Top picture books for winter

When the chilly season is in full flow and the nights start drawing in, there’s nothing like a cosy, wintry picture book to snuggle up and read with the little ones. Here are some of our favourites.

  • One Snowy Night

    by Nick Butterworth 

    2009 4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books

    This is a heartwarming story of animals in winter – the story teaches children to look and think about the world around them.

  • The Snowy Day

    by Ezra Jack Keats 

    1962 2 to 7 years 

    • Classics
    • Picture books

    When Peter wakes up one winter morning to find the world has turned white, he can’t wait to put on his snowsuit and get out into the snow.

  • The Beaver Who Saved Christmas

    by Will Millard, illustrated by Jo Lindley 

    2024 5 to 9 years 

    • Picture books

    Elin and her grandad must save a family of beavers after their habitat is filled with plastic and rubbish.A heartwarming story which includes lots of information and an activity inspiration.  

  • The Snow Beast

    by Chris Judge 

    2016 2 to 7 years 

    • Adventure
    • Picture books

    Somebody has been stealing the friendly snow beast’s tools, just when he’s about to help the local village put on a snow festival. 

  • The Storm Whale

    by Benji Davies 

    2013 4 to 9 years 

    • Picture books

    Noi finds a baby whale washed up on the beach after a storm and decides to take it home to care for it.

  • My Grandma’s Magic Recipes: Winter Warmth

    by Ella Phillips, illustrated by Camilla Sucre 

    2023 4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books

    Zee is excited to go to Grandma’s Christmas party, and when she gets to Grandma’s delicious-smelling house with Mummy, Daddy and her sister Ree, she goes looking for her. But, the party is busy, and Zee can’t find Grandma anywhere!

  • The Woodcutter and the Snow Prince

    by Ian Eagleton, illustrated by Davide Ortu 

    2022 4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books

    Kai the lonely woodcutter meets the cursed Snow Prince – but can they ever be friends?

  • Get Off, Bear!

    by Tony Neal 

    2023 4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books

    Bear wants to play on his sledge, but he’s stuck. His animal pals offer to help buy pushing and pulling but it’s no use. A fantastic introduction to the concept of forces.

  • Mi Wnes i Weld Mamoth! / I Did See a Mammoth!

    by Alex Willmore 

    2022 4 to 7 years 

    • Funny
    • Picture books

    A wonderfully funny picture book about daring to believe the unexpected. A group of explorers have come to the Antarctic to see penguins, but one young explorer discovers something quite different – a great big mammoth! But will anyone believe it?

  • Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story

    by Sean Taylor and Alex Morss, illustrated by Cinyee Chiu 

    2019 4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books

    This beautifully illustrated, large-format picture book perfectly blends a sweet story with fascinating facts about animals sleeping through winter. As it’s all about being cosy and sleepy, it makes a lovely bedtime book, but would also work well for schools. 

  • We Went to Find a Woolly Mammoth

    by Catherine Cawthorne, illustrated by Aysha Awwad 

    2023 4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books

    Join the children as they search for a woolly mammoth and discover lots of other giant Ice Age animals along the way! Charming and informative, with very cute illustrations. 

  • Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch

    by Barbara Cuoghi, illustrated by Elenia Beretta 

    2024 4 to 7 years 

    • Around the world
    • Myths and legends
    • Picture books

    This brilliantly creative book takes the form of letter addressed to the children of the world from Befana, a winter witch from Italian folklore who delivers presents (or coal) to children on the 6th of January.  

  • Anya’s Quest

    by Jasbinder Bilan, illustrated by Jane Ray 

    2024 5 to 9 years 

    • Around the world
    • Myths and legends

    In the wintery Himalayas, Anya and Mahi are swept away by the goddess Ganga on a journey to reconnect with their spirit animals and to spread a song of natural healing across the world. 

  • Tiger, It’s Snowing!

    by Daishu Ma 

    2024 5 to 9 years 

    • Picture books

    Tiger has never seen snow before and is excited to go out and play. But Mei isn’t sure… at first. A funny and charming story about adventure and friendship.