Top 10 picture books for winter
With the chilly season now in full flow and the nights drawing in, here are some of our favourite wintry picture books to snuggle up and read with the little ones.
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A Dot in the Snow
Author: Corrinne Averiss Illustrator: Fiona Woodcock
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 5+Miki the polar bear cub is bored: mum is fishing on the ice, but he wants to play. He sees a red dot, far in the distance: what could it be?
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The Snow Beast
Author: Chris Judge
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 5+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.
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Lines
Author: Suzy Lee
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Interest age: 6+
A winter-themed wordless picture book about a skating girl that is both deceptively simple and completely delightful.
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Raven Child and the Snow Witch
Author: Linda Sunderland Illustrator: Daniel Egneus
Publisher: Templar
Interest age: 5+
Reading age: 5+A stunningly illustrated story, reminiscent of Hand Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen, Anya's quest to find her mother and her befriending of animal friends along the way is a mythic tale you'll want to return to every winter.
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The Storm Whale in Winter
Author: Benji Davies
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 5+The follow up to Benji Davies' The Storm Whale, this atmospheric story about friendship and family is perfect for cosy winter bedtimes.
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Brrrr: A Book of Winter
Author: Il Sung Na
Publisher: Meadowside Children's Books
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 5+When snow falls on the ground, and all the trees are bare, everything changes ... including the white rabbit!
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Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Author: Tim Hopgood
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 5+The words to the famous Christmas song by Peggy Lee are given new life in this beautiful new picture book by Tim Hopgood - and children (and grown ups) can sing along with the singalong CD included in the book, too.
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Robin's Winter Song
Author: Suzanne Barton
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 3-7
Reading age: 6+A beautifully illustrated story about the changing seasons.
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Hortense and the Shadow
Author: Natalia and Lauren O’Hara
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 5-7
Reading age: 6-8Hortense and the Shadow is deeply captivating and atmospheric. The message – that we all have a shadow side, and it’s part of us, not to be ignored and denied – is simply and effectively expressed. Ideal for winter bedtime reading.
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Snow Bear
Author: Tony Mitton Illustrator: Alison Brown
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 5+A small bear is searching for a winter home. Everywhere he tries is occupied, until he finds a cottage inhabited only by one small girl, who welcomes him inside.
