I hope you are enjoying the last few days of winter break, but if you are like me, you are in full planning mode. January may be a month full of logistical situations as so many of us face renewed pandemic-related challenges. All the more reason for me to help you find the resources you need fast. These winter-themed books are perfect for your preschool classroom or homeschool. You can find each one of these books on Amazon by clicking the affiliate linked title. Don’t miss our winter thematic units featured after the preschool winter books booklist. These activities are perfect for sending home if you are forced to teach remotely.

Preschool Winter Books

Penguins, Penguins, Everywhere! by Bob Barner is a fun rhyming book filled with simple facts about penguins. Toddlers love the bold illustrations, and I liked the points about penguins that sparked a desire to learn more about the animal. One of my favorite things about non-fiction books like this is that they look like stories, and they plant seeds of interest that can be launched into more in-depth inquiry. Great book for preschool through Kindergarten.

The Mitten by Jan Brett is such a sweet book about a mitten that somehow keeps stretching as more and more animals crawl inside. That is until the bear sneezes! The illustrations are busy in a beautiful way that will have your children finding new things every time you read this book. The fantastic thing about this book is how it appeals to such a range of ages. My classroom of 2 and 3-year-olds read this book the same week my son told me he had. He was 8! It’s a lovely book and one of my favorite winter books to read.

The Hat by Jan Brett is a cute tale with some profound messages. A little girl is hanging her wash to dry, and one of her socks blew off and ended up on a hedgehog’s head. It’s stuck, so the hedgehog makes the most of it. He is teased by the other animals but stands up for himself every time. Soon all the other animals want warm clothes on their heads too. The book is excellent for winter and farm themes.

Polar Bear Island by Lindsay Bonilla is a fantastic book. Sent to me by the publisher, this book is a kid-friendly look at immigration, innovation, and what it means to be inclusive. I love this book because it doesn’t shame Kirby, the polar bear, for being against change. It accepts that change is challenging but also beautiful.

Snowmen At Work by Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner is a fantastic book about the lives and all the jobs snowmen have while we humans sleep. They drive trucks, stock grocery shelves, fix other snowmen’s teeth… everything we do, they do too. My students love the parts of the story when we visit a snow grocery store and the pet store. They both offer teachers a chance to talk about pets and food and involve their students by asking questions. Of course, with a class full of 3-year-olds, the page with the fire truck was a hit too! This book is fun and straightforward, and even though it’s longer than some, I’d use it for circle time. It’s so engaging that it works even with very young preschoolers.

Time To Sleep by Denise Fleming is a beautiful book about hibernation and the animals that make these long winter naps. I like this book because it’s simple and great for a zoom circle time that we are trying to keep short but engaging. The illustrations are lovely, and its simple text lends itself to so many extension activities, especially sequencing.

Snow Bear by Piers Harper is a sweet little story about a polar bear cub that gets lost and separated from his mother but is helped home by many generous friends. Students love this book, and I think they like the idea of independence and separation on their terms. Like the baby bear, they want adventure as long as it ends with a warm hug from mom. I can’t help but want to interject when reading this that not all strangers are that kind, but I usually talk about how we should never forget to stay where parents and caregivers can see us.

Winter Is Here by Kevin Henkes is a simple little book with beautiful illustrations by Laura Dronzek. This husband and wife pair create lovely books perfect for classroom use. The detailed images help you teach your class about the seasonal changes as winter arrives. I love using this book to reiterate learning when we come back to school after winter break and start seeing seasonal changes with our own eyes.

Snow Sounds: An Onomatopoeic Story by David A. Johnson is a wonderful book about onomatopoeia, and even though I did not tell my son that that was the point of the book when we were done reading, and I asked for his thoughts, he said, “I liked all the words that are sounds.” The teachable moment was not lost. I loved the illustrations that made me want to put the kettle on and grab some fuzzy slippers.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is a classic. Some classics are books that lose their relevance and leave readers wondering what the hype is about. This book is timeless. A little boy goes exploring in the snow and discovers his world in a new way. The illustrations are magical, and the way they convey the emotions this little boy experiences throughout the day is nothing short of perfect.

Here Comes Jack Frost by Kazuno Kohara is another fantastic book that will have you aching for snow. A little boy is lonely after his friends have all hibernated for the winter when Jack Frost shows up. They frolic and play, exploring all the fun that winter has to offer friends, but Jack is gone when the first signs of spring arrive. The illustrations are straightforward and will suck you into a wintery world that you won’t want to leave. My kids love this book, and after one reading at the library, we bought our copy.

Under and Over the Snow by Kate Messner is a favorite. I use it to teach all about hibernation and how different parts of nature handle seasonal changes in their way. Children love seeing how the secret world of hibernating animals is busy below ground as we all play and ski above them. This is a longer book, and in the past, I’ve chosen to read and skip some pages during group times, as I saw fit based on my group.

I wasn’t sure how many teachers were familiar with this book, so I posted on my No Time For Flash Cards Facebook page to test the waters. Yep, so many teachers love it too. Suppose you aren’t familiar with Ten On A Sled by Kim Norman, illustrated by Liza Woodruff. In that case, it is a beautiful book that uses fun rhymes and alliteration to revamp the old tune of Ten In A Bed. Arctic animals all pile on a sled, and as they zoom down the snowy slope, each one falls off with a fun and descriptive verb. It is a complete blast to read aloud.

Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak is a great book to show the seasonal changes between autumn and winter. The simple text is perfect for circle time, where you ask your students what changes they have noticed as the seasons have changed. Follow that simple activity up with reading and see if there are changes in the book they don’t see and vice versa.

Poles Apart by Jeanne Willis is my newest book purchase. As a preschool teacher, it drives me bonkers when people make crafts or stories where a polar bear and penguins are friends unless, like in Poles Apart, they specifically talk about how these two animals live on opposite ends of the earth. This story is hilarious and perfect for a PreK class. In the story, the penguin family gets a little lost and ends up in the Arctic. A friendly polar bear helps them get back home but not before they have an epic adventure through multiple countries. I love the travel aspect of this story, and following up a read-aloud with a map activity would be perfect! I love this book!