Fans pick 100 books like Winter

By Kelsey E. Gross, Renata Liwska (illustrator),

Here are 100 books that Winter fans have personally recommended if you like Winter. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Book cover of On the Shortest Day

Robin Currie Author Of Tuktuk: Tundra Tale

From my list on for winter reading.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a children’s librarian and author, I am curious about all kinds of subjects. So, the arctic wilderness which appears to be barren tundra but teems with animal life, unique landforms, and aurora borealis glow intrigued me. Winter Solstice is an excellent theme to use for multicultural study and as an alternative topic for December when the completing holidays seem like overkill. I have been to Alaska to hear glaciers boom as they calf, see endless ice fields, and witness frolicking sea lions.

Robin's book list on for winter reading

Robin Currie Why did Robin love this book?

On the shortest day of the year, a grandfather and child explore a marsh area.

Though it looks desolate at first, carefully walking and watching reveals all kinds of life, flying overhead, burrowed in trees, and tucked under the snow. The long night settles in with quiet comfort and hope waiting for spring.

I love the quiet tone of a multigenerational adventure and finding something where it looks like there is nothing. A good bedtime book or for sharing in school.

By Laura Sulentich Fredrickson, Laurie Caple (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked On the Shortest Day as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, 5, and 6.

What is this book about?

In late December, snow blankets the landscape and the daylight hours are brief. Bundled up against the cold, a child and an adult explore the slough, a marshy area along the river where many animals live, hunt, and play. The scene is quiet, yet alive with activity—if you know where to look.
The child seeks to solve a mystery:
I search for you
as the sunlight fades
in the silent slough
on the shortest day.
Readers also tiptoe, scramble, and whisper. What will we discover along the way?
As child and grandparent hike through the woods and along streams, they…


Book cover of Snow Party

Robin Currie Author Of Tuktuk: Tundra Tale

From my list on for winter reading.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a children’s librarian and author, I am curious about all kinds of subjects. So, the arctic wilderness which appears to be barren tundra but teems with animal life, unique landforms, and aurora borealis glow intrigued me. Winter Solstice is an excellent theme to use for multicultural study and as an alternative topic for December when the completing holidays seem like overkill. I have been to Alaska to hear glaciers boom as they calf, see endless ice fields, and witness frolicking sea lions.

Robin's book list on for winter reading

Robin Currie Why did Robin love this book?

As a librarian I am always looking for a good read aloud for story time and this book is it!

The snow people only come to life if there is snow on the solstice! Full of all the magic and wonder of snow people who celebrate cold as only snow people can – full of feasting, snow family antics, and meaningful connections. There are lots of good follow-up crafts and activities.

Perfect for a winter but not Christmas theme at the library or preschool, even early grades.

By Harriet Ziefert, Mark Jones (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Snow Party as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

If the first snow falls on the first day of winter, the snow men, snow women, and snow children come out for a special party. The festivities include food, dancing, singing, and some surprises! With breathtaking pastel illustrations and an understated,enchanting story, this is the perfect book for a snowy day . . . or to read while wishing for snow to fall.


Book cover of Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers: How Animals Adapt in Winter

Robin Currie Author Of Tuktuk: Tundra Tale

From my list on for winter reading.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a children’s librarian and author, I am curious about all kinds of subjects. So, the arctic wilderness which appears to be barren tundra but teems with animal life, unique landforms, and aurora borealis glow intrigued me. Winter Solstice is an excellent theme to use for multicultural study and as an alternative topic for December when the completing holidays seem like overkill. I have been to Alaska to hear glaciers boom as they calf, see endless ice fields, and witness frolicking sea lions.

Robin's book list on for winter reading

Robin Currie Why did Robin love this book?

Kids get more excited than adults about the shift from fall to winter – new boots and coats and mittens before they are lost!

I like to share in the library the way animals prepare for winter, too. Some sleep, some change color, some fly south. The spare lyrical text makes this a good read aloud supporting themes and units for preschool and Kindergarten of winter, snow, and solstice.

In addition circles details on each page explain more about the approach to winter for children to explore later.

By Jessica Kulekjian, Salini Perera (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

A poetic and informative exploration of the many ways animals face the challenges of winter.

When the autumn days grow shorter and the temperatures cool, animals prepare for winter. Some, the hiders, choose a place to rest and wait out the winter, hibernating under the ground or snuggling in a sheltered spot. Other creatures are seekers, migrating to new locations where the weather is milder and the food sources more plentiful. And then there are the finders, who keep warm and fed by adapting to the new conditions. Every animal knows just what to do — following an ingenious plan…


Book cover of The Origin of Day and Night

Robin Currie Author Of Tuktuk: Tundra Tale

From my list on for winter reading.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a children’s librarian and author, I am curious about all kinds of subjects. So, the arctic wilderness which appears to be barren tundra but teems with animal life, unique landforms, and aurora borealis glow intrigued me. Winter Solstice is an excellent theme to use for multicultural study and as an alternative topic for December when the completing holidays seem like overkill. I have been to Alaska to hear glaciers boom as they calf, see endless ice fields, and witness frolicking sea lions.

Robin's book list on for winter reading

Robin Currie Why did Robin love this book?

I appreciate the genuine Inuit voice of this story of creation, so I researched the author.

Rumolt is active in the Inuit community and teaches elementary school there, but her education was started by her grandmother’s traditional tales. The book is in spare text in the tradition of the storyteller. The art is primarily black and white with touches of color, all the more welcome as a surprise.

In the end the story is about compromise and friendship and a beautiful introduction to a unit or theme of creation, seasons, or mythology. 

By Paula Ikuutaq Rumbolt, Lenny Lishchenko (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Origin of Day and Night as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 6, 7, 8, and 9.

What is this book about?

In this Inuit tale, the actions of a hare and a fox change the Arctic forever by creating day and night. In very early times, there was no night or day and words spoken by chance could become real. When a hare and a fox meet and express their longing for light and darkness, their words are too powerful to be denied. Passed orally from storyteller to storyteller for hundreds of years, this beautifully illustrated story weaves together elements of an origin story and a traditional animal tale, giving young readers a window into Inuit mythology.


Book cover of Adopted by an Owl: The True Story of Jackson the Owl

Ellen Kalish Author Of The Christmas Owl

From my list on wildlife for children.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been an animal lover and caretaker all my life. I have memories of taking care of toucans, skunks, alligators, fish tanks, chameleons, various birds, and monkeys from the time I was a child! I received my licenses from the NYSDEC and US Fish and Wildlife Service and Ravensbeard Wildlife Center was founded in 2000. I hold permits to rehabilitate injured/orphaned wildlife and house unreleasable birds to educate communities in protecting wildlife. My entire life has been devoted to caring for animals and educating others about them, and I hope you can find joy in the books I recommended!

Ellen's book list on wildlife for children

Ellen Kalish Why did Ellen love this book?

This book provides readers of all ages with a heartwarming story about wildlife rescue and the bond between us and birds.

This story provides a unique perspective from a fellow wildlife rehabilitator about what it takes to save wildlife. The illustrations in this book are wonderful and it is based on a true story!

You can find videos and photos of Jackson, the real owl, online! 

By Robbyn Smith, Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Adopted by an Owl as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the Author (Robbyn van Frankenhuyzen): "For twenty years we have rehabilitated a wide variety of wild critters, from fawns, foxes, skunks, and crows to opposums, raccoons, rabbits, and owls. Some of the animals were injured adults, others were orphaned babies, but all of them were in need of a little help to get them back into the wild. Growing up on a farm, as well as my training as an animal technician, prepared me for many of the medical situations that arose. Gijsbert took every opportunity to sketch, paint, and photograph our temporary guests during their stay on the…


Book cover of Sunrise Dance

Brooke Hartman Author Of Dream Flights on Arctic Nights

From my list on quick rhyming picture books with animals.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a mom of young kids who love animals, I know firsthand the benefit of finding fun books that are also easy to read, fun to look at, and short enough not to make you flinch when your kids pull them off the shelves during those later bedtime nights.

Brooke's book list on quick rhyming picture books with animals

Brooke Hartman Why did Brooke love this book?

A companion book to Moonlight Prance, this interactive lift-the-flap book will entertain young readers as they read along during a sunrise dance in a meadow, and all the animals that come and join the fun. Kids will love making the animals dance along by moving the flaps, plus it’s short enough for when you need that super quick read before a late bedtime.

By Serena Gingold Allen, Teagan White (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Sunrise Dance as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Make salmon splash and bear cubs bustle with each push of a durable novelty element in this sweet and interactive morning read-aloud.

When you wake up in the morning, playful animals are starting their day! Push and pull the sturdy tabs to make dragonflies dance and bear cubs bustle in this sweet, interactive tale of morning-time fun.

A charming and interactive bedtime read-aloud, young children will delight in moving the durable novelty elements, making the illustrations transform through their efforts.

FOR FANS OF BARNYARD DANCE!: With rollicking rhyme and dancing animals, this book is perfect for anyone who loves Sandra…


Book cover of Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night

Matt Forrest Esenwine Author Of Once Upon Another Time

From my list on children’s poetry collections about animals.

Why am I passionate about this?

Ever since my parents gave me a copy of Dorothy Aldis’ The Secret Place and Other Poems, I have enjoyed a lifelong love of poetry. Now, as a traditionally-published children’s author, I have had numerous books and poems published over the years, including books that began as poems, like Flashlight Night (Astra Young Readers, 2017) and Once Upon Another Time (Beaming Books, 2021). My poems can be found in various anthologies including The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry (N.G. Children’s Books, 2015) and Construction People (Wordsong, 2020) as well as Highlights for Children magazine.

Matt's book list on children’s poetry collections about animals

Matt Forrest Esenwine Why did Matt love this book?

If you wonder why Joyce Sidman is considered one of the preeminent children’s poets of our time, this Newbury Award-winning book should be all you need. From bats and crickets to moths and salamanders – and yes, even the Dark Emperor himself, the great horned owl – Joyce utilizes powerful imagery, delicate wordplay, and a poet’s insight to bring these mysterious creatures out of the dark and into our homes.

From formal rhyme structures to free verse, Joyce combines magnificent poetry with nonfiction sidebars to create a perfect book that enlightens, enthralls, and educates.

By Joyce Sidman, Rick Allen (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Acclaimed author Joyce Sidman has received multiple awards for her books of poetry, including a Caldecott Honor for Red Sings from Treetops. Itself a Newbery Honor, Book, Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night features several spellbinding poems about "the feast of sound and spark" that awakens with the raccoons, snails, owls, and crickets each night after sunset.


Book cover of Make Way for Animals! A World of Wildlife Crossings

Patricia Newman Author Of A River's Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn

From my list on conservation that give readers hope.

Why am I passionate about this?

I write nonfiction books for children and teens that focus on current environmental stories. But environmental headlines are usually gloomy and filled with foreboding, so, I prefer to focus on stories that involve individuals identifying an environmental problem and working to develop a solution – hence this list of happy conservation stories. The stories in this list – and many others are the antidote to the headlines. They are the hope. They show human ingenuity at its most creative, most flexible, and most caring. Happy conservation stories empower kids, teens, and adults to care about the role they play in nature and unite them in action. 

Patricia's book list on conservation that give readers hope

Patricia Newman Why did Patricia love this book?

Human progress is often bad for wildlife. Our roads, housing developments, and stores often disrupt wildlife migration corridors. We are the problem, but Meeg Pincus writes an uplifting book about how we are also the solution.

Make Way for Animals! is a book about coexisting with wildlife. When we put our heads together there is always a way to meet our needs and the needs of the creatures with whom we share this planet.

By Meeg Pincus, Bao Luu (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Make Way for Animals! A World of Wildlife Crossings as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 5, 6, 7, and 8.

What is this book about?

Around the world, city highways and country roads have cut through natural spaces. Wild animals are blocked from the resources they need to survive, or must make dangerous crossings across busy roads to get to them. Fortunately, solving this problem has inspired some creative solutions! Take a tour of wildlife crossings across the globe, from grassy badger bridges to underpasses for elephants. Discover how these inventive pathways have saved both animal and human lives and helped preserve ecosystems.


Book cover of Bear Came Along

Anne Marie Pace Author Of Groundhug Day

From my list on picture books about navigating friendship.

Why am I passionate about this?

I expect that the folks at Shepherd.com approached me as a picture book author, since I’m the author of eleven picture books, including the four books of the Vampirina Ballerina series, which were adapted into the Disney Junior hit series Vampirina. But my thoughts and ideas about friendship and community really stem from once having been a child myself and from being a parent of four children, each of whom approached the roller coaster ride of childhood friendship in their unique ways. I was always happy to help them find answers in a book, even when those answers involved more, and deeper, questions.

Anne's book list on picture books about navigating friendship

Anne Marie Pace Why did Anne love this book?

After Bear falls into a river, which doesn’t know it’s a river, he’s joined by a series of forest friends, each of whom add to and enhances the group’s adventure until at the end, they have become friends in the community, all thanks to Bear’s misstep. The art is stunning, especially the use of color, which begins drably in the endpapers and ends up stunningly bright and light-filled. A Caldecott Honor book.

By Richard T. Morris, LeUyen Pham (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Bear Came Along as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

From award-winning author Richard T. Morris and bestselling illustrator LeUyen Pham comes a cheerful and action-packed adventure about the importance of friendship and community.

Once there was a river flowing through a forest. The river didn't know it was capable of adventures until a big bear came along. But adventures aren't any fun by yourself, and so enters Froggy, Turtles, Beaver, Racoons, and Duck.

These very different animals take off downstream, but they didn't know they needed one another until thankfully, the river came along.

This hilarious picture book and heartfelt message celebrates the joy and fun that's in store…


Book cover of I Don't Like Rain!

Susan Marie Chapman Author Of Grumpy the Iguana

From my list on for parents to read to their children.

Why am I passionate about this?

My name is Susan Marie Chapman and I am an award-winning Children’s Book Author. I have written over fourteen children’s books. I grew up on a farm surrounded by animals and nature and my seven sisters and brothers. Wow!! My goal is to get as many books into the hands of children that I possibly can. You see, reading books, especially picture books, is a way for a child to see the world through the pictures and words of a book. It creates imagination and excitement and fun and questions which lead to answers which makes you smarter. So read, read, read, until you run out of books, which will never happen.

Susan's book list on for parents to read to their children

Susan Marie Chapman Why did Susan love this book?

I love this book. It brings back so many memories of growing up in the country for me. The illustrations in this book are very expressive and literally speak for themselves, no words necessary.

The day starts out pretty nice for a young bunny who is trying to get a game of kickball started.

He calls out to his neighboring animal friends to come out of their homes and play. They all step outside. There is the hedgehog, the skunk, the fox, the raccoon, and many more. All of a sudden, clouds roll in and everyone goes home except the bunny. He loves rain. This is a big book full of fun. I really enjoyed this book. For me, it's all about the illustrations. I do not like the rain. Getting caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella is no fun. But, this book reminded me of a time in…

By Sarah Dillard,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Don't Like Rain! as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A little rabbit discovers the delight in a dreary rainy day in this splashing sequel to the witty and whimsical picture book, I Wish it Would Snow.

One sunny day, Rabbit and his pals are playing outside and they couldn't be happier. But, oh, no!-the sky starts clouding up and before they know it, it's raining, it's pouring, and everyone has to run home. How boring! What will they do for the rest of the day?

It doesn't take long for Rabbit to realize that fun can be had in the rain. With raincoats, boots, and umbrellas, let the splashing…


Book cover of On the Shortest Day
Book cover of Snow Party
Book cover of Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers: How Animals Adapt in Winter

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,581

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in wildlife, owls, and animals?

Wildlife 42 books
Owls 32 books
Animals 234 books