Wonderful winter reads

When it's cold and frosty outside, with weather that makes you want to slow down and snuggle up at home, it's time to ease yourself into a winter read.

Some readers want escapism and others are looking to learn, but there are other benefits to reading like how it can boost brain power and improve mental well-being. That's part of why we have so many passionate readers at Kumon, inspired by our fabulous English reading programme.

Here are a few of our favourite winter reads:

The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen
"She cannot receive any power from me greater than she now has, which consists in her own purity and innocence of heart."

This is a classic fairy tale of good against evil. Best friends Gerda and Kai are torn apart by the powers of evil when Kai is tricked and kidnapped by the Snow Queen.

Gerda, refusing to believe he is dead as their neighbours believe, scours the earth to find Kai. But can she reach him in time and defeat the powerful Snow Queen?

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
"If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in cloth of gold, but it is a great deal more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it."

This heart-warming tale of courage and friendship will have you reaching for the tissues.

Heroine Sara Crewe attends Miss Minchin's boarding school, but when her father sadly dies she is left with nothing and must work as a scullery maid to earn her keep. Throughout her mistreatment by Miss Minchin, and despite her misfortune, Sara remains kind and caring to all. Read the book for yourself to find out if there's a happy ending.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
“People who have not been in Narnia sometimes think that a thing cannot be good and terrible at the same time.”

Set in a magical land found inside a wardrobe, this famous book tells the story of Lucy and her siblings who discover Narnia - a land buried under the evil enchantment of the White Witch. They meet the great and wise lion, Aslan, and bravely join the battle to free Narnia.

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
"You speak of destiny as if it was fixed."

Set in a parallel universe, Northern Lights is the first book in Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy. The snowy, arctic backdrop for much of the story's action makes this a perfect winter read.

Strange child kidnappings and an overheard secret conversation set 11-year-old Lyra off on an adventure to uncover the truth and restore order within her universe.

If you're looking for even more wintery favourites, take a look at part two of this article or explore the Kumon Recommended Reading List for some further inspiration.

So why not make the most of your time off with the children by sharing some quality story time together, or take some 'me-time' for yourself and relax with one of our cosy reads?