Books for a Woodsy Winter Story Time
Read, Discuss, Do with COUNTING WINTER and a list of other woodsy winter books
Winter is in full swing here in Nebraska, but it doesn’t exactly look like it. We’ve barely had any snow, though January has brought with it plenty of cold days. But when snow isn’t found outside, it can be found in books. That is true whether you live in a place in which winter brings snow or not. And a great thing about snow in books? It’s not cold! You can enjoy the beauty and magic of it without the winter chill. If you ask me, nothing beats the real thing. But books about snow come close!
One of my favorite things to do in winter—when there is snow—is to go for a walk in the woods. So today’s story time idea and book list is all about books that feature snowy woods! If you have the chance to walk in the snowy woods, I hope you take it. Pair it with one of these wonderful woodsy winter reads.
The featured book for today is Counting Winter by Nancy White Carlstrom, illustrated by Claudia McGehee, a gorgeous counting book giving the reader a look at various animals (and people) and how they face the cold winter. The short, simple text is poetic and pleasant to read, and the illustrations, made with scratch art and watercolor, are a feast for the eyes.
I hope you will look for this book and/or some others on this list for a woodsy, wintry story time of your own. Enjoy!
Note: Some links will take you to my bookshop.org storefront. Purchasing a book from my storefront will support independent bookstores and help me maintain Read, Discuss, Do at no additional cost to you.
Read: Counting Winter
Discuss:
Which of the critters in this book did you recognize?
Have you seen any of the animals featured in this book in real life? If so, which ones? Where did you see them?
There is a page in the book that shows 12 children playing in the melting snow. What is a way that you enjoy playing in the snow? If you’ve never played in the snow, which activity looks the most fun?
Does it snow where you live?
What do you like and/or dislike about winter?
Do:
The art in Counting Winter is done with scratchboard. Try scratch art of your own to create a winter scene. You can buy scratch art paper wherever you find art supplies. You can also make your own! Here is a tutorial that shows how easy and fun it can be.
Head out for a walk in a woodsy area (or just in your neighborhood) and see how many winter critters you spot. Chances are the animals you see will be different than the ones in the book! No snow? No problem!
Choose one of the animals from the book and learn more about it. You can use the internet or another book. How about a trip to the library?
What other activities can you think of to pair with this book?
Can you spot the deer in this picture?
More woodsy winter reads:
In the Winter Woods by Daniela Kulot, translated by Elisabeth Lauffer
Fox, Mouse, and Crow are so hungry, but winter isn’t willing to share. And neither is Squirrel, until he can’t find his stash. Together the forest friends hunt for Squirrel’s food store, and then they all fill their bellies. This is a cute and simple story about the harshness of winter and the blessing of having friends willing to help out when times are tough.
After the Snowfall by Rich Lo
A fox emerges from his den after a snowfall and passes by many other forest animals on his way to the stream for a drink. Unique illustrations done in watercolor and collage make this book a quiet, captivating read.
The Tea Party in the Woods by Akiko Miyakoshi
Kikko heads out to bring a pie to her grandmother, thinking she’s following her father who left it behind. In her hurry to catch up, she stumbles, and the pie gets ruined. She continues on her way, but the house she finds is not her grandmother’s, and it turns out she wasn’t following her father, but a bear! Kikko joins a group of animals for a tea party, and afterward the animals share their treats as a replacement for the ruined pie. This story is sweet and magical and will surely spark the imaginations of any readers, young or old.
Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick
An assortment of woodland creatures notice a snowman in the woods and hesitantly approach until they realize the stranger is made partly of edible treats. The nature photography in this book makes it a true delight.
One Winter Up North by John Owens
A family explores the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, journeying across frozen lakes and through frozen woods, and camping at night in a tent warmed by a little wood stove. This wordless book is told through pencil and watercolor painting and is sure to awaken the adventurer in all who read it.
Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, illustrated by Susan Jeffers
Robert Frost’s famous poem about stopping to watch the woods fill up with snow is gorgeously illustrated by Susan Jeffers, who beautifully captures the beauty and wonder of winter in the woods.
Whose Prints? by Kari Allen, illustrated by Kim Smith
In this delightful board book, die cuts in each page hint at what comes next, encouraging the reader to guess which critter made the tracks in the snow.
What books would you add to this list?