A to Z Kids Stuff | January Picture Book Play

When I was a child, the snow never felt cold or bitter. I never worried about driving on icy roads and the mere mention of it didn't bring the dreaded feeling that it does to me now. The snow was simply magical! It was hours of sledding, angel-making, snowball fighting fun! Through the eyes of my own children, I'm now reminded of those days, and I can't help but catch their enthusiasm and joy for the season. I hope my picks for this month and the corresponding activities give you that same feeling!

Written and Illustrated by Nancy Cote
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church Street
Honesdale, PA 18431
ISBN: 159078054X
32 pages

Alice swept the last leaves of fall into her sleeping garden. She put down her broom and rubbed her shoulders. She looked at the sky. A shiver ran through her bones. And then it happened.her big toe began to throb. "Snow," she told her dog Sweetie. "This means snow."

Now if only Alice could get her friends to listen to her. They all laugh at and ignore the old lady's warning. Sure enough, snow falls. It takes everyone by surprise- everyone but Alice that is. She's stocked up on supplies and ready to see the storm through. She begins to worry about her foolish friends, though. She invites them all over and vows to share what she has with them. Everyone is thankful and never again does any of them laugh at or ignore Alice's weather forecasts. This story is a wonderful example of friendship and generosity.

Written by J. Patrick Lewis
Antheneum Books for Young Readers
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 0689850298
32 pages

Said Crystal Snowflake to her twin,

"Look at what a spin I'm in,
Feather-light and falling.whoa!"
Sighed her sister, Ivory, "Oh,
Let us snow then, you and I,
While we have wet winds to fly,
While the children come and go-
Tongues inviting us to snow."

And so begins The Snowflake Sisters, a roller coaster ride through a season in the life of two snowflakes. Where will they go? Will they meet the man in the big red suit? What other friends will they meet along the way? This delightful rhyming picture book should be a snow day staple in every child's library!

Written by Marion Dane Bauer
Aladdin Paperbacks
An Imprint of Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 0689854366
32 pages

The winter world is cold.
The trees are bare.
The grass is brown.
Gray clouds crawl across the sky.

Many children love playing in the snow. They love making angels and snowmen and engaging in playful snowball fights. But to many children, the magic of snow remains a mystery. What is it made from? Where does it come from? This book has all of the answers and the simple text of this Level 1 Ready-to-Read, makes it a great pick for any child just beginning to enter the wonderful world of reading.

Playtime

1. Make a snow scene with just blue construction paper, cotton balls and glue. Children can make any snow shape they can dream up. You can also use this opportunity to explain to them that snowflakes have six sides. Maybe their snow shapes can also have six sides!

2. Have your children gather snow in buckets from outside and bring them inside. Use this as an opportunity to make science predictions. Ask the children what they think might happen if they put some snow in the freezer? How about the refrigerator? What if they left the snow at room temperature?

Split the snow into three piles and try each experiment. Check back the next day to let the children compare their predictions with the actual results.

More Reading For Snowy Fun.

Written by Deborah Blumenthal

Written by Barbara M. Joosse

Written by Stella Blackstone

Written by Cindy Higham