It’s winter where I live, so the thought of snowy days fills my mind. I also read recently that the classic picture book, The Snowy Day, was the most requested book from the New York Public Library ever. So it made me think, what newer books are out there that explore fun in the snow. If you have any favorites, please add them in the comments!
Into the Snow
Author: Yuki Kaneko
Illustrator: Masamitsu Saito
Publisher/Date: Enchanted Lion Books/2016
Ages: 3-7
Themes: snowy days, sledding, playing
Short Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Into the Snow is an exuberant story told in the child’s own voice. Celebrating immediacy and exploration, along with the tender bond between mother and child, this is a story that feels good, the way all real things do.
Masamitsu Saito was born in 1958 in Japan. He studied graphic design at Tama Art University. His work can be found in magazines, on chocolate packages, and inside wonderful books.
Yuki Kaneko is an artist, naturalist, translator, and author. She grew up in Japan, and now lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.
Read a review at Kirkus Reviews.
Red Sled
Author & Illustrator: Lita Judge
Publisher/date: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster/2011
Ages: 2-5
Themes: sledding, wilderness, wildlife, winter magic
Short Synopsis (from Goodreads):
In this almost wordless picture book, a host of woodland creatures take a child’s sled for a nighttime joy ride. Their whimsical ride is gorgeously depicted in bold watercolor, complemented by humorous expressions and pitch-perfect sound effects. With a timeless tone and classic characters, RED SLED will become a wintertime favorite.
Read a review at Kirkus Reviews.
I paired these books because both present the joys of experiencing snowy days (and nights) and the wintry landscape.
Looking for similar reads? See Toys Meet Snow: Being the Wintertime Adventures of a Curious Stuffed Buffalo, a Sensitive Plush Stingray, and a Book-loving Rubber Ball (Emily Jenkins & Paul O. Zelinsky/2015), The Snowy Day (Ezra Jack Keats/1962), and the story of its creator, A Poem for Peter (Andrea Davis Pinkney & Lou Fancher & Steve Johnson/2016). And see even more choices in this list curated by the folks at Brightly.
Wander, Ponder, Write 