The holidays were not as expected this year with my whole family being sick (except for me thankfully). Unfortunately a lot of family and friends that we talked with were also sick during the Christmas season. Although the excitement of Christmas wasn’t as it normally was, we spent a lot of time chilling on the couch, napping, and watching a few movies. So needless to say, I was ready to move on from the holidays and get back to a bit of normalcy. After putting away Christmas, it was time to switch out our Christmas bookshelf for our winter bookshelf!
I love leaning into winter in a slower, cozier way—and one of the easiest ways to do that is by swapping out our books for seasonal favorites. I keep these books where the kids can easily grab them, and we read them throughout the month during quiet time, bedtime, and cozy afternoons at home. The best part is pairing them with simple activities—nothing complicated, just little “extras” that make the stories feel more memorable. Some days that looks like a snow day outside, and other days it’s something warm and low-prep inside (because… winter).
Here are the winter books on our shelf right now, plus a few easy activity ideas to go along with each one.
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Winter Books + Activities
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
A winter classic that captures the magic of a child experiencing fresh snow—crunchy footsteps, snowballs, and the simple wonder of a snowy day. It’s sweet, nostalgic, and perfect for kicking off your winter reading.
Activity idea: Read this before a fun-filled snow day—build a fort or igloo, have a snowball fight, make snow angels, or go sledding.
Indoor option: If it’s too cold to stay out long, make “snow” indoors with cotton balls or pom poms as a sensory bin. You could also bring the snow indoors by scooping some in a bin to play with!
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
This book is such a beautiful introduction to what animals do in winter. It gently explains the winter world that’s happening under the snow—hibernation, tunnels, and all the hidden life kids don’t always notice.
Activity idea: Go on a winter walk and look for animal tracks or signs of wildlife.
Indoor option: Discuss which types of animals hibernate and which ones are still active during winter. Make a “track station” by stamping toy animals into play dough or kinetic sand and guessing which animal made each print.
The Mitten by Jan Brett
A cozy folktale-style story where one mitten becomes a crowded little shelter as more and more woodland animals squeeze inside. Jan Brett’s illustrations are detailed and fun to look at, and kids usually love predicting what animal will show up next.
Activity idea: Cut out a big mitten shape from paper and let kids draw or glue on animals that might try to fit inside.
The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett
This one is adorable and funny—Hedgie the hedgehog thinks he’ll sleep through winter, but he keeps getting interrupted by the excitement of the season. It’s cozy, playful, and perfect for a winter bedtime read.
Activity idea: Make a little cozy fort filled with pillows and blankets and read inside it!
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
A quiet, magical story about a child and her father going owling at night. It’s calm and poetic, and it makes winter feel peaceful instead of dreary.
Activity idea: Try a simple evening “winter nature moment”—step outside to listen for sounds, look at the moon, or watch for stars.
Indoor option: Make a paper owl craft or draw an owl using a simple step-by-step tutorial.
Brave Irene by William Steig
Irene is determined to deliver a dress through a winter storm. Her bravery and perseverance make this such a lovable story. It’s one of those books that feels cozy but also encourages grit and determination.
Activity idea: Create a little “winter obstacle course” inside—crawl under chairs, hop over pillows, carry a “package,” and pretend you’re delivering something in a storm.
The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
A beautiful, poetic book about the winter solstice—the shortest day and longest night of the year. It feels calm and meaningful, and it’s a great way to mark the season together.
Activity idea: Make winter days cozy by crafting your own lantern light using yellow/orange paint or different colored tissue paper glued on thin paper. Fold into a lantern and put a battery operated candle in.
Sun Bread by Elisa Kleven
This is a sweet, whimsical story about a group of animals who are tired of winter and decide to bake “sun bread” to try to bring the sun back. It’s cozy, hopeful, and such a cute way to talk about those long winter stretches when everyone is ready for spring.
Activity ideas:
- Bake something warm together—simple muffins, bread, or even store-bought dough shaped into a “sun.” You can let kids decorate it with raisins or dried fruit as “sun rays.”
- Have a “sunny winter” craft day—make a bright yellow/orange sun collage, paint a sunshine picture, or cut out paper suns to hang in your windows.
Snow Birds: A Picture Book by Kirsten Hall
This is a gentle, lovely story about snowy birds and the quiet beauty of winter. It encourages kids to notice nature even when everything feels cold and still.
Activity ideas:
- Watch for birds outside and keep a little list of what you spot.
- Build a winter bird feeder that suctions to the window and watch from inside as the birds come visit.
Heartwood Hotel series by Kallie George
This is such a cozy chapter book series for older kids (or for reading aloud). The characters are woodland animals, the setting is warm and comforting, and the chapters are short enough to read a little each night. My kids love a good read-aloud series and really look forward to it at bedtime.
Activity ideas:
- Start a “family read-aloud routine” where you read one chapter each night.
- Have kids draw their favorite character or design what they think the Heartwood Hotel would look like.
A Few More Cozy Winter Activity Ideas to Pair With Any Book
If you want a few easy, low-prep ideas that work with any winter story:
- Hot cocoa + reading time (simple but always a win)
- Make paper snowflakes and decorate a window
- Do a winter sensory bin (rice, cotton balls, pom poms, scoops, little animals)
- Bake something simple (muffins, cookies, or a bread mix) and read while it cools
- “Book & blanket fort” afternoon
- Winter-themed drawing prompts (snowman, owl, cabin, mittens, etc.)
Winter can feel long, but having a seasonal stack of books makes it feel a little more special—like we’re leaning into it instead of just waiting for warmer weather. These stories bring so much cozy energy into our days, and pairing them with even one small activity makes the memories stick even more for kids.
💬 Tell me in the comments: What’s your child’s favorite winter book right now? And do you have a simple winter activity your family does every year?
