Kids and SNOW: Best Books & Fun Activities

Our theme this week is SNOW! I’ve got book reviews of 10 of my favourite snowy kids books and plenty of fun and educational activities to try after reading.

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To begin your snowy adventure, you may want to start by reading How Do Snowflakes Form? over at Kitchen Counter Chronicles and try their fun activity with your child to learn about the shapes of snowflakes and why they are all unique.

Best Kids SNOW Books

As you may already know, I’m a kids’ book fanatic.  The entire closet of my son’s bedroom is full of kids’ books and I continue to add to this marvelous collection on a weekly basis (regardless of my husband’s protestations – “ANOTHER book? When are you going to start getting rid of some of these?”  Ummm…..never? Shhhh…don’t tell him I said that!)

These are my 10 favourite snowy books for kids in no particular order. They cover the topics of: the science of snow, the natural world and how animals adapt to snow, and of course, the fun that people have with snow!

All of these books have attractive illustrations, text that is catchy and easy to read aloud, pictures that match the text, and provide educational as well as entertainment value! They have all been tested with my son or my students and tend to be perennial favourites.

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder – Looking for an introduction to the basics of snow for your preschooler/kindergartener? Check out this book that explains how snowflakes form in a way that kids can understand and that will get them looking at those flakes that land on their mittens in a different light!

Snow Watch: Experiments, Activities and Things to Do with Snow – Here’s another book that is full of snow science fun.  I’ve got this one in my classroom and have used its ideas for kids aged 8 to 11. However, many of the experiments and activities can be done with younger kids as well with a little extra explanation from adults.
Zoe’s Snowy Day (Cartwheel) – This was one of my son’s favourite books when he was a toddler. Barbara Reid’s books are all illustrated by plasticine artworks she creates and the pictures are stunning in detail and usually quite funny.  The text is simple but catchy and takes the reader through a wonderful day outside exploring the snow from the perspective of Zoe – a preschooler who notices everything! Appropriate for toddlers/preschoolers.

Snow Is Falling (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 1) – I personally love this Science series and this book doesn’t disappoint. Snow is Falling doesn’t talk about how snow is created, but it helps explain all the benefits of snow for the animals and habitat. The pictures are colourful and it reads like a storybook. Appropriate for toddlers to grade 1.

In the Snow: Who’s Been Here? – This is a really fun book about a brother and sister who decide to go sledding, but have to trek through the local woods to get to the hill.  On the way they discover all kinds of signs of winter animals (tracks in the snow, bark rubbed off a tree, an owl pellet on the ground) and then the animals themselves. It has the feel of a mystery, and got my son excited about the squirrel tracks we see in our backyard! Appropriate for kids of all ages.

Snowballs – A fun little book about building a snowman. Lois Ehlert uses collage technique to create an entire snowman family using a variety of objects such as seeds, wheels, fruit, and other “junk” objects. It’s the perfect inspiration to make some snowman art! Perfect for toddlers to grade 1.

First Snow in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy – I love this photographic story told from the point of view of a fawn about to experience his/her first winter. It features animals talking to the fawn about how to prepare for the coming snow, and in the process the reader learns about hibernation, food gathering and storing, and other winter adaptations. Appropriate for preschooler and up.

Stella, Queen of the Snow (Stella and Sam) – I just discovered a French version of this book this week and really enjoyed reading it with Onetime. The story follows a girl named Stella (Queen of the Snow) who is showing her little brother all the joys of snow and playing outside in the winter. They get up to all the usual activities like sledding, snowballs fights, and snow angel making, but the beauty of this story is in how Stella describes the sheer joy of winter and nature to her little protege. Appropriate for preschoolers to grade 3.

The Biggest Snowman Ever – This story is one of a series of stories about two mouse friends named Clayton and Desmond.  In all their books, the two friends struggle with their competitive instincts or have difficulties sharing or cooperating, but in the end come to realize that they can do bigger, better things when they work together and compromise. I love the lesson in this story and the Winter theme is perfect for this time of year!
Snowmen at Work – I’m a big fan of Carolyn Buehner’s other “Snowmen” stories (this is the latest of 4). Carolyn writes with catchy rhyming text and the colourful illustrations always have interesting hidden surprises. The tales are imaginative and clever and get kids thinking about the “lives of snowmen” when we humans go to sleep!

To find some other great books for this winter, as well as accompanying activities – check out January Books for 2 to 3 Yr Olds from Planet Smarty Pants.

SNOW Activities

And now for all the SNOWY activities!

SNOWY Sensory

Snowy Sensory Bins from One Time Through
Indoor Sensory Snow Play from Sunny Day Family
Frozen Snow Dough with baby powder from Sugar Aunts
Or try making Snow Dough with baking soda from Stir the Wonder
Winter Treasure Hunt from Learning 2 Walk on Brain Power Boy
Frozen Fractals Sensory Bottle from The Mad Mommy
How to Make Pretend Snow from A Little Pinch of Perfect

SNOWY Science

Indoor Snowball Structures Engineering from One Time Through
Investigating Snow from One Time Through
Grow a Crystal Borax Snowman from Science Kiddo
Or crystallize a Pinecone at Planet Smarty Pants

SNOWY Art

Open Ended Snowy Painting from One Time Through
Snowman Art and Sparkly Winter Art from Our Little House in the Country
Easy Winter Scene Art from A Little Pinch of Perfect 

SNOWY Learning

ABC Snowflake Match from Stir the Wonder
Sight Word Snowball Toss from Growing Book by Book
Winter Printable Pack from Totschooling

If you’re looking for other kids’ fun and educational Winter activities, be sure to follow our Pinterest board: Follow One Time Through’s board Winter Kids Crafts & Activities on Pinterest.

To a cold, sparkling, peaceful snowy Winter with the kids!