BOOK MARKED
12 Children’s Books
About Winter
With the advent of virtual school, snow days
may be a thing of the past, but these wintery
books may have readers wishing for one
anyway. Warm up the cocoa, wrap up in a
cozy blanket and enjoy!
BY JENNIFER ROTHSCHILD, COLLECTION ENGAGEMENT LIBRARIAN,
ARLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
PICTURE BOOKS
Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa but is off to spend
Christmas with her maternal grandmother
By Kirsten Hall,
in Canada. While there will be new foods and
illustrated by Jenni Desmond
a long plane journey, Anna is most excited to
Rhymed couplets introduce young readers to finally see snow for the first time. But how will
winter birds—the ones that stick it out in the she adjust to the cold and from being so far
cold and snow instead of migrating south. In from home?
addition to learning about several different
bird species, readers are also introduced to the ‘Snowflake Bentley’
behaviors and traits these birds have that allow By Jacqueline Briggs Martin,
them to survive the winter. While working as illustrated by Mary Azarian
an introduction to different birds, the soft This Caldecott-winning book introduces
color palate and gentle text also work well for Wilson Bentley, a 19th-century Vermont
bedtime. farm boy who found snow fascinating. After
reading about a new camera with an attached
‘Snow Song’
microscope, his family saved to buy it. Bently
then developed a process to photograph
By A. K. Riley, illustrated by Dawn Lo
A snowy day brings the chance for a new arrival snowflakes and show their intricate crystal
to make friends in their neighborhood, as a patterns. Through his photographs, the world
small child finds other children to skate, sled, discovered that no two snowflakes are alike.

catch snowflakes and otherwise explore in the
winter wonderland. With a gently bouncing ‘Mouse and Mole,
rhythm that captures snow’s many moods, the Winter Wonderland’
story is mostly told in pictures, making this a Written and
cozy book to share.

illustrated by Wong Herbert Yee
When winter comes, Mouse is excited to go out
‘SkySisters’ and play, but Mole would rather stay warm and
cozy at home. It’s not much fun to go skating
By Jan Bourdeau Waboose,
and sledding on your own, so Mouse decides
illustrated by Brian Deienes
On a cold winter’s night, two Ojibway sisters to build a Sno-Mole to keep her company.

walk from their home to Coyote Hill to see the When Mole sees his snow-double, he gets
Northern Lights, or SkySpirits. Along the way suspicious, but soon enters the fun with his
they see animals, pick icicles, make snow angels own Sno-Mouse.

and catch snowflakes. Luminous artwork
shows a quiet and magical evening, as well as MIDDLE GRADE
the bond between the two sisters.

‘Snow One Like You’
‘Snow Birds’
EARLY READERS
‘Have Fun Anna Hibiscus!’
By Atinuke, illustrated by Lauren Tobia
32 Washington FAMILY DECEMBER 2020
By Natalie Blitt
Mia loves the fun of her town’s Winter Festival,
but her family’s inn also depends on the
tourism the festival brings. This year, there