Snow by Uri Shulevitz – One snowflake falls, then another and another. In no time the city is covered in white. The illustrations in this book are fantastic (1999 Caldecott Honor) and it’s a quick read that impatient little ones will enjoy.
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs – This has been a long time favorite of mine. It’s a wordless picture book and the illustrations are beautiful. I love wordless picture books, they allow for a fun dialogue to happen between parent and child while ‘reading’ them. There is also a video version of this book set to one of my favorite pieces of music. Both book and movie are worth getting your hands on.
Snowmen at Night, Snowmen All Year and Snowmen at Work by Caralyn & Mark Buehner – This husband/wife team continues to come up with great picture books for their snowmen series. The latest, Snowmen at Work is about all the different jobs snowmen do in their magical nighttime world. The illustrations in all of the Buehner’s snowmen books are so fun with hidden pictures throughout for an added element of enjoyment for all ages.
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats – This classic is about a little boy who wakes up to a lot of snow outside that is just waiting for him to go out and play in. The illustrations are simple and bright (1962 Caldecott Winner) and have given my daughter lots of ideas about what she can do out in the snow.
Stella, Queen of the Snow by Marie-Louise Gay – I love, love, love Marie-Louise Gay’s illustrations. Even more, I love the characters Stella and Sam that she’s created. Stella is an enthusiastic red-head whose little brother is somewhat apprehensive about the wonders of world. Sam follows Stella around asking a slew of questions that Stella always has the best answer for.
The Mitten by Jan Brett – Jan Brett is an amazing author/illustrator. The Mitten is one of my favorites of hers. It’s about a little boy who loses his white mitten in the snow. The mitten is found by a parade of animals who are all trying to find a cozy place to snuggle up in, problem is, how many little (big) animals can fit in one mitten!?
Two other snowy books that I’m waiting to get my hands on are A Perfect Day by Carin Berger and Cold Snap by Eileen Spinelli and Marjorie Priceman. You may want to check them out too. I’m now feeling like I need a cup of hot cocoa and some snuggling time with my little ones to read some stories. Stay warm and happy reading!
Snowmen at Night are always fun to read, but my favorite is Stella. Marie-Louise Gay conveys the innocence and wonder that children see in the world, not to mention the imagination that they so blithely insert into it. Great picks, Brittany.