These winter read-aloud books are a fantastic way to enjoy the cold winter months with your homeschoolers!
Nothing beats bundling up by the fireplace with a blanket, some hot cocoa, and some wonderful winter read-aloud books with your kids on a cold winter morning!
{{Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission if you click through or purchase at no cost to you. For more information, click here.}}
In this article, you’ll find winter read-alouds about the following topics:
- Snow and snowmen
- Winter animals
- Other favorite winter stories for kids
- Nonfiction read-alouds
Most of the books are perfect for a kindergarten through a second-grade reading level, but even kids in older grades may enjoy the opportunity to read these great winter picture books!
Also, all of the books you’ll see here are conveniently available on Amazon. In our opinion, they’re all worth adding to your homeschool bookshelf.
But if you’d like to preview them first, you can probably find most of these great winter read-alouds at your local library too!
Winter Read-Alouds about Snow and Snowmen
1.Snowmen at Work by Caralyn Buenher
Our very favorite winter books are ALL of the Snowmen books by Caralyn Buehner! The clever rhyming text and whimsical illustrations are so enjoyable.
Also, each book in the series is full of hidden pictures on every page, so be sure to check out the back pages to see what you can find.
(There are 5 total Snowmen books in the series. If you want an easy way to snag four out of the five, check out this Snowmen Galore hardcover boxed set!)
2. How to Catch a Snowman by Adam Wallace
This new book, published in 2020, is a fun addition to the New York Times and USA Today best-selling How to Catch a … series!
Additionally, have your kids get really involved by inviting them to help guess the delightful rhyming words that are coming next in the story!
3. Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright
Thanks to lots of repetition in the text, there are plenty of ways to involve your kids in reading this cute winter read-aloud! Have them repeat with you, or pretend to shiver or sneeze as you read.
4. The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll
In this cute story, Desmond and Clayton, two young mice set out to win the town competition by creating the biggest snowman.
As they work hard and face difficulties, they make some great decisions that teach kids the power of teamwork and compromise.
5. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
One of the most-beloved winter read-alouds of all time, The Snowy Day was the 1963 winner of the Caldecott Medal.
Let your kids savor the bright and bold illustrations and the simple story of Peter on the first snowy day of the year.
Free Printable Library
If you haven’t joined our FREE Printable Resource Library here at the Reluctant Homeschool Mama, simply click right here or on the image below!
Inside you’ll find over 50 resources and printables to help you organize your homeschool and enrich your kids’ homeschool learning!
6. Snow by P.D. Eastman
Modeled after the writing style of Dr. Seuss, this Beginner Book is a ton of fun for kids!
And since it was published in 1962, it might bring back some favorite childhood memories for you too!
7. There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow by Lucille Colandro
Kids really enjoy this clever play on the well-known There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly!
Plus, there’s a big surprise at the end!
8. The Giving Snowman by Julia Zheng
This beautifully illustrated book has the look and feel of a classic!
Also, it’s perfect to help kids understand the importance of gratitude during a time of year when they may be more focused on the commercial aspects of the holidays!
9. The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett
True to her signature style, Jan Brett puts an incredible amount of detail into each illustration throughout the entire story!
As you read this book about a hedgehog who attempts to hibernate for winter, be sure to spend some time looking at the illustrations in the side margins – you’ll find a story there too!
10. Just a Snowman by Mercer Mayer
If you have a Little Critter lover in your house, you don’t want to miss this cute addition to the series!
Young kids can resonate with Little Critter’s desire to build his own snowman, and the frustration he feels due to all the things he must do before he can begin.
11. Snow by Uri Shulevitz
This beautiful 1999 Caldecott Honor book is a can’t miss!
Kids will love the story of a boy who just knows that one little snowflake will transform his town into a wintry wonderland!
Related article: 25 Fantastic Kindergarten Read-Aloud Books Your Kids Will Love
Animal Winter Read-Aloud Books
12. One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo
In this wonderful Caldecott Honor book & Goodread Choice nominee, a young boy named Elliott brings a penguin home from the zoo, unbeknownst to his father.
As Elliott hilariously cares for his penguin, he learns his father has a big secret of his own!
13. One Winter’s Day by M. Christina Butler
Of all of the winter read-alouds on this list, One Winter’s Day may be the most difficult to find online, so be sure to look for it at your local library!
This sweet story illustrates the importance of sharing and kindness and features a fun touch-and-feel element as well.
14. The Adventures of Polo: A Picture Book by Regis Faller
This fun picture book doesn’t contain any text! Instead, it’s comprised only of pictures of a dog on a grand adventure, including a stop at an iceberg.
It may not be the most winter-themed book here, but making up the story to match the illustrations is such a great way to connect with your kids on a cold winter afternoon that we just had to include it!
15. The Mitten by Jan Brett
Perhaps one of the most quintessential winter read-alouds, this beautiful book tells the story of what happens when young Nicki drops his mitten in the woods.
One by one different woodland animals try to squeeze into the mitten. Be sure to spend some extra time savoring the detailed illustrations with your kids!
16. Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story by Sean Taylor
This sweet book also has the feel of a modern classic. With beautiful illustrations, kids can learn how the earth and animals prepare for the cold winter months of the year.
As the story unfolds, your kids can spot different woodland animals. Then you can read about their winter behaviors on the information pages included in the back.
17. Cozy by Jan Brett
Jan Brett’s newest book does not disappoint! Cozy is an Alaskan musk-ox who gets separated from his family during a severe winter storm.
As always, Jan Brett’s books deserve extra time for their beautiful and highly-detailed illustrations.
18. Winter Dance by Marion Dane Bauer
This lovely book illustrates what different animals do to prepare for the coming winter months. But the fox is unsure what he ought to do himself.
With lots of repetitive text, this book is perfect for pre-readers to begin predicting what words come next.
Favorite Winter Story Books for Kids
19. The Thing About Yetis by Vin Vogel
This cute book details all of the things yetis love about winter … and all the things they think they love about summer too!
20. Silverlicious by Victoria Kann
If you have a Pinkalicious fan at your house, this cute installment details what happens when Pinkalicious loses her first tooth.
Although it isn’t the most winter-themed book ever, my girls wouldn’t let me leave it off of this list!)
21. Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
The beautifully illustrated rendition of Robert Frost’s classic poem is well worth adding to your homeschool bookshelf!
22. The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellogg
Renamed from the former title of The Mystery of the Missing Red Mitten, this sweet book tells the story of Annie, a little girl who loses her mitten while playing in the snow.
A favorite of many librarians, this book is full of highly-detailed and engaging illustrations.
23. Lemonade in Winter by Emily Jenkins
This book tells the story of a brother and sister who start a lemonade stand in the middle of winter!
There are lots of great ways for kids to interact with story and to reinforce their counting and money skills too!
24. The Mitten Tree by Candace Christiansen
The Mitten Tree is an endearing story about Sarah, an elderly woman who sees a need and decided to spread kindness and do something good for others.
This book is a great way to start a holiday collection drive or another worthy Christmas service project!
Related article: How to Easily Create a Fabulous Homeschool Library
Non-Fiction Winter Read-Alouds
Who says non-fiction books aren’t great for reading out loud?!
These awesome non-fiction winter read-alouds are fantastic options to help your kids learn about the winter solstice, how snow is formed, and more!
25. The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
This beautifully illustrated book accompanies the poem “The Shortest Day,” and describes how early humans would prepare for the winter ahead.
26. Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pack
In this book, a brother and sister observe many of the changes happening in nature all around them as the season changes from fall to winter.
This is a great story, especially if you live in a place that may not have all four seasons of the year!
27. The Story of Snow by Jon Nelson Ph.D.
The Story of Snow can answer all of your kids’ questions about snowflakes and snow!
There’s also a section that includes instructions on how to properly catch a snowflake.
28. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
This awesome Caldecott Medal-winning biography tells the story of Wilson Bentley, a scientist from Vermont who dedicated his life to studying snowflakes.
29. What’s a Season? Winter by Kelly Grettler
This cute rhyming book helps kids appreciate all of the unique things that happen during wintertime.
Final thoughts about these great winter read-aloud books:
We hope you enjoy this list of great winter-read alouds for kids!
If you have any other titles you’d like us to add to our list, please let us know in the comments below!
Related articles about awesome books for kids:
35 Fabulous Books Your Middle-Schooler Needs to Read
15 Amazing History Book Series for Your Homeschool
15 Awesome Educational Toys to Make Homeschooling Easier
Pin the image below to easily return to this list of winter read-alouds for kids when you need it!
Have you read any of these winter read-aloud books with your kids before?
