WildKind’s Winter Kids Book Guide
Winter is here and for many of us, we can’t get enough of snow, hot chocolate, ski days, and cozy books by the fire. When we can’t be out playing in the snow, the next best thing is reading about this magical season with our kids.
Our team at WildKind has put together 20 of our favorite winter books for kids! From our co-founders to our ambassadors, check out why these are their go-to winter-themed books in their home. Happy Reading!
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Kids Books About Nature in Winter
Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter
BY KENARD PACK
As fall turns into winter, Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter is a perfect way to read your way into the winter season. A favorite of WildKind Co-Founder and author, Heather Balogh Rochfort, Heather loves this book for its beautiful illustrations that invite our kiddo to ask about nature's wild ways.
Over and Under the Snow
BY KATE MESSNER
Over and Under the Snow is recommended to us by WildKind Ambassador and photographer, Taryn Langlois. It’s a sweet little story that takes readers on a cross country skiing adventure and the exploration of forest animals and how they navigate the winter months, both on top of and under the snow.
Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story
BY SEAN TAYLOR & ALEX MORSS
Another favorite of Taryn’s is the sweet animal themed book, Winter Sleep. Winter Sleep explores the concept of hibernation and where animals go to sleep during the winter through they eyes of a child and his grandma.
Owl Moon
BY JANE YOLEN
Owl Moon takes us through a wintery father/daughter adventure as they search for owls. Recommended to us by our California ambassador, Samantha Pohler, she says, “This is a book that reminds me of my own childhood. I love the prose of this book and the magic of a kid seeing an owl with their dad for the first time”.
The Mitten
BY JAN BRETT
The Mitten comes highly recommended by WildKind Ambassador Sarah Roberts. Also an elementary school teacher, Sarah tells us The Mitten has a fun story line involving animals that is silly and exciting for kids, while the folk style pictures are detailed and engaging.
The Lights that Dance in the Night
BY YUVAL ZOMMER
If you can’t get enough of the northern lights’ magic, this book is for you. The Lights that Dance in the Night is an enchanting and educational story about the northern lights and how they bring animals and people together across the arctic.
Kids Books About Skiing
A-B-Skis
BY LIBBY LUDLOW
A-B-Skis has been a favorite in my house since my son was an infant, as it was one of the first books he was given. A-B-Skis is adorably illustrated and playfully takes you through the alphabet through ski-themed tips and tricks for little skiers. We recite the “B is for Bindings” phrase at the magic carpet: “toes go first, then the heel push down til you hear a click!”
Goodnight, Chairlift
BY LIBBY LUDLOW
A follow up to A-B-Skis, we are loving this ski-themed bedtime book! WildKind Utah Ambassador, Melinda Long tells us that she uses Goodnight, Chairlift to reflect on their fun days on the mountain and to teach appreciation for all those ski patrollers, cat drivers, snow makers and more that make our ski days so great!
Bunny Slopes
BY CLAUDIA RUEDA
Bunny Slopes is a fun and interactive book that will keep your little one engaged from start to finish. From making it snow to helping Bunny turn on its skis, this is a book you will reach for over and over this season!
Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee
BY CHRIS VAN DUSEN
Mr. Magee decides that today is a good time to learn to ski and you can join in his adventure in Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee. As you read the story on the brightly illustrated pages, you may feel like you are skiing right along with Mr. Magee, and his dog Dee!
Ski! Ski! Ski!
BY LAURA BOYLE
We haven’t forgotten about cross-country skiing, and we have just the right book for our youngest Nordic skiers. A beautifully illustrated book, Ski! Ski! Ski! takes young readers out into the snow on cross-country skis. Bundle up first, then see where these skis take you!
Squeak! Goes Backcountry Skiing
BY D. SCOTT BORDEN & MALLORY LOGAN
Come along for a ski tour as Squeak! Goes Backcountry Skiing! When Squeak goes on an unexpected ride with two backcountry skiers, she learns about backcountry skiing from new and old friends. A fun read for kids and adults!
*Purchasing this book also supports one of our favorite non-profits, Protect Our Winters!
ABC, Let’s Go Ski
BY KASSANDRA LEMONS
ABC Let’s Go Ski is a new ski-themed board book that takes us through the alphabet with fun phrases around our favorite winter activity. With adorable skiing animals like Expert Elephant and Carving Cats, it’s a loveable first ski book for future-shredders!
Kids Books All About Snow
Tucker the Sno-Cat
BY DEAN E NICHOLS & ANNETTE P
ZACK
Another favorite of Melinda’s is Tucker the Sno-Cat. It’s a cute story about kids out adventuring that get stuck and the big sno- cats can’t get to them, but the little sno-cat finds a way! Great storytelling that shows you don’t always have to be the biggest or strongest to get to the top.
The Snowy Day
BY EZRA JACK KEATS
The Snowy Day is a classic board book that helps us as readers rediscover the wonder and magic of playing in the snow. Samantha also loves this one for her kids because it is a lovely, simple book that gets back to the basics - a little boy playing in the snow.
Curious About Snow
BY GINA SHAW
Do you have a budding snow scientist on your hands? Curious About Snow is a fun and informative book that helps answer all of those first hows, whats, and whys about the snow falling from the sky.
Snow
BY URI SHULEVITZ
Snow is another classic on our list and is sure to be a book to reach for each winter. As the snowflakes begin to fall, Snow reminds us that sometimes the forecast is wrong, all you need is a little hope for a big snow.
Winter is for Snow!
By Robert Neubecker
Another favorite of ours is Winter is for Snow! Through the book, the brother in the story playfully works to convince his sister, who would rather stay inside, that winter is for fun, friends, and more through a series of real and imaginative adventures.
Snow!
BY ROY MCKEE & P.D. EASTMAN
Snow! is a fun and rhyming story about the joy of walking outside to find it is a snow day and playing with friends. From igloo making to snowball throwing, this beginner book will help you feel the joy that a snow day can bring from each turn of the page.
Spots Snowy Day
BY ERIC HILL
Last, but certainly not least, join the legendary Spot in his adventures in the snow, from sledding, to ice-skating, to building snowmen. Spots Snowy Day is perfect for the littlest readers and will be a classic on your bookshelf for years to come!