Snowy reads for the holidays

With winter in full swing and Christmas on the horizon, wouldn't a wonderfully wintry snowfall be perfect right about now?

Even if snow doesn't arrive this Christmas, we wanted to share some of our favourite snowy reads with you.

Parsnip, by Sue Porter
A perfect pop-up book for younger children, Parsnip tells the story of a cute little lamb, born on the top of a snowy hilltop and taken down to the farmhouse to warm up. Once recovered, little Parsnip sets off on a journey through the snow to find her mum, and meets some other animals along the way.

The book is beautifully illustrated and the pop-up pages help to tell the story and spark imagination.

Little Polar Bear, by Hans de Beer
When Lars, the little polar bear, goes hunting with his dad for the very first time he returns home exhausted. Whilst asleep he doesn't hear the ice cracking and, unbeknownst to him, he slowly drifts away from his dad and the North Pole. Upon waking up, Lars' adventures truly begin.

Not only does the book have wonderful illustrations, it's also a great way to teach children about polar bears and their snowy habitats.

The Toys' Christmas, by Claire Clément and Geneviève Godbout
A lovely book to read to the little ones the night before Christmas. Set on Christmas Eve, Noah’s favourite toy – an elephant named “Fanfan” – has gone missing. But he’s actually on a rather important mission: just in case the letters don’t reach Santa, toys all around the world go on their annual Christmas voyage to tell Santa what their child wants most of all. 

This is a sweet and magical tale that's sure to spark excitement. 

The Snowman, by Raymond Briggs
Perhaps one of the most popular of the snowy books, The Snowman is a story for the generations. First published in 1982, the book and film have had an impact on young and old ever since. The book follows the adventures of a boy who builds a snowman in his garden; when he wakes up in the night he discovers that his snowy creation has come to life and they set off on a magical journey together, starting in the house and ending with a visit to Father Christmas!

Though a book without words, the story runs clearly through the illustrations. You can use the book to discuss what is happening on each page with your child, which will encourage them to use their imagination and be creative!

The Winter Hedgehog, by Ann Cartwright and Reg Cartwright
First published in 1991, The Winter Hedgehog follows the adventures of a little prickly hedgehog; curious about winter and feeling very brave, the smallest hedgehog ignores his mother's warning about the dangers of winter. He refuses to join his family as they hibernate, instead choosing to leave the cosy home and experience winter: good and bad! When spring arrives, the little hedgehog returns home, wide-eyed with experience from his adventures.

Stick Man, by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
This is another much loved wintry story; Stick Man lives in the family tree with his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three. One day he becomes separated from his home. Will Stick Man ever get back to his family tree?

These are but a few suggestions for wintry reads. There are many more you can choose from; other suitable suggestions can be found on our Recommended Reading List.

Even though it may not be snowing outside your window, you could huddle around one of these books with the family and create your own winter wonderland!