Winter Picture Books for 3-Year-Olds

Are you looking for some great winter picture books for 3-year-olds? I have you covered with some of my favorites!

 

As an early elementary school teacher and intervention specialist for over 10 years, I have found some gems when it comes to winter picture books!

 

Winter books are great for teaching a variety of different reading comprehension skills and science skills. I like to use them alongside teaching the water cycle, seasons, and winter topics. Winter books can also be used for teaching social skills.

 

What winter picture books for 3-year-olds are your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!

   

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read my disclosure below.

 

As I list the books I’ll be sure to get examples of how I would use these books during a read aloud lesson in my classroom or how to explain different topics to my own children at home as a read aloud on the couch.

 

Below you will find my best winter picture books for 3-year-olds.

 

Frosty the Snowman By Steve Nelson & Jack Rollins

 

Frosty the Snowman is a classic movie and this book brings it together with beautiful illustrations. This book is just the classic “Frosty the Snowman” song but it’s a song all know and love.

 

I love using this book for introducing young children to Frosty. They’ll love the rhythm and rhyme the story has to offer.

 

As a teacher, I use this book to highlight rhyming words. It’s perfect for discussing character traits of Frosty like how he’s joyful, fun, and smart. Children can also tell stories about what they would do if a snowman they built were to “come to life one day”.

   

Snowmen All Year By Caralyn Buehner

 

This story is so sweet because the child in the story dreams about what they could do if they were able to keep their snowman with them all year. They would have their snowman come with them to the pool in the summer, to birthday parties all year, and even trick-or-treating!

 

This story shows children at this age how to use their own imaginations about what they could do if a snowman (or even something else) could stay with them all year! Where would they take them? What they be excited to show them?

   

The Jacket I Wear in the Snow By Shirley Neitzel

 

The Jacket I Wear in the Snow is a classic children’s book for winter! It is about a boy showing you all the things he uses when going outside to play in the snow.

 

This book has a repetitive nature which is easy for kids to follow along with. I think this book is perfect for kids even a bit younger than 3 but I love the activities that are available with it for 3-year-olds.

 

You could do some fun sequencing activities with this book for 3-year-olds. They should show you the things they have for the snow or complete a cut and paste activity for the snow.

 

I love the idea of using this on a snow day before bundling up to go out to play!

   

Snowy’s Special Secret By Guido Van Genechten

 

Snowy’s Special Secret is about a polar bear mom and cub that wants to make his mom a surprise. He spends the whole day creeping away from his mom so he can work on his special project for her.

 

My 3-year-old is still learning about secrets and how to keep them. This book does a great job of teaching young children the vocabulary word of a secret, what it is, and when we would want to keep them.

 

I also love this book for teaching young children the idea of thinking of others. Many times when I ask my 3-year-old what he wants to get someone else he has a hard time coming up with ideas they would like instead of something he would like.

   

Snow By Uri Shulevitz

 

This book is simple but holds a strong message. The boy in the story says “it’s snowing” to various people, when it is only a snowflake or two.

 

Eventually, the snowflakes begin to pile up and everyone can see he was right! It’s really snowing and he’s excited to share his excitement with everyone else around.

 

The illustrations in the book paired with it’s simple words and story make it more than magical.

   

Guess How Much I Love You in the Winter By Sam McBratney

 

This book is part of a series and for good reason! The baby and mother hare in this book are trying to show each other how much they love one another.

 

Guess How Much I Love You in the Winter, comes with beautiful illustrations and a sweet story like the other books. This book also has pop-out detailed pictures on each page that make it perfect to talk about details.

   

Snowballs By Lois Ehlert

 

Snowballs shows a variety of ways to use products and items from around your home to build a snow family. Throughout the story they show you how to build a snow mom, dad, boy, girl, baby, even the family dog, and cat.

 

At the end of the book the author gives children more details about the science behind snow. They also show a variety of different ways that children have built snowmen around the world.

 

Teachers love using this book in the classroom! There is no doubt why as it is easy to use for science lessons (water forms) and art (creativity). I love the idea of having students draw, cut, paste, and create a snowman of their own.

   

The Snowy Day By Ezra Jack Keats

 

Another classic to make my list! I love The Snowy Day because its the innocent idea of a little boy playing in the snow! He makes snow angels, climbs up a “mountain”, and more.

 

It gives preschoolers a way to think about how they would play in the snow. As an activity, you can talk about the ways they could play in the snow or things they would like to do. You can also have them draw or write about playing in the snow. I love to make a list of the things that children could do in the snow.

   

The Polar Bear Paddle By David Bedford

 

This book is about a polar bear named Alfie that is trying to learn how to swim in the sea. Up until now he has only ever swam in the “baby pool”. So he’s trying to find someone how to teach him to swim in the big sea!

 

I love this book for getting kids to believe in themselves. I also like how Alfie was creative in asking other animals to help him.

 

We can easily use this story to help teach children social skills. When you read focus on how Alfie talks to other animals, how does he ask them for help and what does he do when they give him an answer? How does it make him feel? As a teacher, I love using books like this to help children understand how they can make others feel.

   

These are my top 9 picks for winter picture books for 3-year-olds.

 

What books do you like to use to teach preschoolers or 3-year-olds in the winter? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to share this with a preschool teacher or mom of young children!

 

 

Love, Ashley E