Mon, February 9, 2026

Every Winter Book Is a New Adventure

There is no better fix for chasing away winter blues than getting cozy with a warm blanket and a stuck-inside preschooler asking for a snowy adventure. A few books, some milk, tea or cocoa, and a view of the real-feel weather create a just-right setting for these titles.

Some are classics, others are less-known-but-deserving examples of how to bestow creativity and cred to the winter season before the big thaw leading to spring arrives (see “The Happy Day,” the list’s last title).

To start your read-aloud journey, build a soft fort with a few comfy pillows and share this fun fact from the New York Public Library with your snow bunny/bunnies: The most requested title in the history of the NYPL is the children’s classic “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats. Nearly half a million checkouts!

Peter, the book’s main character, ventures out in the snow, leaves boot tracks and snow angel prints, watches snowballs tossed, then packs a snowball of his own to take home. Most young listeners will recognize that the snow will melt, but love making the prediction and waiting to see what happens.

“Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King” (Jean Marzollo and J. Brian Pinkney)

“Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King” warms the hearts of the youngest readers by introducing a real live hero (not an action character of Marvel or DC Comics fame) whose life is remembered and celebrated every January for the beliefs and changes he insisted would make the world a better place.

“I Carry Your Heart with Me” (e. e. cummings and Mati McDonough)

“I Carry Your Heart with Me” is a simple expression of love for any time and all time, especially when valentine hearts are part of the winter landscape. Each page expresses the strength of love in the simplicity of words and pictures.

“Supertruck” (Stephen Savage)

“Supertruck” mysteriously appears just in time and just as needed when a big city comes to a complete halt after a nighttime snowfall shuts down the streets, schools, and stores people need. What a relief to know there are systems we can count on to keep us safe and sheltered.

“Dream Big, Little Pig” (Kristi Yamaguchi and Tim Bowers)

“Dream Big, Little Pig” tells a story of perseverance as Poppy, a pig with Olympic dreams, keeps skating and spinning and jumping on the ice while making her way to the rink – and the podium. “You can do it” is such good encouragement that Poppy starts to believe the message herself as much as others do.

“Blizzard” (John Rocco)

“Blizzard” begins with a few flakes – pretty, but harmless – and ends with a full flurry of snow-cover everywhere. The storm builds and mounds to become remembered as an historic, never-forgotten blizzard delivering 53 inches of snow.

“And Tango Makes Three” (Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, and Henry Cole)

“And Tango Makes Three” shows just what winter animals (in this case penguins) do to stay healthy and warm during the icy weather. Whether taking a polar plunge, frolicking on the bergs, or simply hanging with their two penguin dads, there is warm well-being.

“Snowflake Bentley” (Jacqueline Briggs Martin and Mary Azarian)

“Snowflake Bentley” lets kids in on the secret that snowflakes are unique works of art. No two are alike! It took years to record this finding using cameras and microscopes, finally proving in the case of snowflakes (and people!), individual beauty is very real, though sometimes slightly fleeting.

“The Happy Day” (Ruth Krauss and Marc Simont)

“The Happy Day” proves that things change with the patterns and rhythms of the seasons, and if winter seems never-ending, read this story for a (full disclosure) breath of spring.

Purchase these books and see more PLNY book suggestions on our Bookshop.org affiliate page!