Snow and Winter Children’s Books–2023 recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.
Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
Out Cold-A Little Bruce Book (Mother Bruce Series)
by Ryan T. Higgins (Author)
- Publisher ā : ā Disney Hyperion
- Year: 2023
- Grade: Prek-2
- Hardcover picture book ā : ā 32 pages
- Dimensions ā : ā 7.24 x 0.34 x 7.26 inches
- ISBN-10 ā : ā 1368090222
Brief summary: Winter has come to Soggy Hollow. Poor Bruce has a cold and is stuck inside with his mice friends, Nibbs, Thistle, and Rupert. After playing outside, the mice thought it would be nice to bring the snow activities inside for Bruce to enjoy. I wonder if Bruce will enjoy them…
Comments: What can I say? I love the humor of grumpy Bruce. He reminds me so much of myself.
Rating: 3.5/5 ššš 1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
I’m Going to Build a Snowman
by Jashar Awan (Author, Illustrator)
- Publisher ā : ā Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Year: 2023
- Grades: Toddler–2
- Hardcover picture bookā : ā 48 pages
- ISBN-10 ā : ā 166593817X
Brief summary: A little boy wakes to see that it has snowed. After eating his breakfast and putting on all of his snow gear, he is determined to build the BEST SNOWMAN EVER.
Comments: The story explores how one’s expectations may not be realistic but still can be enjoyable in a positive mindset.
Rating: 4/5 šššš
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The Snow Man: A True Story
by Jonah Winter (Author), Jeanette Winter (Illustrator)
- Publisher ā : ā Beach Lane Books
- Year: 2023
- Grades: 1-4
- Hardcover ānarrative nonfiction picture book : ā 40 pages
- ISBN-10 ā : ā 1665932392
Brief summary: billy barr (he prefers all small letters) lives ALONE in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, eight miles from the nearest town. He first moved there as a college student in 1972 for the summer. He lived in an abandoned shack with dirt floors and no electricity or running water. He began to take meticulous notes of all of the wildlife and weather of the mountains.
He stayed for fifty-one years and is still there.
The scientists at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory used his notes and observations, all written in notebooks, to chart how the mountains’ climate was changing. He still takes notes but enters them into a computer.
Comments: There is an Author’s Note in the back explaining billy barr in more detail.
I had so many questions while reading this biography. Why is he a hermit? What made him go there? Why did he stay so long? Would I want to live like that? What would that be like? Can I get my library up there? And could I bring all of my cats?
This biography picture book could spark some interesting classroom discussions.
Rating: 4/5 šššš
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Below is a short film made about Billy Barr in 2016 called The Snow Guardian by Day’s Edge Productions.
Winter: A Solstice Story (The Solstice Series)
by Kelsey E. Gross (Author), Renata Liwska (Illustrator)
- Publisher ā : ā Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
- Year: 2023
- Grades: PreK-2
- Language ā : ā English
- Hardcover ā : ā 32 pages
- ISBN-10 ā : ā 1665908130
Brief summary: Owl calls down from the top of a pine tree to the creatures of the forest asking who can help brighten the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. Each forest animal contributes something to the pine tree as it shines with the full moon upon it.
Comments: This is a gentle and quiet book that could be read as a bedtime story.
Rating: 3/5 ššš
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Just SNOW Already!
by Howard McWilliam (Author, Illustrator)
- Publisher ā : ā Flashlight Press
- Year: 2023
- Grades: PreK-3
- Hardcover picture books ā : ā 32 pages
- ISBN-10 ā : ā 1947277987
Brief summary: A boy excitedly waits for the snow expected that evening in his neighborhood. He dreams of all the wonderful things he will do in the snow. He keeps checking out the window, not noticing all of the stupendous things taking place on his street, believing that nothing is happening because there is no snow yet.
He begins to wonder what it would mean if it never snowed again.
Comments: The details in these illustrations are action-packed and hilarious. I love the boy’s giant head and all of his facial expressions. This would be a fantastic read-aloud for kids, especially the day before the first snowfall of the year.
Rating: 4.5/5 šššš 1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
On a Flake-Flying Day: Watching Winter’s Wonders
by Buffy Silverman (Author)
- Publisher ā : ā Millbrook Press ā¢
- Year: 2023
- Grades: Toddler-1st
- Library Binding ā narrative nonfiction picture book: ā 32 pages
- ISBN-13 ā : ā 979-8765605028
Brief summary: When winter arrives, nature changes in many ways to prepare for snow.
Comments: There are large and brilliant Nature photos in this narrative nonfiction picture book.
The back section includes the question: What can you see on a white winter’s day? and then in-depth answers correlating to the pages before, Further Reading, and Glossary.
Rating: 3.5/5 ššš1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.