“Picture books are the campfire story of the reading world. They’re warm, they’re inviting, they’re the perfect stories to bring people together… Sometimes reading should be more about the experience, about taking a brief moment in time and sharing a story with a loved one, parent, or friend.” This wonderful quote came from the article Why I Will Never Stop Reading Picture Books with My Kid by Tom Burns.
Take some time this winter to experience a picture book with your entire family: adults, teens and kids. To get you started I have created a list of books my family has enjoyed.
- “Best in Snow” by April Pulley Sayre: The photographs in this book are beautiful and show a variety of wildlife seen in the winter. I shared this book with my elderly mother and we had a wonderful time looking at the pictures and talking about what she sees outside her window, particularly deer and squirrels.
- “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost: Susan Jeffers gives her interpretation of the classic Robert Frost poem with her wonderful wintry illustrations.
- “Winter Lights: A Season in Poems and Quilts” by Anna Grossnickle Hines: The author created beautiful quilts which were photographed to illustrate her outstanding poetry.
- “A Year in Nature: A Carousel Book of the Seasons” by Hazel Maskell: This is a pop-up book that as an adult, I enjoyed as much as the kids did. The pictures include small details and the words that accompany them tell about the changes that occur for plants and animals in the woods during each season. It is definitely worth sharing with all ages.
- “Cold, Crunchy, Colorful: Using Our Senses” by Jane Brocket: This book uses vivid photographs as an invitation to use all your senses, and it provides plenty of opportunity for discussion. This isn’t specifically a winter book but a good reminder to use all your senses in exploring the world around you, whether it be indoors or outside.
For more winter picture books to share see my list Picture Books for Everyone: Winter.
