Our Winter Reading Favorites

A note about Amazon: Since the start of this little blog, I've always used and linked to Amazon as a matter of ease and familiarity - Amazon as a website is one of the tools I use to organize my own book lists, seek out new books, and generally gather information. With that 'information' - I then head to either our library (when my fines aren't too high!), one of our favorite local independent bookstores, Powell's, or yes, sometimes Amazon, too. I want to let you know that I have recently begun participating in the Amazon Associates program, whereby I earn a small percentage of all sales made via links through this site. So, for example, if you follow any of these links below, or the Amazon links in my sidebar, I would earn based on anything you purchase in that shopping trip. I made this decision with the confidence that one - nothing in my content has changed or ever will change; two - my own personal buying habits will continue to remain as they always have; and three - that the earnings will - in a small but helpful way - contribute to my family. If you have questions about any of this, I'll do my best to answer them in the comments. I am not, however, up for debate. I trust that you will make the best decisions for your family, and  ask that you respect the ones I make for mine. Thank you!

And now let's talk about books...

There are a lot of books in this house - thrifted books, vintage books, purchased books, hand-me-down books, library books. They're on shelves, in baskets, under tables and chairs and in drawers. Really. While sometimes that feels absolutely magical and limitless when choosing a book, sometimes I know it can feel overwhelming too. So, for us - a system that's turned out to be really helpful is to pull them into 'themed' baskets - some that stay the same and some that change frequently. (As a side note - the kids love labeling the book baskets, with little tags they make for them, "library books, winter books, etc".)

Around the transition of each season, I pull - from all the various spots - our favorite 'seasonal' books, and these stay in a basket close at hand for the duration of the season. So the books are always around - they're just pulled a little closer to view when they're something we're focusing on, or the appropriate time of year. (The exception to this would be the straight-up traditional "Holiday" books that do get packed away with holiday decorations, because I just cannot bring myself to read The Night Before Christmas in July. I just can't do it.)

I tried very hard to keep it to our Top Ten, but you can see I failed miserably at that. I couldn't imagine leaving any of these out - they're all quite treasured by my family. So without further adieu, I bring you the favorites of our Winter books.

Christmas Treasury - Jan Brett
I can't imagine winter reading without Jan Brett's stories and tales full of scandinavian traditions. The Mitten, The Hat, and Christmas Trolls are our favorites, but I just found this treasury with a few more pulled together as one holiday collection. (As a side note - if you don't know about Jan Brett's website, and you have little ones, you must pay it a visit. It will keep you busy all winter long.)

Snow - Uri Shulevitz
This classic is simple and sweet and beautiful. When the snow starts to fall around here, we find ourselves quoting this one to each other a lot. "'It's snowing' said boy with dog. 'It's nothing' said Man with hat." It's one that contains enough repetitive phrases and such that it's a perfect read for the very-beginning readers among us.

The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice - Wendy Pfeffer
A wonderful non-fiction picture book which explains the significance of Solstice, as well as some of the traditions and ways that cultures throughout history have celebrated it. There are activities and experiments as well, making this one a really wonderful homeschool or classroom resource.

The Little Fir Tree - Margaret Wise Brown
I found a vintage copy of this one illustrated by Barbara Cooney that we adore, which includes music for the carols. I haven't seen the illustrations in the new one I've just linked to, but the story is a lovely one of a living pine tree and it's presence in a family's holiday. Brown's rhymes are so sweet and the story is soothing.

The Return of the Light: Twelves Tales from Around The World for Winter Solstice - Carolyn McVickar Edwards
This collection contains traditional tales that tell how different cultures celebrate the magic of solstice. While the faiths and different cultures vary greatly, the connecting themes of 'renewal' and 'change' and 'light' connect us all, and this collection is a wonderful demonstration of that through story.

Ollie's Ski Trip and Peter and Lotta's Christmas - Elsa Beskow
Two wonderful stories by one of our favorite author/illustrators. Calvin claims Ollie's Ski Trip to be his very 'favorite book of all' - (and we have a little bit of Jack Frost  in our dress up rack). It's one of mine too - full of magic and wonder at the winter season. Peter and Lotta's Christmas is equally as beautiful as Beskow's other stories, and includes a few sweet Swedish Christmas traditions in the tale.

Owl Moon - Jane Yolen
Owl Moon is essential winter reading! Jane Yolen so perfectly captures the simplest of activities and the magic and wonder and beauty within it. A walk in the woods to look for owls turns out to be a beautiful tale of all the magic of parent & child, nature & animals. This book has inspired many a nighttime walk around here. They're definitely magical.

The Big Snow - Berta and Elmer Hader
A wonderful tale of the animals of the wood preparing for winter, with a little help from some human friends. The children love to identify the 'signs' of winter that the animals sense. "They just know winter is coming, Mama!"

Nutcracker and Swan Lake - Lizbeth Zwerger
I fell in love with Lizbeth Zwerger's illustrations after recieving The Wizard of Oz from Amy a couple of years ago. Since then, our books illustrated by her continues to grow, and theyr'e always some of our favorites. These two tales are no exception - her illustrations bring these classic tales to life in a new way. In putting this post together, I discovered her illustrated version of The Night Before Christmas. I had no idea this one was out there, but it will most definitely be on the top of our wish list this year.

Winter - Gerda Muller
Gerda Muller's four seasons board books are one of my favorite newborn gifts to give. Without words, the pictures tell the tales of the seasons - in nature, animals, and people. I always think my children will have 'outgrown' this book, but they continue to love it. (It seems to not be available on Amazon, but it is available here at Nova Natural, where you can find a lot of the books I have in this list).

The Story of the Snow Children - Sibylle Von Olfers
Is there anything more magical than the thought of staring out the window at the snowflakes and having them turn into little snow children that carry you away on a magical winter adventure? Oh my. So much delight and goodness. The illustrations in this are simply stunning. (Not available through Amazon, but I did find it here at Three Sisters Toys.)

Nutcracker - E.T.A. Hoffman, Pictures by Maurice Sendak
Yup, two versions of the Nutcracker. Who can resist Maurice Sendak? Not I. The boys and I actually really love finding different illustrated versions of the same book - it's so fascinating to them to see how differently artists can interpret the same words. And well, this Maurice Sendak Nutcracker is a lovely one, and it's with the original text so it's a hefty and wonderful read.

Christmas in Noisy Village - Astrid Lindgren
This tale of Christmas contains all that I hope my children will remember from their own childhood holiday seasons - handmade gifts, baking, singing, celebrations with friends and family, and much joy.

I know there are other wonderful Holiday/Seasonal Book Lists going on out there in BlogLand, so if you've made one on your own blog, be sure to leave a link in the comments so we can see it! Additionally, if you have a favorite that hasn't been mentioned, let us know that too!

Happy cozy winter reading to you and the little ones in your life!

Comments

[Amber]

I am trying the Amazon thing, too, (Cookbook recommendations) and like you (I'm assuming from your explanation) I wondered about it beforehand: if it would be too sales oriented, etc... Anyhow, I think it's a great idea to recommend books to one another and thank you for yours (many of the same favorites of ours, too)!
:-)

[Amber]

PS. Yes, I love Powells, too (they're local for me) and I would love the same sort of service from them...

[Lindsey]

Amanda, thank you for your list. I've read the others in your archives, but wanted to say that I appreciate the winter solstice books in particular. We celebrate the Wheel of the Year in our family, but this year our son (who is in 1st grade) is having a harder time with our "difference" than in the past. Your book suggestions will be a helpful and fun tool in helping him understand our traditions.

[Becca Lloyd]

Hi,
no thoughts on Amazon, but LOTS of thoughts about your books. I got goosebumps reading through your list, because I grew up reading almost all of them, but forgot titles, authors,etc. This list is priceless! I can't wait to collect some for my own little one! Thanks!

[gonzomama]

I just received a new book in the mail & thought it fit your list.
It is "Toot & Puddle-Let it Snow". Just a sweet book about friends.

"He wanted to give Puddle a wonderful surprise for Christmas, the best present ever. He knew that the best present was usually something you made yourself, a one-of-kind thingamajig, not just a whatsit anyone could buy in a store."

[gonzomama]

Sorry, my link didn't work.

http://www.amazon.com/Toot-Puddle-Let-Snow/dp/0316166863/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196447983&sr=8-2

[jmbmommy]

respect to you about your love of books and giving all us blog groupies good limits. I really enjoy your blog and give you 2 thumbs up for being one rad mommy and woman...thanks for the inspiration!

[Nikki]

Thank you for the list. I order from Amazon quite a bit so I'm glad to see the links. I'm just going to say something, as mothers, wives, friends, etc. I think we are all doing the best that we can do. Yes the "local" thing is great(but not always possible or perhaps even affordable).
It is a blessing to have options-and that is what is presented here with the book selections.We inour westernized manner will find problems with any/everything. Truly there are bigger fish to fry.

[tamara]

What a wonderful book list, many of them are household favorites for us too!

[kit]

good idea from Carrie about approaching Powell's to propose a similar blogger benefit. Remember Patti Smith's anthem: "people have the power"!

One last winter classic I can't believe I forgot: Ezra Jack Keats, _The Snowy Day_, won the Caldecott in 1963. I was looking him up the other day and was thrilled to arrive at a Wikipedia list of all Caldecott winners since the prize's inception in the late 30s. WOW. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldecott_Medal

[Lisa Chaffin]

What a wonderful list; from both you and your commentors! I am fairly new to your blog and have never commented before, but I must tell you what a delight and comfort it is for me to read you every day. One shouldn't wish to be anything but what one is, but I secretly wish that I could take my children back to when they were littler ( daughter is 14 and son is 8) and start again with an approach like yours. The creativity and imaginations of your family is wonderful and you should be very proud. We homeschool also, but with a charter, and it is harder to have the freedom to explore when there are deadlines we have to meet. But I would rather have them home than not.
Now, for my book list of some of our favorites:
Christmas day in the Morning by Pearl S Buck - lovely, moving story.

Snowflake Bentley by Jaqueline Briggs Martin - wonderful woodcut illustrations by Mary Azarian.

Peter Spier's Christmas - no words, but a cozy book about the traditons of the holiday, with an emphasis on family.

A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
and Star Mother's Youngest Child by Louise Moeri
- both of the books are illustrated by our absolutley favorite illustrator Trina Schart Hyman. That she illustrated these was enough to make me buy them, but each of the stories are great also.

Thanks so much for your generosity in sharing your family's inspirations, creativity, and joy in life. It comes as a great comfort to me to share these glimpses.
Have a lovely and bright holiday season.
Lisa

[Tee tee]

You didn't need to talk about Amazon, you are living truthfully and giving such good Karma back-no one would comment on you making money from doing so. Really, I just think you are a role model to all Mummies out there. Thank-you for being a part of our day.

[Carrie Schwarz]

What a wonderful list Amanda!
Thank you for sharing some of your family's favorite winter reads!
Like many others have expressed it is a wonderful list of books to share with children. I too love the illustrations of the Nutcracker from the point of view of Lizbeth Zwerger and Maurice Sendak - amazing!
These are a couple in our house that come out through the year but tend to make more frequent appearances in the winter:
- Ronja Raubertochter by Astrid Lindgren (perhaps it is available in english too?)
-First Christmas Stocking by Elizabeth Winthrop
-Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
-Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau
-The Christmas Cat by Efner Tudor Holmes (Tasha Tudor illustr)

cheers!
carrie

[Sharon Helms]

First, thank you Amanda. I've enjoyed reading your blog for a very long time, and your words and images are a favorite source of inspiration to me.

This information is in no way a criticism to anyone who has chosen to join the Amazon associates program. It is well known, and well established. But as a Powell's employee, and a life-long independent bookseller I'd just like to give a heads up to your readers about some other options.

To start with, Powell's has a "Partner Program" with rates that are competitive with Amazon's. It's easy to sign up, and Powell's employees are there to help you if you need a hand. Here's a link: http://www.powells.com/partners/partners.html

Also, for those who'd like to stay local, there's Book Sense, the group of independent bookstores, which has an affiliate program-- so sales from your blog can help both your family, but also your local community bookstore as well. Here's a link to that: http://www.booksense.com/affiliate/index.jsp

Thank you again to Amanda for spreading the joy of books and reading across the crafty blogosphere and beyond!

[Meredith]

Oh my goodness, my mom used to do this very same thing with her books, accept it was just at Christmastime when she would put all the Christmas books in a basket by the fireplace. I have so many memories of sitting by the fire and reading stacks of the seasons books.

I'm recently married, and I don't live close to my family anymore, and it's one of the first Christmases that I've had away from them. This post touched my heart! It made me reminisce about the Holidays with my family. So, thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Sharon Helms]

First, thank you Amanda. I've enjoyed reading your blog for a very long time, and your words and images are a favorite source of inspiration to me.

This information is in no way a criticism to anyone who has chosen to join the Amazon associates program. It is well known, and well established. But as a Powell's employee, and a life-long independent bookseller I'd just like to give a heads up to your readers about some other options.

To start with, Powell's has a "Partner Program" with rates that are competitive with Amazon's. It's easy to sign up, and Powell's employees are there to help you if you need a hand. Here's a link: http://www.powells.com/partners/partners.html

Also, for those who'd like to stay local, there's Book Sense, the group of independent bookstores, which has an affiliate program-- so sales from your blog can help both your family, but also your local community bookstore as well. Here's a link to that: http://www.booksense.com/affiliate/index.jsp

Thank you again to Amanda for spreading the joy of books and reading across the crafty blogosphere and beyond!

[Posidriv]

The "Snow" book looks beautiful! I checked around and discovered that it is translated into Norwegian, so I ordered a copy that will be wrapped up and put under the Christmas tree for our kids. Thank you for an inspiring book post! :)

[Katja]

Thanks for the list. Our favourites are:
* Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moominland_Midwinter
http://www.amazon.com/Moominland-Midwinter-Moomintrolls-Tove-Jansson/dp/0374453039
* A Christmas Card by Paul Theroux
(Mysterious!)

And parents´also favourite
* The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

Joyful reading!

[Leah]

Thanks for this wonderful list. I've just added quite a few to our Christmas/December Birthday wish list. I look forward to reading them to my daughter. I also love the seasonal book baskets idea. Thanks for all your inspiring ideas.

[Katja]

P.S.
Need to add this:
A Winter Book by Tove Jansson.
http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/generalfiction/0,,1950587,00.html#article_continue

[Gwyn]

Maybe one of your readers in the southern hemisphere should put together a list as helpful as yours with all the summer/seasonal/hot xmas books!

[Amy W]

Another Powell's employee reader here, wanting to say we LOVE your blog.
We would love to help you sign up with the partners program.
http://www.powells.com/partners/partners.html
Thanks for spreading the reading!

[Jane]

Do you know The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats? I always nostalgically remember it when winter hits!

(Btw, I never post, but wanted to say I adore your blog!)

[Jane]

Do you know The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats? I always nostalgically remember it when winter hits!

(Btw, I never post, but wanted to say I adore your blog!)

[SOULEMAMA]

Gwyn - I would LOVE to see a Southern Hemisphere list! Our, of course, is decidedly telling of where we live!

Jane - hi! The Snowy Day is one of Ezra's favorites (he loves all the Ezra Jack Keats stories, of course). Such a wonderful memory from my own childhood too!

And to the kind Powell's employees - thank you for your information!

[liz]

great post - and thanks for the list!!
there can never be too many books at our house. looks like i have a few more to add to our collection now!

[Veronica TM]

what a wonderful list, amanda! thank you so much!

[mel]

Thank you for the wonderful book list!!! I have just recently discovered Jan Brett and have since taken more books of hers out of our local library!!! Lovely!!! Thank you for the link to her site. I cannot wait to explore it more!

[Sarah]

Hooray! Something perfect for a Children's Librarian to add her expertise to!

"Toot and Puddle Let it Snow" by Holly Hobbie

"Mr. Willoby's Christmas Tree" by Robert Barry

"Merry Christmas Stinky Face" by Lisa McCourt

And wouldn't you know it, just when I get on a roll, the library gets busy. I'll be back with more later!

[Lori]

here are mine! :^)

http://www.whiteoakschool.com/camp-creek-blog/category/book-review

[Kristy]

Oh, I love Owl Moon! It's one of our favorites too.

Another of our favorites is Night Tree by Eve Bunting. It's a wonderful story of one family's tradition of decorating a tree in the forest with edible ornaments for the animals to enjoy. It is so sweet and my daughter can read it over and over every night. You must check it out!

I love your list, I am familiar with most but will have to check out the others! I'm always looking for new favorites!

Kristy

[mary]

I second (or third?) "Night Tree" and "A Child's Christmas in Wales". And here's another that hasn't shown up on the previous lists, "The Donkey's Dream" by Barbara Helen Berger. It's a frequent request in our home. I'm chuckling over your refusal to read "The Night Before Christmas" in July ;)

[Martha]

I know you were keeping it to your top ten...yikes, is that tough. But I must add in my two cents here and say that "Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree" is fabulous...an oldie but goodie that my children love.

[shannon]

hey amanda. im a silent reader of yours from montreal. you should look into striking up a deal with amazon.ca as well, because i (and im sure im not the only one) frequently buy books from your list, but have to switch over to the canadian site to access them.
merry merry!

[louise]

The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg is a good one, and my four boys loved The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg when they were little. little tree by e e cummings is also a wonderful Christmas poem.

[Barbara]

Thank you! They all look like beautiful books... you should definitely do posts like this for every season and holiday :)

[Alison]

Thank yous are in order, the first for saying that while you link to Amazon and use it as a tool, you often shop/borrow elsewhere. I worked at an independent bookstore until my second baby was born recently, and it always hurts just a little to click on a book featured in a blog I love and get taken to Amazon. Even though I buy from them myself from time to time. Go figure. (Incidentally, I'm fond of clicking on the link to "used and new" for a book I'm interested in on amazon - often cheaper and another way to support small-scale entrepreneurs. Anyway)

The second thank you is for the winter book list. Today was library day and I used your recommendations as my guidance, my game, for our time in the library. Tonight we read Owl Moon and The Hat before bed and my 3 year old looked and listened reverently. I really hope you'll consider making book lists for other seasons/holidays, as another commenter suggested above!

As always, thank you most for just sharing your world with us. It's very inspiring. :)

[Emily]

Great list! I have a few, but wrote down the rest to check out. You can never have too many books around.
I, too, have never commented, but really like reading your blog and reading all of your fun ideas. I've gotten inspired more than once :)
I'd like to add "Christmas in the Stable" by Astrid Lindgren to the list. It is gold, all smelted and pure. My dad read it to us every Christmas Eve (along with Tasha Tudors "The Night Before Christmas"). We all loved it so much that my mom--an amazingly talented artist and everything else--illustrated her own version for each of the kids (it was out of print at the time, but has since resurfaced.) It is a treasure that I hold near and dear!

[Carol]

I truly appreciate your upfront honesty about the amazon program you are participating in. It is nice to be informed.

[Karyn]

Just another heartfelt thank you for all the time and love you put into this blog! I think the Amazon thing is great - I end up ordering from them more often than I'd like anyway, and I love the idea that I can help out someone relatively local in the process.
This post brought back such great memories of all the Christmas books we would pull out from under the eaves with our ornaments and lights. Re-reading those books brings me right back to a home and a time that are gone. There isn't a better gift for your children than a sure path back into childhood when they are older.
I hope I have the chance to have kids, so I can follow in your footsteps.

[brit]

Each season or holiday I pack up the corresponding books into the corresponding box and the boys get so excited when we unpack them...granted sometimes (especially with christmas) I have to looking for books early, but it's just as fun to unpack the boxes in august....

[melissa]

Thanks for the list. As much as I would prefer to go "local", the reality is with 3 kids under 5, I just don't get a lot of time to really browse childrens bookshops. With the help of your list I have been able to have a great time exploring Amazon while my kids played outside.
Being Australian a Southern Hemisphere list sounds great,you would have to include "An Aussie night before Christmas" by Yvonne Morrison and Kilmeny Niland, Its good for a laugh and stops my children asking when its going to snow!

[MamaOutThere]

Sigh. For expats who travel around with as few boxes as possible, we have tons of books. Books probably make up half of our bulk. But, really, we never have enough of them.

I think we have only one winter book right now, The Snowy Day being in storage back home. But it is one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen. It's hard to find in the English version here, but I came across it the other day and am saving it for Christmas, though I really want to pull it out now: http://www.amazon.com/Queen-illustrated-Vladyslav-Ukrainian-language/dp/9667047326

[MamaOutThere]

Here's a better link: http://www.snowqueen.us/about_the_artist.html

[Gaetanne]

Thanks for the lovely list! Adults need to appreciate children's books and you are helping towards that.

Here is one of my favourite:

The Jolly Postman or other people's letters by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

http://www.amazon.com/Jolly-Postman-Allan-Ahlberg/dp/0316126446

A very special book that children love.

[Denise Ridgway]

Great list, would love to see you do a favourite cookbook post.
Did you get the bird magazines I sent ?
Denise
xx

[camala]

I love The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story by Gloria Houston. It is the sweetest Christmas story.

[Sarah]

I have put up our favorite books at: maymomvt.blogspot.com

[Laura]

Thank you for the wonderful list. A favorite author of our family is Patricia Polacco. She has many beautiful books including Uncle Vova's Tree.

[Jen]

I value your book recommendations so much because I did not grow up reading a lot, so I don't have a good repetoire of good kids books. We go to the library often and do order from Amazon as well, so I am happy if our purchase can benefit you....seeing as you have been such an inspiration in our family!