Favorite Picture Books About Snow for Kids

A young girl travels to her grandmother’s house after a snowfall and realizes that though the snow has muffled the usual city sounds, it has created new sounds and a transformation of her familiar world. The book points out “snow” sounds like the scrape of a shovel, the stomping of boots, a blue jay knocking off snow from a covered branch, and people brushing the snow off their cars. A very sweet book about the relationship between a girl and her grandmother and the wonders of winter. Ages 4-8.

A wonderful non-fiction picture book filled to the brim with snowflake photographs. Kids will love having all their snowflake questions answered in this excellent book. Ages 5-8.

A book inspired by the Blizzard of ’78 which enveloped the author’s Rhode Island town. The book tells the story of a young boy experiencing the excitement, and then the fears, of the enormous storm. The drifts that made it necessary to exit the house through a window soon make for a desperate situation. Days later food is running low and the plows still have yet to arrive. The young boy saves the day with clever tennis racket snowshoes and determination as he makes his way around town to deliver supplies to his family and neighbors. Ages 4-8.

Hedgie refuses to hibernate and miss winter. This books shares what happens when Hedgie finally gets the chance to view the wonders of winter...all from a cozy window sill perch! A fresh perspective on winter's beauty. Ages: 4-8.

A young boy, bored with winter, declares he hates the season. But things change when Jack Frost appears creating magic with frost and ice. The boy discovers the magic of winter as he chases Jack through the snow-covered world. The blue-and-white illustrations are a fun and unique accompaniment to the story. Ages 3-6.

A wonderful lighthearted imagining of what might happen when snowmen are left alone for the night. From sipping ice-cold cocoa to playing baseball, kids will love seeing what the snowmen come up with next! Ages 2-7.

A farmer settles down to a nap and dreams about being covered in snow! The hardcover edition of this book is my favorite because the snow pages are translucent and covered with snowflakes, but the book is also available in a board book.

This 1999 Caldecott Medal Winner begins with “a boy who loved snow more than anything else in the world.” Mary Azarian’s woodcut illustrations paired with the biography from Jacqueline Briggs Martin make for a winter picture book that will have you amazed both at Bentley’s scientific pursuits and the wonder of snow itself. Age range: 4-8 years.

Mrs. Bobbin has made the most beautiful dress for the duchess, but when she is unable to deliver it herself, her daughter Irene braves the snow. She carries an unwieldy dress box through wind and fast accumulating snow. This popular story does get quite intense as Irene battles the snowstorm and almost succumbs to the snow as she falls into a drift and nearly gives up. But love for her mother urges her onward and all ends well. Ages 4-8.

"Then, just when no one was looking, it came.
One flake, two flakes, five, eight, ten, and suddenly
the air was filled with soft powdery snowflakes,
whispering quietly as they sifted down."

A classic. Unique illustrations (winning a Caldecott Medal) and a story that takes the reader from the first snow all the way to spring. Can be a bit wordy in places. Ages 4-8.

Awarded the 1949 Caldecott Medal, The Big Snow is filled with tales of animals preparing for winter and what happens after a giant snowfall. The book features geese, a ground hog, cardinals, crows, squirrels and more. This book is a bit heavier on text than more recently published picture books and not all of the pages are full color. Ages: 6-9.

"Frost paints.
Skies gray.
Windows sparkle.
Snow? Yay!"

We learn from a chalkboard in the family's home that Grandma slept over on Sunday night and Monday was declared a snow day! The day is filled with snow, caring for the animals on the family's farm, time together as a family, and seeing the world outdoors "when the snow falls." A really lovely book with a story told in short rhymes. Ages 3-5, but I think 2 year-olds will love it too!

A reflective book on the fleeting magic of snow. Snow that draws us away from work and school to home where we are cozy-warm, or perhaps outdoors playing in the magical new land. Ages 4-7.

In this seasonal picture book, winter is falling from the sky. Sticking to trees. Dripping from roofs. Kids will relate to the page that reminds us, "It can take a long time to get ready for winter." Hat, coats, and mittens galore! Winter might seem like it will last forever, but before you know it, winter gets smaller and smaller until spring comes again. Ages 4-8.

All the magic of the first snow. A young child awakens in the middle of the night to find that snow is falling and rushes out to take part in the wonderland. Features a sparse text and illustrations that are black and white, save for the colorful red accents of the children's various snow gear. Ages 2-4.

Katy, a crawler tractor, is the pride of the city of Geoppolis. There seems to be nothing she can’t do, from pulling a steamroller out of a pond to plowing incalculable amounts of snow. When a giant snowfall descends on Geoppolis, Katy gets a chance to use her power and skill. Read and discover how she repeatedly saves the day in Geoppolis with her determination and persistence.

Walt is the city’s smallest snowplow and thus, consistently underestimated. When Gus, a driver, gives him a chance to plow with all his might, he is determined to prove he is up for the challenge. Young snowplow aficionados will enjoy the story that ensues. The retro-style illustrations (that recall Virginia Lee Burton’s classic, Katy and the Big Snow) are my favorite part. Ages 4-8.

A father and daughter cross-country ski through snow-covered woods discovering what is over and what is under the snow. From the first sighting of a red squirrel we learn there is a “secret kingdom” hidden underneath the surface of the snow. Readers will learn more about this and see the winter behaviors of deer, voles, bullfrogs, foxes, and more. Ages 4-8.

The Snowy Day is a classic. From the very first pages where Peter makes tracks in the snow, “like this”, then “like that”, to further on when he brings a snowball indoors (and is confused when he can’t find it later!), children will recognize and relate to the joy that a snow-covered world brings. A delightful story and a piece of history that deserves a place in your winter picture book collection. Age range: 2-5 years (but you can really read it with any age). Caldecott Award Winner.