Are you looking for some Winter children’s books to use in your classroom that includes literacy extension activities? This list may be just what you are looking for!
Winter is such a special season and is filled with some exciting literacy experiences to explore. You may have had the opportunity to read some of these wintery books already, but hopefully, some will be a new adventure for you and your kids. Whether you love the winter season or could live without it, try these engaging books and some of the extension activities suggested.
1. Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
When a boy observes that the snowman, he built the day before now looks droopy and disheveled, he imagines what happened to his snow creation during the night. Soon the boy pictures all the neighborhood snowmen gathered in the park for ice-cold cocoa, a snowball fight, a round of making snow angels and more.
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: “Our Snowmen at Night”
- “How Many Snowmen” Student Booklet
- “Snowmen at Night” Story Retelling
- Snowmen at Night Art Project
2. The Snowy Day by Ezra Keats
This beautiful Caldecott Medal winner takes the reader on a wonderful snowy adventure with a little boy named Peter. It is the season’s first snowfall. And Peter in his bright red snowsuit goes outside and makes footprints and trails through the snow. He is too young to join a snowball fight with older kids, so he makes a snowman and snow angels and slides down a hill to celebrate the first snowfall.
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: All About Winter
- Winter Word Bank
- Winter Letter & Beginning Sound Match Game
- Winter Roll & Cover Math Game
3. Now It Is Winter by Eileen Spinell
This delightful tale is about a mouse who yearns for spring where the sun shines and the ducks can swim. His mother reminds him all about the wonders of winter and what he can enjoy during this time of year. The author gently reminds all of us to look for happiness wherever you are.
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: What We Do in Winter
- Student Booklet: Winter Senses
- Counting Snowflakes Math Game
- Venn Diagram: Winter Activities/Spring Activities
4. The Mitten by Jan Brett
A Ukrainian folktale retold by Jan Brett is about a young boy who loses his mitten that is grandmother as made him in the snow. This lost mitten becomes a perfect home for so many woodland animals. The detailed illustrations in this story bring to life each of the beautiful characters.
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: “My Mitten is so a ______could fit in it!”
- Story Retelling: Act it Out
- Story Sequencing Cards
- Mitten Lacing Art Project
5. The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming
A beautiful illustrate picture book is a cumulative book to warm a cold winter day. Alive with swirling snow and lots of outdoor fun, the first ten days of winter bring special gifts for a special friend. This cumulative tale will have children chanting along as they discover all the trimmings needed for the most perfect snowman ever!
Literacy Extensions:
- “Winter Fun” Classroom Book
- Winter Sequencing Student Worksheet
- Winter Hat & Mitten Art Project
- Winter Number & Ten Frames
6. The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll
A sequel from his bestseller, The Biggest Pumpkin Ever, this book takes you on a mouse adventure to make the biggest snowman ever! The two main characters, Clayton and Desmond want to win the contest of making the biggest snowman but find out doing it alone is hard. In the end they decide to work together to make the biggest snowman ever!
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: How to Build a Snowman
- How to Build a Snowman Sequence Student Page
- Snowman Chain Art Project
- Snowman Build a Word Center
7. Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft
While watching winter’s snows blanket the Earth, what child has not wondered, ‘What will the rabbits do? Or the birds?’ This wonderfully simple find out Science book explains the many ways animals have of coping with harsh weather. The elegant illustrations perfectly evoke the season.
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: What We Do in Winter
- Student Booklet: Animals in Winter
- Winter Roll It! Read It!
- Winter Math Centers
8. Owl Moon by Jan Yolen
A Caldecott Medal award winning book is about how a young girl who goes out for a nighttime stroll with her father. It is a beautiful moonlit winter night, and they share some wonderful experiences and the magic of looking at owls all in one night. Owl Moon will easily be treasured by many children for years to come!
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: How to Build a Snowman
- My Winter Story Student Page
- Winter Make a Short Vowel Word Family
- Winter Math Dice Games
Finally, there are so many Winter children’s books you can choose from. From winter fiction to nonfiction the list of books is endless. Remember to pick the books that best fit the needs of your students or children and support your learning activities. Happy Reading!
Find some more literacy and extension activities in my store, The Teaching Scene by Maureen.
To read more blog topics check out my blog, “A Guide to Using Literature-Based Units of Study.”
