Children's Book Recommendations

What happens to a snowman when he melts? Where does he go? What does he become? This unique picture book, told from the snowman's point of view, introduces thewonders of the water cycle to young children. The story prompts discussion around change and the impact of seasons on our natural environment and our place in it. It can also be read as a modern-day fable and offers opportunities for deeper reflection on the different stages in our lives.

"What happens outside in the winter? Shine a light behind the page and see ... Explore a frost-laden forest up close and you will find a woodland world filled with great surprises! From sleeping snails to frisky foxes, the secrets of this amazing winter wonderland are revealed"--Publisher description.

The classic and beloved winter holiday song "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" is brought to life with bright and colorful illustrations.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening . . . Tim Hopgood's joyful and colorful illustrations show all the wonders of winter—snowmen and sleigh rides, sweaters and smiles. Follow a family on their walk through snowy scenes. A beautiful and festive celebration of the season—perfect for sharing!

A gentle, repetitive story about forest creatures on a cold winter's day and night. With colorful, child-friendly illustrations this is a sweet pick for cozy storytimes by the fire.

A Step 1 reader to welcome winter, featuring the family from Pumpkin Day! and Apple Picking Day!

The brother and sister from PUMPKIN DAY! and APPLE PICKING DAY! have woken up to a winter wonderland--it's a snow day! Read along as they engage in favorite winter activities with their neighborhood friends on their day off from school. Easy-to-follow rhyme ensures a successful reading experience, and bright, fun art enhances the story.

Step 1 Readers feature big type and easy words. Rhymes and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story. For children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading.

From the bestselling creator of The Biggest Kiss comes a delightful board book filled with snow and snuggles!

Snow is falling! Winter is here!
Let’s all give a snowflake cheer!

This sweet story that’s filled with darling animals and irresistible text that begs to be read aloud is the perfect way to celebrate the wonders of winter while cuddled up with your little ones.

Mouse Island was getting ready for the winter Ice Skating Championships! The prize for this year's champions was a pair of antique silver skates that were said to contain clues to a hidden treasure! Just before the championships, we learn someone wants to steal the Silver Skates to search for the treasure! I had to join the competition to help keep the skates safe. But I didn't know how to ice skate! Would I be able to learn enough tricks on the ice to save the Silver Skates ?

The plucky little hero of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Little Snowplow returns in a story about wishing, waiting, and the magic of a first snowfall.

The little snowplow loves his job on the Mighty Mountain Road Crew, but the work he loves best is plowing snow. Throughout the year, he wishes for snow to come, but winter begins without a single flake in sight. As the weeks pass and the little snowplow’s birthday approaches, he starts to wonder whether it will snow at all. Will the little snowplow’s birthday dreams come true?

When the Snow Is Deeper Than My Boots Are Tall is a charming rhyming picture book celebrating the fun of snow and the coziness of winter.

Find a frosty window./ Watch the flakes fall./ Look! The snow is deeper than my toes are tall.

With young, rhyming verse and bright illustrations, Jean Reidy and Joey Chou captures the joy and excitement of a big snowfall. As the snow climbs over a boy's toes, ankles, shins, and boots, there's more and more fun to be had—snowmen, sledding, snow angels, and, finally, a cup of hot cocoa by a warm fire.

Travel back in time in the magic tree house with Jack and Annie in this #1 bestselling series and meet the greatest warriors of all--the Romans!

We are warriors! Jack and Annie have met knights, pirates, ninjas, and Vikings, but they have never met the most fearsome warriors of all- Roman soldiers. When the magic tree house whisks them back to the early 100s AD, Jack and Annie find themselves in a Roman camp. Their mission- Be like a warrior.

That is easier said than done! The Roman soldiers are much scarier in person--and suspicious of strangers. Then a mysterious man riding a black horse gives Jack and Annie some advice to help them on their mission. But the man may not be who he seems. Will Jack and Annie be good warriors? Can they learn what makes the Roman soldiers so great? And who is the mysterious rider . . . ?

Did you know that there's a Magic Tree House book for every kid?
Magic Tree House- Perfect for readers who are just beginning chapter books
Merlin Missions- More challenging adventures for the experienced reader
Fact Trackers- Nonfiction companions to your favorite Magic Tree House adventures

If you're looking for Merlin Mission #31- Summer of the Sea Serpent, it was renumbered as part of the rebrand in 2017 as Merlin Mission #3.

First snow, surprise snow:
Nature's sparkly magic show

The award-winning celebration of preschoolers and snow is now available as a board book!

For small children, snow is a wonder. It sparkles and glitters. It transforms the outside world. Every kind of snow brings its own magic. It invites snow angels, skating, fort-building, and snowballs. Even blizzard days are exciting, when routines are overturned and everyone bands together to clear the snow away. For the youngest among us, winter is magical.

In Snow Days, author Deborah Kerbel captures that magic with nimble couplets that Kirkus Reviews calls a playful celebration of wintry weather. Illustrator Miki Sato's fascinating textural collage art, called deceptively simple by Publishers Weekly, looks intimately touchable. She recreates the coziness and spectacle of the season in paper, felt, and embroidery silk, creating masterpieces that invite readers to look again and again.

With a diverse cast of children, a closing spread of five age-appropriate STEM experiments, and a sturdy Toddler Tough board book format, Snow Days will invite repeated reads everywhere from lap time to story time to bedtime.

Together or apart, true friendship triumphs What will I do without you? asks Figgy Twosocks as her friend Jefferson Bear prepares to hibernate for winter. Alone in the wintry woods, with only her naughty brothers, Big Smudge and Floppylugs, to play with, Figgy Twosocks feels sad and sulky - until she finds a new playmate in Hoptail the squirrel. When JB returns in the Spring, Figgy Twosocks has lots to tell her old friend about what she did that winter without him... A poignant story with a reassuring message - perfect for all young children exploring the art of making new friends, and learning to cope with separation. A wonderfully warm and witty text and simply irresistible artwork makes this picture book ideal for sharing with even the smallest child.

An introduction to the magic, beauty and fun of snow for very young readers, perfect for fans of Ezra Jack Keats' classic The Snowy Day.

Snow softens, snow tricks, snow tracks, snow glows and snow snows and snows and snows, transforming a small village into a winter wonderland. A girl and her dog set out and make the most of every snow-filled moment: sledding, building snowmen and snowforts, making snowangels (and snowdogs), and drinking cocoa by a cozy fire as the snow continues to fall. This luminous and lively picture book celebrates the beauty, magic and excitement of snow with simple, easy-to-read text, comprised almost solely of verbs and action words, and gorgeous art that highlights the amazing colors of a snowy day. As inviting as the first snowfall, but so much warmer, Snow Falls encourages little people and big people to go outside and enjoy the snow . . . before it goes!

Young dancer Sofia wakes up to a quiet, white world--it's a snow day! She makes her way outside to the neighborhood park, where a field awaits her, white and shining and open. It isn't long before the rest of the neighborhood wakes its sleepy head--and the other kids make their way to the park, scattering all of Sofia's beautiful silence. But with the help of a new young friend, Sofia is ready to show everyone what a snow dancer can do on a perfect day like this. With lyrical language and gorgeous art, this book sparkles with all the joy and beauty of a snow day.

A New York Times Bestseller!

A group of clever animals find an unusual but warm and furry home during Alaska's long winter in Jan Brett's newest snowy adventure.

Cozy is the softest musk ox in Alaska, with the warmest fur you ever did feel. When a storm hits while he's separated from his family, he starts to feel lonely—but not for long. As the snow piles up, animals start to notice just how warm and cozy Cozy really is! One mama lemming has a bright idea . . . maybe the best place to spend the winter is under Cozy's fur!

As more and more animals burrow in, Cozy adds to the house rules: quiet voices, gentle thumping, claws to yourself, no biting, and no pouncing. That seems easy enough . . . until the lemmings, snowshoe hare, snowy owl, arctic fox, and wolverine begin to bicker. Luckily, signs of spring soon appear, and that means Cozy can find his herd and his new friends can head to their summer homes. But not before promising to get cozy with Cozy next year!

Jan Brett brings a new lovable character to life through this gorgeous tale of sharing, friendship, and living in harmony.

Snuggle up with all of Jan Brett's snowy treasures: The Mitten, The Hat, The Snowy Nap, The Three Snow Bears , and The Trouble With Trolls.

Nico is a little red fox that spends spring, summer and autumn with his three friends, Ava, Olive and Linus. When his woodland friends hibernate for the winter, Nico is left all alone in a snowy wonderland. He unsuccessfully searches for a friend to keep him company during the long winter. To pass time, Nico builds a fox from snow. Little does he know, he's about to become friends with a real snow fox. A story about cherishing old friends, perseverance, and making new friends. Picture book, Life science context: animals & seasons, habitat, Story elements: setting: The woodlands, plot and character development, main character, Nico the red fox, problem and solution, speech bubbles, Illustrations enhance meaning and tone, Comprehension strategies: Predicting outcomes, sequence events, identify cause and effect relationships, & changes from beginning to end of the story. Themes: our natural world, hibernation, animals, loneliness, friendship.

The perfect winter story. This ode to snow, told in rhythmic free verse, follows a girl delighting in the outdoors on a wintry day. All she encounters is framed by the snow. There are fine pearls of snow, a twirl of snow, a curl of snow. The sky unravels into snow, while the hills are knitted caps of snow. She is captivated, as the snow swaddles her world, and makes everything snug — from first light, to the darkness of bedtime. The glorious snow-filled pages of this enchanting story will have children everywhere searching for their mittens.

Fox does not like winter. None of his friends are around to play. He is bored and alone. Then Fox has an idea. If he cannot escape winter, he will fight it.

In this evocative and heartwarming novel for readers who loved The Thing About Jellyfish, the author of I Can Make This Promise tells the story of a Native American girl struggling to find her joy again.

It’s been a hard year for Maisie Cannon, ever since she hurt her leg and could not keep up with her ballet training and auditions.

Her blended family is loving and supportive, but Maisie knows that they just can’t understand how hopeless she feels. With everything she’s dealing with, Maisie is not excited for their family midwinter road trip along the coast, near the Makah community where her mother grew up.

But soon, Maisie’s anxieties and dark moods start to hurt as much as the pain in her knee. How can she keep pretending to be strong when on the inside she feels as roiling and cold as the ocean?

The Heartdrum imprint centers a wide range of intertribal voices, visions, and stories while welcoming all young readers, with an emphasis on the present and future of Indian Country and on the strength of young Native heroes. In partnership with We Need Diverse Books.

"Visual beauty plus the beauty of closeness in sad times. Cuddle close for this one." Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews

A red fox and a gray dormouse joyfully play in their forest home as the season begins to change from fall to winter. Soon, the dormouse must hibernate, and the friends will part. As the time for sleep nears, the fox tries to keep the dormouse awake. Sleep indeed must come, but not before the two friends have shared one last story, knowing they will be together again in the spring.This gentle friendship story is the perfect allegory for the bedtime ritual. And the reassuring message is clear: "I will be there for you when you wake."

Rendered with reassuring words and pastoral scenes, this soothing lullaby of a story is sure to settle even the most restless of cubs.

Mouse is rushing to her nest.
In soft, dry grasses she will rest.

Geese are calling, a chilly wind is blowing, and the sky is turning gray. Winter is on its way. For Mama Bear and Small Bear, that means it's time to tuck into their den for a long sleep. But Mouse is scurrying by, and Chipmunk is still gathering nuts beside the lake. And look at Hare and Skunk, still romping through the leaves! Why can't Small Bear stay up, too? To each question, Mama Bear responds with the coziest of answers, finally painting a dreamy picture of the brightening colors and new adventures that will greet Small Bear in the spring. But first comes sleep, in this irresistible invitation to drowsy little cubs everywhere.

Perfect for fans of Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, The Leaf Thief is a funny picture book that teaches kids about autumn, adapting to change, and the seasons.

Squirrel loves counting the leaves on his tree--red leaves, gold leaves, orange, and more. But hold on! One of his leaves is missing! On a quest to find the missing leaf, Squirrel teams up with his good friend Bird to discover who the leaf thief could be among their forest friends.

With vibrant art and captivating characters, the magic of autumn is captured beautifully on each page as readers tag along Squirrel's forest adventure. Is there truly a leaf thief afoot, or is something else going on in Squirrel's forest? A perfect exploration of change--both seasonal, and the anxiety that change sometimes causes. Bonus material explaining about the changing of the seasons. Poised to be a new fall classic.

Pick up The Leaf Thief if you are looking for:

• A classic read for ages 4 and up
• Back to school books, ideal for your classroom, homeschool curriculum, and more!
• Seasonal and educational stories about the changing seasons

Persistence and creativity can lead to amazing things, as Leif the leaf discovers in this lovely storybook from Allison Sweet Grant and Adam Grant, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Originals.

Leif is a leaf. A worried leaf. It is autumn, and Leif is afraid to fall. "All leaves fall in the fall," say the other leaves. But Leif is determined to find a different way down, and with his friend Laurel, he uses the resources around him to create a net, a kite, a parachute in hopes of softening his landing. The clock is ticking, the wind is blowing. What will happen when a gust of wind pulls Leif from his branch?

In a culture that prizes achievement, kids are often afraid to fail--failing to realize that some of the very ideas that don't work are steps along the path to ones that will.

This beautiful and informative picture book follows a single tree through the fall season, from the end of summer to winter’s first snowfall. A great read-aloud for home and the classroom by the New York Times–bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo and Red: A Crayon’s Story.

Wonderfall follows a single tree through the changing of the seasons. People, animals, and vehicles pass in front of the tree, celebrating holidays, playing in its leaves, and getting ready for winter. Fifteen combined words (thankful + fall = thankFALL, plentiful + fall = plentiFALL) underscore the themes and concepts of the season, while the main attraction—the beautiful tree—drops acorns, loses leaves, and provides food and a home for a pair of scurrying squirrels. Two full spreads at the back of the book offer additional information about the animals featured in the book, as well as the science behind squirrels, acorns, and saplings.

As trees sway in the cool breeze, blue jays head south, and leaves change their colors, everyone knows--autumn is on its way!

Join a young girl as she takes a walk through forest and town, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with every flower and creature and gust of wind, she says good-bye to summer and welcomes autumn.

Baby experiences the thrills of fall in this seasonal lift-the-flap board book from Karen Katz!

It’s fall! What will baby see?
What is in the basket?
Here are a soft, fluffy hat and scarf!

Little ones will love lifting the flaps in this book to reveal a yummy apple pie, some crunchy acorns, a soft, fluffy hat, and everything else that Baby loves about fall! The sturdy format and easy-to-lift flaps are perfect for parents and children to share.

Crisp air and gray skies beckon a little girl to thoroughly investigate the outside world: chipmunks, squirrels, insects, and fallen leaves all hint that a change of season is coming. Young readers can explore the signs of autumn along with the adventurous child narrator in this charming conclusion to Wong Herbert Yee's series on the seasons (Tracks in the Snow, Who Likes Rain? and Summer Days and Nights).

In this jacketed hardcover edition written and illustrated by Billy Steers, Tractor Mac: Autumn is Here features Tractor Mac and his vehicle and animal friends in a story about the joys and challenges of change.

Fergus the calf doesn’t want autumn to come to Stony Meadow Farm. Not if it means the cornstalks are cut, the trees lose their leaves, and his bird friends migrate away. Why can’t things just stay the same?

But with the help of Tractor Mac and the rest of his friends, Fergus realizes that there are plenty of fun things about autumn, too, as he learns to appreciate what makes each season special.

Lauren Stringer celebrates the coming of autumn in this exuberant, joyful ode to that magical time when the leaves are changing color and the animals are preparing for winter.

Children and animals alike excitedly anticipate yellow time, when the trees release their colorful leaves to blanket the earth, crows raise their voices joyfully from the bare branches, and squirrels busy themselves preparing their nests for winter. This lyrical celebration of the beauty and fun of autumn is sure to become a perennial fall favorite.

What a perfect autumn day! Papa Bear tells his cubs to bundle up in the cozy sweaters he knitted for them—but that is easier said than done. Award-winning author-artist Matt Phelan has created a hilarious and warmhearted ode to fall, patience, and knitting. Sweater Weather will be adored by fans of Anna Dewdney and Tad Hills.

Sweaters on? Not yet!

The air is crisp, and the leaves are bright—it’s the perfect autumn day to enjoy the outdoors. Papa Bear instructs his cubs to put on their sweaters, and patiently waits downstairs. When he checks on them, he learns that getting ready is no simple task. But even if this lovable bear family misses out on their planned outing, the evening sky still holds a beautiful surprise.

Acclaimed author-artist Matt Phelan’s rhythmic, repetitive text and his warm, expressive watercolor paintings are both humorous and rewarding. Brimming with laughter and love from this large bear family, Sweater Weather is an irresistible choice to curl up with during storytime, no matter what the weather is. 

Arnold wants to celebrate the start of the cozy autumn season indoors. Louise does not. How can they celebrate fell if they're not celebrating together? In this story designed to engage early readers, charming characters combine with simple text, lively illustrations, and laugh-out-loud humor to help boost kids' confidence and create lifelong readers!

On one brisk, chilly day, Arnold the bear is determined to stay inside and make popcorn balls. But his best friend, Louise the chipmunk, wants to be outside and make leaf piles. After all, the leaves have finally fallen to the ground, bringing the first day of what Louise calls fell, the season between fall and winter. An argument ensues, so they decide to do their preferred activities separately. But when they both realize that one thing is missing--each other--can they find a way to celebrate together?

Exciting, easy-to-read books are the stepping stone a young reader needs to bridge the gap between being a beginner and being fluent.

"Luminous pastels capture the vivid colors of [fall], from New England-bright foliage to atmospheric details like a cow's profile softly outlined by harvest moon glow . . . thanks to apple-crisp descriptions and the high energy of Jones's jubilant creatures, readers may be tempted outside to make some autumn magic of their own."--Publishers Weekly

It's hard when summer ends, but the hearty season that follows overflows with holidays, sports, and fun. In this companion to Spring Things, the author and illustrator pay tribute to fall.

Children and animals alike enjoy the wonders of fall. Caldecott Medalist and NY Times bestseller Kevin Henkes uses striking imagery to convey basic concepts of language and the season, while Dronzek's paintings illuminate the changing world. Five starred reviews!

Summer is over, and Clifford the small red puppy, is curious about the changes that are happening all around him.

There's something special about each season of the year, wherever we live in the world. Follow the children in this book as they discover and explore the unique character of fall, through indoor and outdoor play. Sensory, detailed and child-centred, this is the perfect introduction for young children to the cycles of the year.

In autumn, daylight begins to decrease, the weather grows colder, and the harvest begins to wither. Just as Americans today celebrate Thanksgiving, peoples of many cultures brighten this season of increasing darkness with festivals to give thanks for the harvest bounty that will sustain them through the long winter to come. THE AUTUMN EQUINOX offers some fascinating descriptions of how peoples of the past celebrated the harvest season. Features include a Native American harvest tale, and some hands-on activities, among them instructions for making Chinese Moon Cakes, an African Harvest Drum, and a model of a Jewish Sukkah.

What is the fall equinox?

The official start of the harvest season, it occurs around September 21 each year. It marks the end of summer and the beginning of longer nights and shorter days. For many cultures around the world, the fall equinox represents a time to celebrate the harvest and begin collecting and storing crops.

Looking at both the science of weather and the history of how the fall equinox has been celebrated by various cultures throughout the world, this book will inspire a new understanding of autumn and the harvest season.

Science activities, ideas for celebrating the fall equinox, and further reading list included!

From a Newbery Medal-winning author, a look at life from a scarecrow’s point of view, accompanied by “magnificent” illustrations (School Library Journal).
 
Scarecrows. They perch high above gardens and fields, with borrowed coats and button eyes and pie-pan hands that glint in the sun. What else is there to know about them? Perhaps more than we realize. Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant’s rich and poignant story, powerfully illustrated by Lauren Stringer, will resonate deeply in the hearts of readers, who just might find themselves seeing the world in a whole new way.
 
“Rylant lyrically imagines the scarecrow as a grateful ‘witness to life,’ while the acrylic paintings evoke a warm, even nostalgic sense of plenty.”—Publishers Weekly 
 
"Rylant uses casual, conversational language with simple elegance and pleasing rhythms.”—School Library Journal
 
“Rylant is in fine form.”—Kirkus Reviews

Donning the bright red sweaters made for them by their loving mother, three playful squirrels head outside for a day of fun and quickly take notice of the changes that have taken place all around them in this colorful celebration of autumnal delights.