Anita Ojeda Looking for books about winter for your little ones? Check out these new releases: a picture book without words, an own-voices picture books, and a short chapter book.
I receive free electronic advanced reader copies of these books through an arrangement between the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion on NetGalley’s website. I only review books on my blog that I really love.
Looking for Books About Winter for Your Kids?
These three new releases all have a winter theme. Whether you’re looking for books about winter for toddlers, school children, or a read-aloud for all ages, stop right here.
Snow Doves
by Nancy Hartry, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard, Second Story Press, 32 pages, toddler-2nd grade.
Snow Doves, a beautiful no-word picture book, chronicles the story of Sami, a recent arrival to a country with snow, and the neighbor girl who befriends him. She invites him out to play in the snow and makes sure he has the clothing to enjoy the experience, the fun of snowmen, sledding, and snow angels.
Parents will find it the perfect springboard for discussing feelings of fear, new experiences, and friendships. Teachers will find it a valuable tool for creative writing (students could add text to the pictures to describe what’s happening or how the characters feel).
The Most Amazing Bird
By Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak, Annick Press, November 2020, 40 pages, preschool-2nd grade.
Aggataa discovers an ugly bird on her cold winter walk—its black and doesn’t seem to fit in its dull-black feather suit. She questions her grandmother about the bird and discovers the raven has befriended her grandmother.
As the seasons change, so does the bird. But it disappears when the weather turns beautiful and all the other birds come home to raise their young. She wonders if she’ll ever see her grandmother’s friend again.
This delightful story uses the beauty and habits of birds to tell the story of an Inuk family living in the Northwest Territory in Canada. I love how it uses the universality of birds to introduce characters and their way of life to readers who may have no concept of how other people groups may live.
I already bought a copy for my grandson (who lives in Alaska), and I’ll order one for our school library as well. Librarians, teachers, and parents won’t want to miss this beautiful story.
I ADORE this book by @Arvaarluk. Not just because it's about birds, but because it introduces young readers to the ways different people live. #ownvoices #birder #teacher #amreading Click To TweetJust Beyond the Very, Very Far North
By Dan Bar-el, illustrated by Kelly Pousette, Atheneum Books for Youth Readers, October 2020, 272 pages, Grades 3-7.
In this sequel to Bar-el’s book The Very, Very Far North, Duane the polar bear faces new challenges—most of which originate with the weasel. You guessed it, the weasel darts around the arctic community sowing seeds of discontent amongst Duane and his friends. His ‘suggestions’ sound logical, but when carried out, bring discontent to the happy inhabitants of Duane’s community.
Told by an anonymous, omniscient narrator, the action unfolds at a pace perfect for reading aloud to younger kids. Duane, the consummate peacemaker, deals with making good choices, navigating difficult friendships, and helping the community make reparations when they go astray.
Bar-el walks a fine line between story-telling and pontificating, and usually stays on the kid-friendly side of story-telling. I haven’t read a story like this since my dad read Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories to me as a kid. I’m not sure how today’s youngsters will react to the tone and omniscient narration. Who knows, maybe a new generation is ready for a new kind of storytelling. Duane teaches readers great problem-solving skills when it comes to emotional intelligence and his search for the Walrus is a poignant description of how to help someone who struggles with depression.
