Celebrate winter with the best hibernation books for preschool! These books are the perfect springboard for discussions about hibernation, and they will charm your children to no end, too. Check out our favorites!
Hibernation books for preschool charm young readers
The changing seasons mesmerize children, and as the golden days of autumn turn into a cold and snowy winter, it’s time to pull out the hibernation books for preschool!
Freezing days prompt many questions from young children. How do animals in winter stay warm? Where do they go, and how will they eat? Many kids know that bears hibernate, but do other animals hibernate as well?
It makes sense that kids have so many questions. After all, humans must do a lot to prepare for the cold winter months, and animals do, too!
These hibernation books both teach and charm
These hibernation books for preschoolers are a mix of both fiction and nonfiction. Not only will they teach your little ones all about animals in winter, but they will also charm your kids (who doesn’t love adorable bears?!) and cause some laughter, too.
From learning why some animals head to warmer climates to understanding what it means when a bear takes a long, warm nap, these hibernation books will mesmerize young learners and prompt great conversations, too. Enjoy!
RELATED: We’ve got more than 100 children’s book lists on Happily Ever Elephants. You’ve got to check out this link!
Frequently asked questions
Children love learning about hibernation. As they are fascinated by the changing seasons, the cold and snowy weather often prompts lots of questions. How do animals stay warm? Where do they go, and what do they eat? Hibernation books for preschool both teach and charm kids, and they can serve as springboards for many other conversations.
Absolutely! We have a great list of children’s winter books, and we also have a blog post dedicated to our favorite children’s books about snow.
I adore Winter Sleep, A Hibernation Story, featured below. While it does have a fair amount of text, I love the factual information it imparts, the tender story between a child and his grandmother, and the stunning illustrations.
Happily Ever Elephants participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
We love these hibernation books for preschool!
In this beautiful story, readers are given a terrific mix of fiction and nonfiction. A child and his grandmother go for a walk to explore how the world prepares to sleep for the winter. In each scene, as the child ponders where the animals are hiding, readers are invited to see what lies under the snow that the child is not privy to. From underground dens to hollow tree trunks, learn how different animals hibernate and what they will do when they wake. We love the factual information this book imparts, the tender relationship between the child and his grandmother, and the stunning illustrations. A beauty!
Bear’s cave is so warm! As he sleeps, it fills with furry friends seeking shelter from the snow. But despite the festivities of Bear’s new roommates, he continues to snore on! When Bear finally wakes up, will he join in the party? This is a fabulous hibernation book for preschool (it was one of our favorite board books when my boys were toddlers!), due to its fun rhythm, an adorable cast of characters, and text that begs to be acted out by young readers.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Bear is getting sleepy. It’s winter, after all, and a long nap is ahead of him. But first, he has a story to tell. There’s just one problem – all of his animal friends are making preparations for the winter, and everyone is too busy to listen. Sweet Bear pitches in to help his friends, but by the time they are finished with their individual preparations, will they even be able to stay awake for Bear’s story? Will Bear himself stay awake? I love how patient Bear is and how generous he is to his friends. And the story’s ending? *Chef’s kiss!*
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
In this classic hibernation book for preschool, sweet Hedgie feels blue as his friends tell him everything he’ll miss when he hibernates – icicles and snowmen and sleigh bells and more! Hedgie thus decides he simply won’t hibernate because he wants to share in all the winter fun with his pals. But when a snowstorm comes, and Hedgie can hardly stay awake as he tries to brave the elements, a little girl finds him and brings him into her home to keep him warm. Once he’s nice and cozy, the child settles him back in his burrow where he belongs. We love this sweet story that showcases the spirit of tenderness and helping others in need.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Over the snow, the world is white and quiet. But under the snow is a world of magic, with many animals 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.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
In this classic nonfiction animal book for preschool, young readers will learn all about the things animals do to survive cold and snowy winters. What are the primary ways animals adapt to the winter environment? Why do some animals head south while others stay put? This is a perfect primer about animals in winter and a great complement to the fictional books on this list!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Children will be captivated as they embark on a journey with a bear cub and his family as they prepare to hibernate for the winter. We love the Nat Geo early reader books‘ engaging text features, beautiful photographs, and large fonts. This is a perfect book for children who are not only learning about hibernation but learning how to read, too!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
RELATED: We’ve got a fabulous list of kindergarten read-alouds for you on Happily Ever Elephants, all of which make for great bedtime stories. Be sure to check them out!
Everybody at the station! It’s time for winter hibernation! With gentle, pitch-perfect rhymes and darling illustrations, young readers will love cozying up with this book before bedtime. As they learn about all the animals preparing for their long sleep, children will be delighted by the pajama-clad critters on the train! There’s just one problem: some of the critters won’t be quiet! Will the hibernating animals ever get to sleep amidst all the ruckus? We love this book, and we also appreciate the great endnote describing the difference between “deep” and “light” sleepers during hibernation.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
As one bear journeys through red leaves and the first snowfall, he has one endpoint in site: his den, where he can sleep through the snowy and freezing winter. When Old Bear reaches his den, he falls asleep. He’s warm and oblivious to the winter surrounding him, and he dreams of being a cub surrounded by spring. When Old Bear awakens, he is met with just that: a glistening lake surrounded by flowers and butterflies and beautiful blooms. This book is not just about a bear in hibernation, but it is also a wonderful springboard to discuss seasonal changes, too.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
When it’s time to sleep, Old Man Winter continually tells Bear to “sleep, big bear, sleep.” There’s just one problem: the bear can’t hear very well, and he can’t tell if Old Man Winter is telling him to sweep or leap or even drive a jeep! Finally, Old Man Winter finds a way for Bear to hear him, and Bear obliges, heading off to his den for a long rest. This is a charming hibernation book for preschool that delights kids with its rhymes and wordplay.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Poor Bear, no matter how hard he tries, he cannot reattach the leaves that have fallen from their trees! It’s Bear’s first autumn, and he is both mesmerized and bewildered by the changing season. Naturally, the bear begins to grow sleepy, and after readying himself for hibernation, he sleeps away the winter and wakes to discover new baby buds on the trees. Simple and delightful, children will love the awestruck, innocent bear and his efforts to save the leaves!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
LouAnn is getting ready to hibernate, and she can’t wait to feast on the donuts she’s been baking. But – is that the door? It is, and her friend the woodchuck pops in, prompting LouAnn to share her donuts. Soon, all of LouAnn’s friends find their way to her house, and it’s a donut party! LouAnn loves making donuts and sharing them with her friends, but what happens when she makes a miscalculation, eats none herself, and has to get ready for her long nap? This is a wonderful children’s book about food and sharing!
RELATED: Do you have big kids getting ready to read at your house? Don’t miss our fantastic list of the best kindergarten books!
Leave a Reply