magical story sings. This is a beauty in every sense of the word – a perfect book to curl up with by the fire!
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It’s Gabo’s first ever snowy day during the winter, and while he doesn’t necessarily have the right socks or a hat that fits or even a sled to ride downhill, he does have a wonderful community of friends and neighbors who help him solve his challenges. We love the way this story shows kids that life isn’t about the possessions you don’t have, but the exciting things you can do with the possessions you do have! Complete with engaging characters, kind actions, and Spanish words woven throughout the text, Gabo is a total delight!
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Over the snow, the world is white and quiet. But under the snow is a world of magic, with many animals hibernating, staying hidden from harm and making homes for the winter. In this beautiful work of nonfiction, children will learn about the subnivean zone — the area between the snowpack and the ground — and the way animals adapt during the harshest of winter days.
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RELATED: Do you have kids that are just beginning to read? Check out these fantastic lists for both kindergarten books and early reader books!
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