Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
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COZYTOWN — With winter in the air and COVID-19 continuing to rear its ugly head, we all could use a little escape. And what better way to wait out quarantine life with kids than with a cozy blanket, some yummy snacks and a stack of beautifully illustrated and delightfully thematic children's books?
If you've recently received some positive coronavirus test results, or you're just wanting something fun and lighthearted to do with your kids during this dismal season, we've got you covered. Here are 10 children's books you should immediately put on hold at your local library.
'The Snow Globe Family' by Jane O'Connor
This story features two nearly identical families. Both have a mama, a papa, a boy, a girl and a baby. And they are both yearning for a snowstorm. But while one of the families lives in an ordinary house, the other lives in a snow globe inside of that house.
While the family inside of the house depends on the weather for a snowstorm, the tiny snow globe family is just hoping the other family will notice them so they can have a snowstorm of their own. Leave it to the tiniest member of the family to make the biggest difference.
'The Wish Tree' by Kyo Maclear
This is a book about adventure, imagination and serving others. Charles desperately wants to find a wish tree. When his brother and sister won't help him, he takes his trusty toboggan, known lovingly as Boggan, through the snowy woods in search of the tree. Throughout the day, Charles can't seem to find the wish tree, but he does come across many woodland animals who need his help. Without hesitation, Charles and Boggan lend a hand, and their good deeds do not go unnoticed by the animal friends, who help his dreams come true.
'Winter Sleep' by Sean Taylor and Alex Morss
This is one of those great educational books that doesn't read as educational but instead illustrates facts about hibernation through story. It's basically like giving your kids their gummy vitamins: nutritional and delicious all in one go. In this book, a boy visits his grandma — an adorable lady christened Granny Sylvie — in the summer and in the winter. He sees life thrive and magic happen in summer, but he wonders where it all goes when winter comes. Enter Granny Sylvie and her wisdom about the earth.
'Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee' by Chris Van Dusen
Mr. Magee has never been skiing before, but at 6:53 a.m. on a beautiful winter's day, he and his dog, Dee, decide they need to learn. In lieu of an instructor, Mr. Magee goes the self-taught route, and disaster, uh, I mean, adventure ensues. A curious moose and an inopportune spruce are just the ingredients Mr. Magee needs to learn that maybe skiing isn't quite his jam.
'Blizzard' by John Rocco
As Utahns, a lot of us have memories of monumental snowstorms that delayed school, stranded us in our homes, and sent our cars colliding into snowbanks. In this charming nonfiction picture book, John Rocco tells the true story of one of the craziest blizzards New England has ever seen.
It was February of 1978, and 10-year-old Rocco's Rhode Island town was covered in snow. School was canceled and nobody could get to the grocery store. Enter our brave 10-year-old author who strapped tennis rackets to his feet and pulled his sled over a mile in the snow to buy groceries for his family and his neighbors. You won't regret giving this sweet story a try.
'A Loud Winter's Nap' by Katy Hudson
It's cold outside, and all Tortoise wants to do is sleep the winter away (because tortoises don't like winter). Unfortunately for him, the other animals around him have other plans … loud ones. Tortoise can't seem to find a place to rest, but his bad luck turns into good fortune when he discovers maybe winter has a little magic after all.
'Bear Snores On' by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
An international bestseller, "Bear Snores On" features great rhymes, cute characters and cozy winter vibes. In this story, a big brown bear is hibernating in his den and nothing can wake him up. Not the mouse that sneaks into his cave to stoke a fire, not the hare who pops corn, nor the badger who chews loudly on honey nuts. A whole party starts up in his cave, but the bear snores on. That is, until something makes him sneeze. That's when things get intense.
'Almost Time' by Gary D. Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney
If you're looking for a book that reminds you winter won't last forever, this is the one for you. In "Almost Time," Ethan is waiting for "sugaring time," when the sap runs in the trees and maple syrup is easy to come by once more. But this won't happen until the nights get shorter and the days get warmer. Ethan has to endure pancakes and cornbread without syrup, but it's only a matter of time until springtime comes again.
'Samson in the Snow' by Philip C. Stead
The author dedicates this book to anyone who is having a bad day, and I can attest that it is indeed a pick-me-up. Samson in the Snow tells the story of a woolly mammoth, a red bird and a mouse who find friendship through a mutual love of the color yellow, a dramatic quest through a snowstorm, and a lot of heart. It's the perfect story for someone looking for hope in a tough season.
'Over and Under the Snow' by Kate Messner
This enchanting tale educates its reader of nature and life "over and under the snow." As we follow the journey of a cross-country skier and her dad, we learn about the "secret kingdom" under the snow — like a black bear who sleeps with a tummy full of October blueberries and trout, bullfrogs who dream of sun-warmed days, and voles searching for morsels from summer feasts.
We also learn about the survival instincts of animals over the snow, like the fox who can hear the mouse (who becomes his dinner) scritch-scratching under the snow. This book is a poetic teacher with beautiful prose.
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