Welcome to our Winter Wonderland! Our new Collection Spotlight is up: children’s books with a winter theme. Dive into a collection of charming children’s picture books that capture the magic of winter. From snowflakes to snowmen, these stories are filled with cozy adventures and delightful illustrations. Join us as we celebrate the season with simple yet heartwarming tales that are perfect for readers of all ages. Come and explore the joy of winter through the pages of these delightful picture books.
Below are just a small sample of the books on display:
Juvenile Literature
My winter city
James Gladstone; pictures by Gary Clement
PZ7.1.G5844 My 2019
A young boy wakes up in the early light of a winter morning, pulls on his boots and mittens, and steps out into the snowy city with his dad. They trudge through the snow, their dog bounding along beside them, then a slushy, steamy bus ride takes them to the tobogganing hill for some winter fun. The boy describes all the sights and sounds of the day, from the frost in Dad’s beard and the snow “pillows” in the park, to the noisy clunking snow plows and the singing buskers they pass on their way home. That night, the boy lies awake under cozy covers, reflecting on the day, as snow blankets the world outside his window. This is winter in the city.
Wolf in the snow
Matthew Cordell
PZ7.C815343 Wl 2017
Winner of the 2018 Caldecott Medal
A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home?
Paintings rich with feeling tell this satisfying story of friendship and trust. Here is a book set on a wintry night that will spark imaginations and warm hearts, from Matthew Cordell, author of Trouble Gum and Another Brother.
Duck, duck, dinosaur: snowy surprise
Kallie George; illustrated by Oriol Vidal
PZ7.G4643 Dd 2017
What could be more fun than a snow day? But Feather and Flap are too cold to play outside with Spike. To keep them outside, Spike surprises them with gifts—skates, a sled, and a snowman. When these aren’t enough to keep his siblings from shivering, Spike comes up with the best gift of all: warm scarves and hats! Playing in the snow with your family can be cool, but thoughtfulness toward others makes playtime a blast for everyone. Duck, Duck, Dinosaur: Snowy Surprise is a My First I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for shared reading with a child.
.
The snow knows
Jennifer McGrath; art by Josée Bisaillon
PZ7.M478527 Sn 2016
In this deceptively simple children’s picture book, a pair of award-winning storytellers share the joys of winter. A lyrical prose poem, The Snow Knows introduces readers of all ages to animals both domestic (a tabby cat by the wood stove) and wild (a slinking lynx; a choir of coyotes), celebrating wilderness and outdoor play. With whimsical hide-and-seek illustrations, readers will love following footprints and catching a glimpse of an owl’s wing or pheasant’s feathers, suggesting what appears on the following page. A beautiful book, destined to be a perennial winter favourite, and read aloud by a crackling fire.
So much snow!
Robert Munsch; illustrated by Michael Martchenko
PZ7.M946 Sc 2016
There’s a big blizzard blowing in, but that’s not going to stop Jasmine from going to school – it’s just a little snow, and it’s pizza day, after all! But as soon as she sets out the snow starts to come down faster and faster until she finds herself frozen stiff, with just her hat poking out of a snowdrift. Rescue comes in the form of the school custodian, who stomps out on snowshoes, yanks her out, pulls her inside and figures out how to get her thawed. But on the way to her class they notice that the school is empty – the principal has declared a snow day! Which is always great news . . . but how is Jasmine going to get her pizza?
Waiting for snow
Marsha Diane Arnold; drawings by Renata Liwska
PZ4.9.A766 Wt 2016
Badger cannot wait one more minute for it to snow. When his friend Hedgehog explains that everything comes in its time, Badger is unconvinced and impatient as ever. But Badger’s friends have a few tricks up their sleeves to try and get the snow’s attention and distract their pal in the meantime. Though in the end Badger sees there’s no trick–only waiting–until at last, it’s time.
Turtle pond
James Gladstone; pictures by Karen Reczuch
QL666.C5 G55 2018
In Turtle Pond, a child and his parents visit their local public garden throughout the year, observing the turtles as they play, dive, feed, bask, climb, hide and doze. James Gladstone’s lively prose poem reveals the pleasure and curiosity that come from spending time with the turtles. Karen Reczuch’s stunningly beautiful illustrations accurately portray these extraordinary creatures, both in and out of the water, surrounded by lush plants and the changing seasons beyond the greenhouse windows.
When the trees crackle with cold: a Cree calendar = Pīsimwasinahikan
Bernice Johnson-Laxdal & Miriam Körner
E98.C14 J64 2016
The bear sleeping safely in her den, kohkom telling a story by the fire, the trees crackling with cold–we are all connected to the seasons and the cycle of nature. The calming rhythm of the words echoes the rhythm of the land in this timeless picture book about the moon calendar of the northern Cree. Its warmly rendered watercolour illustrations bring Saskatchewan’s North to life. When the Trees Crackle with Cold is written in English and the northern Plains Cree Y dialect, inviting Cree and non-Cree speakers alike to explore the traditional moon calendar.
Winter in Saik’uz
Cecilia John
E99.T17 J64 2018
Come north to Saik’uz (sigh-kuz) located within the Dakelh (dah-kay-lth) Territory and see what happens on cold winter days! A triple-language resource written in Carrier, English and French.
.
.
.
French
Lucy fait du patinage de vitesse
Lisa Bowes
PZ24.3.B69 Lh 2016 CCBC
Après avoir essayé la glisse sur luge, Lucy commence une nouvelle aventure de vitesse–Cette fois-ci, elle lace ses patins et essaie le patinage de vitesse sur courte piste. C’est plus difficile que ça en a l’air. Lorsqu’on patine en tournant très vite, on risque de tomber! Mais avec ses amies, Lucy avance sur la glace dans une course palpitante vers la ligne d’arrivée.
Mon amie la neige
Etta Kaner, Marie Lafrance, Ann Lamontagne
QC926.37 .K36 2006, EDUCATION LIBRARY French collection
Pourquoi la neige est-elle blanche? Pourquoi un flocon adopte-t-il différentes formes? Les enfants aimeront apprendre tout sur la neige et pourquoi les gens l’aiment tellement.
.
Lili Tire-bouchon et ses cochons de neige
Phoebe Gilman; texte français de Christiane Duchesne
PZ23.G55 Jl 2002
Il a neigé. Lili a perdu son chapeau. Qu’à cela ne tienne, elle déniche un casque de martien dans son coffre à jouets. Il fera l’affaire. Avec ses amis, inspirée par son nouveau couvre-chef, elle fera des monstres de neige, des collines et des cochons. Elle en perdra son foulard, ses mitaines et son casque mignon. Anecdote joyeuse et familière des jeux de l’hiver.
Il neige
Uri Shulevitz
PZ23.S522 Ng 2000
Un enfant émerveillé par la chute des premiers flocons demande à son entourage si la neige va tenir. En dépit des réponses négatives et du froid qui sévit, l’enfant fasciné par ce qu’il voit continue d’espérer et finit par voir la ville recouverte de son beau manteau blanc.
.
Teacher Resources
Nature’s day: out and about: spotting, making, and collecting activities
Kay Mcguire ; [illustrations by] Danielle Kroll
QH48 .M338 2016
Delve deeper into the world of wonder on your doorstep with this activity book for all four seasons. Sow seeds in spring, go pond dipping in summer, collect leaves in fall, and make an ice sculpture when it’s cold in winter.
With lots of spotting collecting, making, and colouring activities, this book is the perfect way for little adventurers to connect with nature, whatever the season.
.
Learn every day about seasons: 100 best ideas from teachers
edited by Kathy Charner; illustrated by Deb Johnson
QB637.4 .L43 2011
Now teachers can bring the magic of each season to their classrooms! With these activities, educators introduce children to the wonder of the seasons with a year full of fun! Children will explore seasonal changes with all their senses as they celebrate the joy and excitement of the world outside all year long! Each activity includes: Learning objectives, Related vocabulary, Related children’s books, Materials needed, Directions for preparation, Instructions for the activity, An assessment component.
.
Janice VanCleave’s science around the year
Q164 .V442 2000
How do polar bears avoid slipping on the ice? How are snowflakes made? Figure out the answers to these and many other scientific mysteries with this awesome assortment of experiments, projects, and facts for every season of the year. With an amazing experiment for each week, Janice VanCleave’s ScienceAround the Year introduces you to dozens of wondrous topics in astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics. Discover why leaves turn colours and fall off trees in autumn, why September is a good time to look for monarch butterflies, how salt melts ice, what pinecones can tell you about the weather, and much, much more. As with all of Janice VanCleave’s books, each activity is fun and includes simple step-by-step instructions, as well as clear explanations of the concepts you’re seeing in action. JaniceVanCleave’s Science Around the Year promises hours and hours of fascinating, hands-on, safe, low-cost science fun-at home or in the classroom.