Book Review: Books for Winter

Winter is on it's way.  Though I didn't see them, Jen told me there were some flurries on her way home yesterday.  We haven't put these books out for the kiddos just yet, because goodness knows winter will last long enough for us to read them many times, but they're ready for when we finally are willing to admit that winter has arrived.  

*You can see another review of winter books here.  I included some again in this list, without really thinking about it.

When Snowflakes Fall by Carl R. Sams and Jean Stoick
The close up photos of animals in this book and the Winter Friends (below) are pretty cool.  This book is about various animals preparing for the coming of winter.  The Bean likes talking about the animals and what they're doing, and Sprout loves books with real photos, so this appeals to her too.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keates
I love "classics" like this book.  I'm sure everyone here is familiar with this book already, but if you're not it's truly lovely.  The artwork bold and appealing, illustrating the main character, Peter's, activities on a snowy day.  

Winter Friends  by Carl R. Sams and Jean Stoick
As I mentioned above, the photos in this book are great.  It's a simple story with lots of animals to point out and make the noises for.  Both kids like this one.  

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, Illustrated by Jane Chapman
A super-cute rhyming book about a bear who sleeps through the winter while his other woodland animal friends seek reprieve from the snow.  Fun to read and to listen to.  Perfect for preschool-age.

Snow by Uri Shulevitz
This is a new one to us and the kids haven't heard it yet (it's intended to be a holiday gift).  That said, I think they're going to like it.  A little boy excitedly notices the snow beginning to fall and happily announces his discovery only to have everyone tell him that it's not really snowing.  But, of course, it is really snowing and so the little boy goes out to play in it.

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
This book has become favorite for everyone at our house.  So much so that The Bean has brought home drawings of "The City of Geopolis" from daycare.  For those not familiar with it, Katy is a crawler tractor who puts on her snowplow and helps plow out the city after the "big snow." Love. Love. Love.

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
This is also one we have tucked aside as a holiday gift.  I fell in love with the illustrations and being a bit of an animal geek I couldn't resist picking it up to share with The Bean hoping to inspire some discussion about what various creatures do during the winter months.  I think it's a little "old" for him, probably better suited to school-aged children, but I'm hoping we still get to enjoy it together.  

Zoe's Snowy Day by Barbara Reid
This is in the "Zoe" series.  The text is quite limited, but the plasticine pictures are unique.  There's a lot going on in the pictures to point out and name to your baby.  The Bean still enjoys this simple story and after having been read it a few times can recite it by memory.  Like her brother at this age, Sprout seems to enjoy looking at the pictures.

The Snow Day by Komoko Sakai
Another book I picked up after falling in love with the illustrations.  A little bunny wakes up to find the snow falling, falling, falling.  He stays home with his mother on the snow day and waits and waits for the snow to stop so he can go outside to play.  It's a little solemn  and it's apparent the little bunny is a bit worried about his dad who's plane home has been delayed because of the weather, but the ending is optimistic.  I think it's particularly nice for kids who live in urban settings (the bunny and his family live in an apartment) and for kids whose parents have to travel for business.

What books make your winter favourites list?