Snowy winter days often mean that children and teachers search out warm indoor activities. If it is too cold to go outside and play, try reading a selection of snow themed books. The books suggested in this article fit into a variety of classroom themes including weather, the environment, science, art, and world cultures.
Reading Books in the Early Childhood Classroom
Book reading activities are a great way to introduce basic early literacy concepts such as letter and sound recognition or simple conventions of the English language. These basic literacy skills are vital to a child as a growing learner. National early childhood organizations such as NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) espouse the importance of early literacy in documents such as The Position Statement on Learning to Read and Write.
Preschool teachers can help young children to develop key early literacy skills, and instill a love for books, by conducting regular reading or story times. In order to facilitate book reading as a positive and engaging experience it may be necessary for teachers to select narratives that focus on thematic matter that interests the children in the classroom. One such way to accomplish this is to tie book reading to a current classroom unit.
The books outlined in this article represent stories that mesh with a winter or snow theme. This list is by no means exhaustive, and teachers should be encourages to visit a local library for further winter themed options.
Snow and Winter Themed Children’s Books for Preschoolers
The books in this section include a variety of snow themed stories. Look for fun winter illustrations.
- Straight to the Pole by Kevin O’Malley [Walker & Company, 2003]: A little boy journeys through a snow storm only to be rescued by a dog and his friends. A comical look at snow storms.
- Snow Comes to the Farm by Nathaniel Tripp and Kate Kiesler [Candlewick Press, 2001]: A boy and his brother walk from their farm to the woods as they await a winter’s snow.
- Hello, Snow! By Hope Vestergaard and Nadine Bernard Westcott [Melanie Kroupa Books, 2004]: A little girl gets dressed to play in the snow. The story follows her as she builds a snowman, goes sledding, and drinks hot cocoa.
- Snow Music by Lynne Rae Perkins [Greenwillow Books, 2003]: Snow Music features beautiful winter illustrations and a sound based story. A great read for a sensory or hearing unit.
Geographic Places and Cultures in Winter Books
Books can take the reader to another place or time. The books in this section focus on geographic regions or other cultures.
- Winter Across America by Seymour Simon [Hyperion Books for Children, 1994]: This non-fiction book is an interest read for the more advanced preschool student who may be ready to sit for a longer period of time. It contains beautiful winter photographs of pristine natural spaces in America, and snowy birds and animals. Try using this with a science unit or reading selections as appropriate.
- In the Snow by Huy Voun Lee [Henry Holt and Company, 1995]: A story of a Chinese boy and his mother told through words and vibrant pictures. The narrative focuses on Chinese characters (letters) that are written on each page. A wonderful way to introduce the young student to another form of language from a different culture.
Children’s Snow Books and Art
Vibrant illustrations and artwork can inspire a child to engage with a story. Books filled with relatable art can also be used as an introduction to a class craft activity. The books in this section are childhood favorites that work well with simple shape and collage based art projects.
- The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats [Puffin Books, 1976]: This classic Caldecott Medal winner follows Peter on a snow filled day. Use the illustrations as a starting point for a snow flake making project or a winter collage activity.
- Snowballs by Lois Ehlert [Voyager Books, 1995]: Use buttons, paper, fabric, and more to construct cool snowman collage creations after reading this winter story.
Reading in the preschool classroom is a great way to introduce young children to multiple concepts. During the winter season, try selecting a snow theme book that ties in with the classroom curriculum. Look for general winter books, books that inspire creative art activities, or a book that explains other places and cultures.
