Picture Books to Read in Winter: A Collection of Story Ideas That Resonate with Elementary School Children
With the arrival of winter, you may find yourself wanting to discover wonderful picture books to enjoy with your children.
Here are winter-themed picture books that will resonate with elementary schoolers—the crisp winter air, the sparkle of snowflakes, and the warmth of family togetherness.
From richly illustrated scenes to stories that kindle a spirit of adventure, the cold season holds the promise of unforgettable reads.
How about spending a special moment immersed in these stories together with your child?
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Picture Books to Read in Winter: A Collection of Story Ideas That Resonate with Elementary School Children (11–20)
Dwarfs of the ForestNEW!By Elsa Beskow
A work by Elsa Beskow, a picture-book author who represents Sweden.
In the book, the wintertime lives of the gnomes who live in the forest are depicted.
The approach is very unique: on every spread, the text is on the left and the right side consists only of an illustration.
Thanks to this, the right-hand pages let you immerse yourself in the gnomes’ richly textured world without thinking about anything else.
Another highlight is how their way of life is portrayed both realistically and with plenty of humor.
There’s no doubt it will spark your imagination when you read it.
The Great Adventure of Sorachi Village: Milton’s Big Jump
Set in the snowbound town of Mirtle, the hero of this story is a dog named Hiro.
What was built in Mirtle was a handmade jump ramp.
Hiro is going to take on that ramp, which sways when the wind blows.
What kind of jump will Hiro show us? We don’t often see jump ramps, but just imagining Hiro taking the leap is exciting, isn’t it? This picture book might even spark some children’s interest in winter sports.
Elephant’s Letter
The protagonist of this story is a young elephant living in a zoo.
One day, he receives a letter from a human boy and has the zookeeper read it to him.
He wants to write a letter back, but he can’t write.
So, to send a reply to the boy, he begins practicing his letters.
The excitement of waiting for a letter and his determination to put his feelings into words will surely make children want to write letters too.
It’s a charming and lovely book that also teaches the importance of effort and the value of not giving up.
The Lonely Fir Tree
This is a story about a lonely fir tree that has a wonderful encounter on Christmas Eve.
At Christmas, everyone spends time with family and friends.
But the fir tree, the story’s protagonist, was gazing down alone at the glittering city streets.
As it was about to drift into winter sleep, feeling lonely, that indispensable someone for Christmas comes along.
So, who could it be…? Reading this picture book makes you hope that Christmas will be warm and special for everyone.
The Tailor of Gloucester
The story of mice repaying a kindness, “The Tailor of Gloucester.” In the town of Gloucester lived a tailor.
One day as Christmas drew near, he fell ill with a high fever even though he had an important job to finish.
That’s when the mice appear.
Grateful to the man, the mice take needle and thread in their tiny hands and sew the garments in his place.
The delicately rendered illustrations and heartfelt tale warm the soul.
It’s a truly lovely work that celebrates the desire to help others and the kindness that inspires it.
Zoni for the Twelve Zodiac Animals
The Zodiac Animals’ New Year’s Soup is a holiday picture book we hope you’ll read at New Year’s.
On New Year’s morning, the twelve zodiac animals gather to say, “Happy New Year!” Then they pay their first shrine visit of the year, enjoy traditional games like battledore and kite flying, and eat ozōni (New Year’s soup).
With this one book, you can understand what the New Year holiday is all about.
It features many scenes children may have experienced, and it will also spark curiosity about things they don’t yet know.
We invite you to experience Japan’s traditions and culture through this picture book.
Christmas on December 26
“Christmas on December 26” is a story that takes place after Christmas.
A girl who received a dog from Santa sets out to find him so she can say thank you.
She must have been overjoyed to want to search for someone just to say “thank you”… It’s a work whose pure-hearted childlike sentiment will move adults as well.
Precisely because getting presents at Christmas has become so commonplace today, I hope children will never forget this sense of gratitude.
13 Santas
If you want to choose a Christmas picture book with impact, how about “The 13 Santas”? The characters are 13 mischievous Santas…
or are they? They don’t wear red suits like the Santa we all know; instead, they lick frying pans, bang doors, and do all sorts of quirky things.
They look different from the widely recognized image, but they’re full of personality and really fun.
Set in Iceland, the story also offers a glimpse into people’s everyday lives there.
Enjoy each unique character and be sure to read it together as a parent and child.
Before the morning comes
It seems that the mother in this story has to go to work after the children have fallen asleep.
Her job is a pilot… Even though it can’t be helped because it’s her work, she must be worried about her kids.
Perhaps that’s why, in this picture book, someone wishes to “change the world before morning.” Is it because heavy snowfall can cancel flights? Is it the mother’s wish, the children’s wish… or perhaps both? This is a wintertime picture book I recommend, one you’ll want to read carefully and savor.
Somewhere in this town
This Town, Somewhere is a story about a boy searching for his lost cat.
It’s a bittersweet tale, yet when you finish reading, you’re left with a sense of satisfaction, much like after watching a good film.
The illustrations—of the cityscape the boy watches from the bus, the wintry snowy scenes—carry a certain poignancy, as if reflecting the boy’s inner world.
Many readers may find themselves closing their eyes, moved by the lingering resonance of the sad yet warm ending, thinking, “So that’s what it was.” It might be a work that touches the heart all the more precisely because you’re an adult.