Picture Books To Enjoy This Winter

Today I have a winter wonderland of books that are perfect for you and your little readers to cozy up to...

The Shortest Day 

by Susan Cooper and illustrated by Carson Ellis 

Candlewick Press 

In this seasonal treasure, Newbery Medalist Susan Cooper’s beloved poem heralds the winter solstice, illuminated by Caldecott Honoree Carson Ellis’s strikingly resonant illustrations. 

 As the sun set on the shortest day of the year, early people would gather to prepare for the long night ahead. They built fires and lit candles. They played music, bringing their own light to the darkness, while wondering if the sun would ever rise again. Written for a theatrical production that has become a ritual in itself, Susan Cooper’s poem "The Shortest Day" captures the magic behind the returning of the light, the yearning for traditions that connect us with generations that have gone before — and the hope for peace that we carry into the future. Richly illustrated by Carson Ellis with a universality that spans the centuries, this beautiful book evokes the joy and community found in the ongoing mystery of life when we celebrate light, thankfulness, and festivity at a time of rebirth. Welcome Yule! 

The Boy and the Bear 

by Sarah Massini 

Nosy Crow 

When a lonely little boy receives an invitation to play written on a paper boat, it seems that he has finally found the best friend he’s been longing for. But Bear isn’t quite the playmate the boy had imagined. Bear may not know how to play games, but when he starts to build a tree house, the boy is intrigued and a magical summer begins. As autumn passes and the first winter snowflakes start to fall, the boy is left alone. Only then does he truly realize how much he misses Bear. It's a happy reunion when Bear finally returns in the spring. 

A Day for Skating 

by Sarah Sullivan and illustrated by Madeline Valentine 

Candlewick Press 

  

In a sweet rhyming tale, a young child’s first skating adventure on a frozen pond ends with a cozy bedtime story. 

On a brisk winter’s day, the frozen pond is crisscrossed by figure skaters, hockey players, new skaters, and old pros, all gliding across the ice. It’s time to bundle up, lace your skates, and give it a try — then head inside for cocoa and snacks when your cheeks grow rosy and your toes are cold. Back at home, warm bedtime rituals make for the end of a perfect day. But when darkness falls at the pond, who will come out to skate? 

Snow Leopard: Ghost of the Mountains 

by Justin Anderson and illustrated by Patrick Benson 

Candlewick Press 

  

Look! A line of paw prints in the snow. Follow the tracks to see the rare and utterly majestic snow leopard and visit her secret world. 

  

The people who live among the high peaks of the Himalayas tell stories of a mysterious animal called the gray ghost. To see one, you’d have to be very lucky indeed. Join a zoologist in the Himalayan mountains as he searches for the elusive creature. With her pale gold and silver-gray coat painted with black rosettes, she blends so well into the boulders, it’s no wonder she’s thought of as a ghost of the mountains. But the fortunate few who spot her are rewarded with a sight they will never forget. Written by an expert with firsthand experience, beautifully illustrated, and interwoven with fascinating facts, this vicarious look at a breathtaking animal includes an end note suggesting resources to explore. 

Snow Still 

by Holly Surplice 

Nosy Crow 

  

A little fawn wakes up to discover that the world outside has changed after a snowfall. As he takes his first faltering steps into this exciting snow-white world, he finds there’s so much to discover and explore. And when it’s time to return to the warmth of home, his parents are waiting right there for him. 

The Adventures of Moose and Mr Brown 

By Sir Paul Smith 

Illustrated by Sam Usher 

Pavilion Books 

This is the iconic international fashion designer Sir Paul Smith's very first children's picture book - and the first book in a new and exciting series. Written by Sir Paul and illustrated by the brilliant Sam Usher it is a beautiful, laugh-out-loud story of animals, travel, design and finding inspiration in the most unlikely of places.  Inspired by toys that Paul has owned for many years, the main characters are curious, charming and characterful.  Mr Brown is an international fashion designer, who meets Moose on a plane travelling to London. Moose is distraught as he has lost his twin brother Monty – who got on the wrong plane! Mr Brown agrees to help Moose track Monty down, and in return, Moose helps bring even more inspiration to Mr Brown's business.  They travel around the world, helping other animals with their designs (slippers for sloths, parkas for penguins, scarves for giraffes, and more) and looking for Monty. Will Mr Brown and Moose find Monty before Mr Brown's big catwalk show? 

Gross As A Snot Otter 

(The World of Weird Animals) 

By Jess Keating 

Random House 

The creators of Pink Is for Blobfish are back, and they've brought 17 of their most revolting friends: there are slippery, slimy snot otters, gulls that projectile-vomit on command, fish that communicate via flatulence, and chipmunks that cultivate healthy forests by pooping a trail of seeds wherever they go. But there's more to these skin-crawling creatures than meets the eye, and as zoologist Jess Keating explains, sometimes it's the very things that make us gag that allow these animals to survive in the wild. 

This Is Not That Kind of Book 

By Christopher Healy 

Illustrated by Ben Mantle 

Random House 

This is a book that answers all the kids who have ever posed the question What kind of book is it?  This clever alphabet book... Wait, that's not right. This original fairy tale... Nope. Mystery? Joke book? Superhero story? Pirate adventure? This delightful mash-up features every kind of character found in the picture-book universe--all in one book. Just when the reader is convinced the story is going in one direction, it spins off in another.  Ever-changing illustrations keep pace with the rapid reversals, and the setting shifts with nearly every turn of the page. Truly inventive, here's a picture book that can be anything you want it to be! 

Roly Poly 

By Mem Fox 

Illustrated by Jane Dyer 

Beach Lane Books 

Roly Poly the polar bear gets a little brother he did not ask for, in this charming story about sibling rivalry and the bonds of family from the beloved picture book creators of Time for Bed, Mem Fox and Jane Dyer.  Roly Poly the polar bear loves being an only child. His bed is only his. The fish he catches are only his. And he doesn’t have to share his toy walrus tooth with anyone. But then along comes baby Monty. Roly Poly did not ask for a little brother and he certainly does not want one now! What is Roly Poly to do when Monty starts making him share his bed and fish and walrus tooth? 

**I received copies of the title above for review/feature purposes. All thoughts, opinions, reviews are my own.