These are some really cute and fun stories to read with your kids in the winter. There are more out there, so keep coming back to check for new additions. If any catch your eye, just click to purchase immediately from Amazon! We get a small affiliate commission from Amazon that helps us with the costs of our website; thank you for helping to support us.
Christmas
Bear Stays up for Christmas by Karma Wilson - One of the beloved Bear Books, Bear’s friends are determined that they are going to help Bear stay awake so that he can celebrate Christmas. Will Bear think it was worth staying awake for?
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry - Mr. Willowby is thrilled when his Christmas tree is delivered to his house! He soon discovers a problem, however. It’s too big, and the top of the tree is bending at the ceiling! So, Mr. Willowby cuts off the top to make it fit and throws it away. The top of the tree then goes on a journey, supplying Christmas trees, and cheer, for bears, rabbits, and more, until finally ending up with a nice little mouse family, which just so happens to live in Mr. Willowby’s house!
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski - Jonathan Toomey is the best woodcarver around, but he’s also considered to be probably the most grumpy man around. No one knows about the sad secret that is the cause of Mr. Toomey’s gloom. When a widow and her young son ask the woodcarver to carve them a new nativity scene, Mr. Toomey has no idea how his life is about to change. A truly heartwarming story.
The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado - In this touching and timeless story, a crippled lamb named Joshua is used to being left behind because he can’t run like the other lambs or keep up with them. But one special Christmas, Joshua discovers that God has a special purpose even for him.
The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg - Have you ever wondered why candy canes are shaped and colored the way they are? Join the children in this story as they learn the legend behind the candy cane. When a mysterious man moves into town and starts working on an abandoned shop, everyone wonders who he is and why he has come. One day a young girl named Lucy discovers the mystery, not only about the new shop owner, but his new candy as well.
Annika’s Secret Wish by Beverly Lewis - Nothing was more exciting for Swedish children on Christmas Eve each year than being the lucky one to find the almond in their rice pudding. It meant you got to make a wish. Annika has been waiting her whole life for her turn to find the almond. Will this year be her year? A sweet story about sharing, giving, and loving others.
Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck - Rob would really like to get his father something special for Christmas this year. But what can he give him when he doesn’t have much money to spend? Plus, it’s Christmas Eve. How will he be able to find a gift that shows his father just how much he loves him? A beautifully told and illustrated story that wonderfully captures the spirit of Christmas.
Snowmen/Winter
“Snowmen at Night” by Caralyn Buehner - Ever wondered what snowmen do at night while all the people are fast asleep in their beds? This fantastic, imaginative story will not only show you what they do, but it will do so with glorious illustrations that are sure to capture your attention! See also “Snowmen at Play” , “Snowmen at Christmas”, and “Snowmen at Work”.
“The Missing Mitten Mystery” by Steven Kellogg - In this personal favorite of mine, Annie and her dog, Oscar, have been busy in the snow all day long. Suddenly, Annie realizes that her red mitten is missing, so she and Oscar go on a hunt to find it. They search everywhere, imagining every possible explanation for how it could’ve been lost. At the end of the day, Annie thinks her mitten must be gone for good…but is it?
“The Biggest Snowman Ever” by Steven Kroll - Yes, Desmond and Clayton are at it again! In this installment, the two mouse friends come together to win the town contest by building the “Biggest Snowman Ever”!
“100 Snowmen” by Jen Arena - A counting book that has a mission…get to 100 snowmen! The rhymes and fun equations in this story are sure to be a hit with your kids. Even though some equations will be too difficult, they will have tons of fun anticipating just how man snowmen there will be at the end!
“Sneezy the Snowman” by Maureen Wright - Sneezy the Snowman is trying very hard to warm himself up…only to keep melting! Thankfully, the children are there to help each time! Great illustrations in this funny book!
The Mitten by Jan Brett - In this classic story, Nicki drops his white mitten in the snow but doesn’t realize it. It isn’t long before animals from the forest begin to take refuge in the mitten, one by one. It starts with a mole, then a rabbit, and eventually a brown bear crawls inside. What will happen to the mitten when finally a tiny, brown mouse tries to climb inside?
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats - This Caldecott Medal winner beautifully captures the fun and curious adventures of a little boy in the city during the first snowfall.
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton - Katy is a brave and hardworking tractor. The only problem is that during the winter there isn’t usually much snow for Katy to help the town with. Finally, a blizzard covers the city in a heavy blanket of snow, and it’s up to Katy to come to the rescue to dig them out. Children will love celebrating with Katy as she finally has her shining moment!
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner - Following a father and his daughter as they make their way through the snow covered woods, children will enjoy discovering not only what there is to see over the snow, but all that happens under the snow as well, like the secret world of squirrels, rabbits, bears, and other animals.
Penguins
“Tacky the Penguin” by Helen Lester - Tacky the penguin is very different from his friends on the iceberg. They are perfect in almost everything they do; Tacky is not. Once Tacky finds a way to save the day, however, they all agree that Tacky may be an odd bird, but he’s “a nice bird to have around.” The Tacky Series from Helen Lester is filled with fun, and your kids will love following along with the hilarious antics of this “odd” penguin! Check out the whole series!
“One Cool Friend” by Toni Buzzeo - Elliot is a very well-mannered boy. One day while visiting the aquarium with his father, he politely asks if he can have a penguin. His father, seeing the stuffed ones nearby, agrees. Elliot, however, grabs a penguin from the pool and takes him home in his backpack. As he cares for his new friend at his house, we learn something very interesting about Elliot’s father.
“If You Were a Penguin” by Florence Minor - A simple rhyming picture book that offers great facts about penguins and lets children wonder just what it would be like if they were a penguin! Also, gorgeous illustrations from Wendell Minor.
“The Emperor’s Egg” by Martin Jenkins - The male Emperor penguin just might be the “Father of the Year” for the animal world. With wonderful illustrations from Jane Chapman, this picture book will fascinate children as they learn everything a daddy Emperor penguin does to take care of his baby.