Best Books to Read With Your Kids This Winter

When it’s too cold to take a bike ride or play in the park with your kids, don’t fear – you’ve just made room for some group reading time! Reading with kids of all ages introduces them to new ideas and creates opportunities for lifelong memories.

Before you start making that fresh pot of hot cocoa be sure you have plenty of intriguing reads to choose from. Here are some of our favorite winter books for kids, both picture books for younger kiddos and chapter books for ages 7 to 12. Curl up under a blanket the next time it snows and read these new favorites with your children.

Picture Books

• Wolf in the Snow – Matthew Cordell, author of Another Brother, brings this moving, wordless tale to life. A small girl in a red parka becomes lost in a blizzard and stumbles upon a helpless wolf cub who has become separated from their pack. What unfolds is a reaffirming story about friendship, trust, and the power within. Wolf in the Snow is a great choice if you’re losing your voice, as the word count is zero!
• Toys Meet Snow – Toys Meets Snow by Emily Jenkins follows three household toys as they venture outside and encounter the delights of snow for the first time. The contrast between the clinical, scientific rubber ball and the sensitive, ethereal stingray makes for some delightful dialogue and character moments.
• Egg – Billed as a “graphic novel for preschoolers,” Egg, by Kevin Henkes, is an enduring book that teaches children the value of patience, love, and acceptance. The vivid colors and creative repetition of words will fascinate young readers. Parents will get a kick out of this picture book that’s relevant all year long.

Chapter Books

• Wonder – This sensational book is already adored by young readers nationwide, and was recently released as a major motion picture. Wonder, by R.J. Palacio, follows Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with a not-so-ordinary face. Told from multiple perspectives, the book showcases the struggles of individuals with physical deformities and imparts the importance of empathy and kindness.
• The Mighty Miss Malone – Christopher Paul Curtis’ The Mighty Miss Malone details the struggle of an African American family during the Great Depression, but don’t let that description deter you – the titular Deza Malone is sure to become one of your kid’s favorite all-time characters.
• The One and Only Ivan – A Newbery Medal winner that is both incredibly poignant and effortlessly funny, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate is one of the most engaging chapter books of the last decade. Be warned: this tale of a gorilla and a captive baby elephant is a tearjerker!

If you enjoyed this list you can check out Picture Keeper’s top recommended books for mom’s book club here!