Top 10 picture books for winter

Hortense and the Shadow

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.

  • A Dot in the Snow

    A Dot in the Snow

    Author: Corrinne Averiss Illustrator: Fiona Woodcock
    Publisher: Oxford University Press
    Interest age: 3-6
    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?

  • The Snow Beast

    The Snow Beast

    Author: Chris Judge
    Publisher: Andersen Press
    Interest age: 3-5

    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. 

  • Lines

    Lines

    Author: Suzy Lee
    Publisher: Chronicle Books
    Interest age: 6-8

    A winter-themed wordless picture book about a skating girl that is both deceptively simple and completely delightful.

  • Raven Child and the Snow Witch

    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.

  • The Storm Whale in Winter

    The Storm Whale in Winter

    Author: Benji Davies
    Publisher: Simon & Schuster
    Interest age: 4-6
    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.

  • Brrrr: A Book of Winter

    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!

  • Walking in a Winter Wonderland

    Walking in a Winter Wonderland

    Author: Tim Hopgood
    Publisher: Oxford University Press

    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.

  • Robin's Winter Song

    Robin's Winter Song

    Author: Suzanne Barton
    Publisher: Bloomsbury
    Interest age: 3-7
    Reading age: 6+

    A beautifully illustrated story about the changing seasons.

  • Hortense and the Shadow

    Hortense and the Shadow

    Author: Natalia and Lauren O’Hara
    Publisher: Puffin
    Interest age: 5-7
    Reading age: 6-8

    Hortense 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.

  • Snow Bear

    Snow Bear

    Author: Tony Mitton Illustrator: Alison Brown
    Publisher: Bloomsbury
    Interest age: 3-5

    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.