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You are here: Home / Books / Winter Chapter Books: Read Alouds to Keep You Warm and Toasty

Winter Chapter Books: Read Alouds to Keep You Warm and Toasty

December 8, 2020

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Winter themed chapter books make perfect family read alouds for cold weather days.

Families with children of all ages will love this list of books that evoke snowy, frosty landscapes. So after your come inside from a fun day of sledding and skating, make some hot cocoa, snuggle up with the kids and enjoy some cozy reading time.

winter chapter books book cover collage

Note: this post contains affiliate links that may earn commission.

I’ve divided the books up into smaller categories for ease of organization: fantasy, realistic fiction and animal stories (plus one non-fiction selection). Age recommendations are for listeners. Independent reading age recommendations may vary.

Fantasy Winter Chapter Books

odd and the frost giants book cover

Odd and the Frost Giants

by Neil Gaiman

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

In ancient Norway a boy named Odd is in the middle of a spell of bad luck. In the forest, he meets a bear, a fox and an eagle who tell him a strange story that sends him on a journey to save the city of the gods from the Frost Giants. Sound winter-y enough for you? I thought so. It’s really quite delightful and will make a fun read aloud while sipping a mug of hot chocolate. It’s a great choice for kids who love Percy Jackson and mythology. Ages 7 and up.


breadcrumbs by anne ursu book cover

Breadcrumbs

by Anne Ursu

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

Breadcrumbs is inspired by Hans Christian Andersson’s The Snow Queen. Families will love to spot the literary references and will also be reminded of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Hazel and Jack are friends, but one day when Jack gets a piece of glass in his eye he is whisked away by a strange, evil woman to a land of snow. Hazel sets out on a journey to find her friend and return home. Ages 8 and up.

MORE: Fairy tale chapter books for kids


Icefall

by Mathew Kirby

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

Solveig and her brothers, along with berserkers sent to protect them, wait anxiously through the winter, trapped in a fortress near snowy mountains and the frozen sea. While they wait for word from their father the King, it slowly becomes clear that someone amongst them is a traitor, but who? This is a thrilling mystery for kids who like stories that keep them perched on the edge of their chair in tense anticipation. Ages 8 and up.

MORE: Adventure chapter books for kids


moominland midwinter book cover

Moominland Midwinter

by Tove Jansson

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

What would winter be without a little Finnish madness? Nothing I tell you. Moomins normally sleep through the winter, but this year, Moomintroll has woken up early and sets out to discover the truth about winter. Ages 5 and up.


Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

by

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

I’ve always liked the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon and I’ve read a couple of novel-length versions of the tale. This one is my favorite. In an effort to save her family, Lass accompanies a polar bear to the North Pole. If she can survive one year and a day, her family will be rewarded with wealth. What she doesn’t know, however, is the polar bear is hiding a secret. Ages 9 and up.


nancy and plum book cover

Nancy and Plum

by Betty MacDonald

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

This 1952 book from the author of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is the perfect recipe for an old-fashioned read aloud:  two orphaned sisters, an unctuous boarding school mistress who feeds them hard oatmeal, a wealthy bachelor uncle, a Christmas setting and a feel good ending in which the bad fail and the good triumph.  Read it aloud over the winter break when the kids are home from school. Ages 6 and up.

MORE: Christmas chapter books to read aloud


frostheart book cover

Voyage of the Frostheart

by Jamie Littler

Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

I read aloud this exciting tale of a brave boy who heads out on an adventure and my son was on the edge of his seat. Ash has the gift of song, which makes him an outcast in Fira, his adopted community. But he takes off on the Frostheart, a ship manned by an unusual group of people and creatures, in order to find out what happened to his parents. The crew of the Frostheart isn’t afraid of his Song Weaving ability and it may even be the key to avoiding the wrath of the fearsome Leviathans. Ages 7 and up.


Winter Books about Animals

the very very far north book cover

The Very, Very Far North

by Dan Bar-El

Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

This is my new favorite read aloud, and I don’t say that lightly! Duane the polar bear has a curiosity and sense of adventure that leads him first to a shipwreck where he meets C.C. the Owl. He then encounters even more new friends like Handsome the musk ox, Magic the artic fox, and Major Puffin. Together, they explore the wonders of the northern landscape. The cast of animals is as diverse in their personalities as they are in species and the thread of the story focuses on learning to appreciate one’s friends. An absolute must-read book, and an excellent choice for kids of all ages.

MORE: Family read alouds to give yourself this year


the adventures of a south pole pig book cover

The Adventures of a South Pole Pig

by Chris Kurtz

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

Atop her manure pile, Flora dreams of exciting adventures; she longs to get out into the world! She want to go on an expedition and run with the sled dogs! There’s just one problem. She’s a pig. Finding herself on a ship headed for Antarctica, she digs deep inside her optimistic and brave little self to make her dreams come true. Ages 4 and up.


Mr. Popper’s Penguins

by Florence & Richard Atwater

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

This Newbery Honor book from 1938 is still as funny today as it was then. Mr. Popper and his family adopt a penguin sent to them by an explorer. The brood grows to 12 penguins and hijinks ensue. We first listened to this as an audiobook when my youngest son was almost 4 and he enjoyed it immensely, especially the scene in which the Poppers flood the basement with water, then freeze it. Ages 4 and up.


journey of the pale bear

The Journey of the Pale Bear

by Susan Fletcher

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

Not set in winter, but nonetheless, this is a great choice for cold-weather reading. Arthur, a boy living in Norway, runs away from his abusive stepfather and stepbrothers. He has a letter from his Welsh cousins, which he assumes is asking him to return to Wales and claim his birthright. Unfortunately, he can’t actually read the letter. In the port town of Bergen he encounters a caged polar bear and two ruffians shove him in the cage. When Arthur soothes the bear, he is enlisted to accompany the bear on a ship to England, for the bear is a gift from King Haakon to King Henry. Hair-raising, heart-searching and page-turning adventure follows. The story was inspired by a 13th century “pale bear” who lived in the Tower of London menagerie, a gift from Norway. Ages 9 and up.


pugs of the frozen north book cover

Pugs of the Frozen North 

by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

Here’s a great choice for families and kids who enjoy a healthy dose of quirky humor. A shipping accident leaves a gaggle of pugs stranded in the snowy, frozen north. They are saved and adopted by a pair of kids, Sika and Shen. Sika and Shen harness the pugs in attempt to win the Great Northern Race, which ends at the home of a mythical man called Snowfather. There are many shenanigans along the race, including a bizarre encounter with noodle loving creatures! Ages 5 and up.


Realistic Fiction

Dog Driven

by Terry Lynn Johnson

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

14-year-old McKenna is running an 8 dog team sled race. Trouble is, she is battling an eye disease that has also affected her younger sister. McKenna hasn’t told anyone about her worsening eye condition despite the dangers of the race. This is a very suspenseful winter-y novel, perfect for kids who like survival stories!  Ages 10 and up.


running on the roof of the world

Running on the Roof of the World

by Jess Butterworth

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

How many books set in Chinese-controlled Tibet have your kids read? Well, here’s the opportunity to change all that! and Tash and her family live their lives, hiding their Buddhist faith from the Chinese soldiers that occupy her village in Tibet. But one day, the startling actions of a man disrupts the peace and Tash’s parents are taken away. Tash, disguised as a boy and her friend, Sam, along with two goats, flee the village, making a harrowing journey across snow covered mountains. Intertwined with this page-turning adventure are questions about freedom, courage and the teachings of the Dali Lama. Terrific. Ages 10 and up.

MORE: Books for fans of Mulan


12 kinds of ice book cover

Twelve Kinds of Ice

by Ellen Bryan Obed

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

Technically, this isn’t solely about ice skating, but it will sure make you strap on the ol’ skates after reading it. Twenty very short chapters and utterly winsome, old-fashioned drawings from Barbara McClintock make this book a real treasure. Those of you who grew up in cold climates will start to get nostalgic for the perfect skating ice, first ice, stream ice, and so on. So delightful. Really. Ages 4 and up.


skating shoes book cover

Skating Shoes

by Noel Streatfeild

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

For good old fashioned fun you can’t go wrong with one of the “Shoes” books. In Skating Shoes, a doctor deems skating lessons the ticket to Harriet’s recovery from and illness. She meets Lalla at the rink, and the two bond over their skating careers. This book is a fun read aloud. Ages 7 and up.


sugar and ice book cover

Sugar and Ice

by Kate Messner

Find it: Amazon

In Sugar and Ice, seventh grader Clare’s talent for skating is spotted at a local show and she quickly becomes enmeshed in the world of skating, with its pressures and rivalries. A fun story of a girl who discovers her strengths and navigates relationships while pursuing her dreams. Ages 9 and up.


Blizzard!: The Storm That Changed America

by Jim Murphy

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

Why not throw in a nonfiction book for good measure? This fact-filled book tells the nail-biting story of the 1888 blizzard that hit  Northwestern America. The focus is primarily on New York City–after all it takes a mammoth storm to bring that city to a standstill–but the far reaching consequences are thoroughly covered. Ages 6 and up.


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by: Erica posted in: Books 29 Comments

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Comments

  1. Lucy Mitchell says

    December 9, 2013 at 10:18 am

    Very interesting! I love the sound of Nancy and Plum. Have you read On The Banks of Plum Creek? Its pretty boy friendly as there is so much detail about how they built (dug) their house.

    Reply
    • Erica MomandKiddo says

      December 10, 2013 at 11:08 am

      I read all the Little House books when I was growing up and did love them. We’ve only tried Farmer Boy, but we could try Plum Creek. I love how everyone is telling me to give the books another chance. I’ll have to listen to everyone’s advice!

      Reply
  2. teachingyoungchildren says

    December 9, 2013 at 3:38 pm

    I see several titles here that I found intriguing. I read a couple of Neil Gaiman’s books and found them not age appropriate for younger kids, but I trust your judgement on this one. Now it’s time to put them on hold in our library.

    Reply
  3. Jen says

    December 9, 2013 at 7:27 pm

    Thanks for a great list! I love reading Winter-themed books during our hot Summers. My favourites are The Box of Delights by John Masefield and The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. My boys didn’t like Farmer Boy either – which surprised me as I loved it as a child. They got freaked out by the first chapter about the school boy fighting with the teacher who whips him – maybe I’ll skip this chapter next time and see if they like it any better!

    Reply
    • Erica MomandKiddo says

      December 10, 2013 at 11:07 am

      Those two are great, too. Jen. I almost put Box of Delights on the list, but I forgot about The Dark is Rising. That would had been a good choice. The chapter with the whipping was about as far as we got too. It was a bit much! I had forgotten about that chapter, but I also don’t remember being freaked out by it as a kid — maybe I was, I just don’t remember.

      Reply
  4. Geoffrey says

    December 9, 2013 at 10:11 pm

    “The Winter Room” definitely belongs on this list, and once you finish it, you’ll know why.

    Reply
    • Erica MomandKiddo says

      December 10, 2013 at 11:05 am

      Thanks. I’m looking forward to reading it.

      Reply
  5. Jeanette Nyberg says

    December 9, 2013 at 10:38 pm

    I’m going to go ahead and sit my kids down and make them listen to me read them Mr. Poppers Penguins. (Plus I requested a couple more from your list from the library. I love book people like you.

    Reply
    • Erica MomandKiddo says

      December 10, 2013 at 11:05 am

      Your kids will be begging you to keep reading Mr. Popper, especially if you do funny voices.

      Reply
  6. writersideup says

    December 9, 2013 at 10:43 pm

    Erica, do I love this list! ALL the covers are wonderful 🙂 I’ve only read “Narnia” though, just THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE.

    Of course, any time I hear about the “Shoes” books, I think of YOU’VE GOT MAIL 😀

    Reply
    • Erica MomandKiddo says

      December 10, 2013 at 11:03 am

      Me, too.

      Reply
  7. Sarah says

    December 10, 2013 at 1:06 am

    If my memory (and a friend’s recent comment) are correct, Little House in the Big Woods is more accessible than the other Little House books (the kids are younger, it’s also the first book – maybe she had to work harder to get someone to publish it). Also, I remember winter scenes in Wisconsin (such as melting snow to make a bath). The friend I recently spoke to said she read it to her daughter 15 times in a row when her daughter was 6 or 7. Now, that’s a recommendation!

    Reply
    • Erica MomandKiddo says

      December 10, 2013 at 11:03 am

      I know that most kids love them, as did I when I was younger. I’ll have to try again.

      Reply
  8. Melissa@Julia's Bookbag says

    December 11, 2013 at 6:28 am

    LOVE. So many favorites!! Skating Shoes (the whole series) are among my very very favorites! Can’t wait to check out Nancy & Plum!

    Reply
    • Erica MomandKiddo says

      December 11, 2013 at 9:19 am

      You will love it, Julia.

      Reply
  9. Amy @ Sunlit Pages says

    December 11, 2013 at 3:42 pm

    I love this collection! (You know how I love seasonal reads . . . ) I’m so glad you included Skating Shoes. I loved all the Shoes books as a child, and I want kids to read them again! I’ve also been wanting to read Twelve Kinds of Ice and Breadcrumbs, so hopefully I’ll have a chance come January.

    Reply
  10. PramgaticMom says

    December 15, 2013 at 4:47 pm

    Can I add an novel in verse? May B by Caroline Starr Rose.

    Reply
    • Erica MomandKiddo says

      December 16, 2013 at 6:35 am

      Thanks for the tip! I haven’t read that one, yet.

      Reply
  11. Suzanne Holt says

    December 30, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    Thanks for telling about seasonal chapter books – harder to find this kind of list. Pinned.

    Reply
  12. E.S. Ivy says

    January 15, 2015 at 6:52 pm

    My girls love Jessica Day George. Dragon Slippers and Tuesdays at the Castle are two of their favorites. And Laura Ingalls Wilder is still one of my favorites. Sarah is correct – Little House in the Big Woods is the most accessible and easiest to read. The worst thing that happens is a cousin who doesn’t do what he’s told ends up getting stung all over by bees – but he survives! For the most part, Wilder left out the harsher things from her life out of her children’s books, but there are a few realities, mostly in the books about when she was older.

    Reply
    • Erica MomandKiddo says

      January 18, 2015 at 6:42 am

      I’ve read some interesting things about how Rose Wilder edited the books to make the Ingalls’ family appear more independent and self-reliant than communities actually were.

      Reply
  13. Ali says

    October 11, 2016 at 5:38 pm

    I am just reading “Snow Treasure” by Marjorie McSwigan to my 8 year old historical fiction lover. She begs for me to read extra chapters every night. This is a true story about Norwegian school children who helped their country smuggle out gold bullion when the Nazi forces occupied their country during the spring of 1940. The protagonist is a boy but it also contains strong girl characters as well.

    I’m re-reading “The Children of Noisy Village” by Astrid Lindgren to my 5-year-old (also read to my older daughter when she was 5). Each chapter is an individual story that all link together to tell a story about delightful children in a small village. Protagonist is a girl, but her older brothers are lively characters as well.

    Reply
    • Erica says

      October 12, 2016 at 8:54 am

      Hi Ali, Thanks for the recommendation. I adore The Children of Noisy Village. My vintage copy has a special place on my bookshelf! 🙂 I’ve not read Snow Treasure, so that you for that and I’ll see if I can find a copy!

      Reply
  14. Christy says

    October 20, 2016 at 10:10 pm

    I just stumbled upon your site today and I’m in love…. 🙂 I have two little boys (8 & 5) and I’ve been reading chapter books at bedtime to them now for just over a year.

    For us, it started with my oldest’s first grade teacher saying he had an issue with his attention span and that maybe a regular read aloud might benefit him. She recommended that I read “The Read Aloud Handbook” by Jim Trelease. I read it and was inspired to get started right away. We are now on our thirty-second chapter book, Hans Brinker & the Silver Skates” by Mary Mapes Dodge. So far, they love it.

    I usually like to have a couple books planned out in advance, and so today I googled “Best Chapter books to read in Winter”…. and here I am. When we have finished with the Brinker family’s adventure, I’ll be sure to pick up a few of these recommendations. I love your site, and will definitely be back frequently! -Christy

    Reply
    • Erica says

      October 21, 2016 at 6:46 am

      I’m delighted to hear this, Christy! Happy reading!

      Reply
  15. Ramona says

    January 5, 2019 at 11:57 am

    I highly recommend The Greenglass House by Kate Milford. A wonderful, winter mystery! And it has a sequel, The Ghosts of Greenglass House (which I haven’t read yet)

    Reply
    • Erica says

      January 8, 2019 at 8:40 am

      Yes, love that book! It’s on a few other lists. 🙂

      Reply
  16. Katie says

    December 11, 2020 at 5:11 pm

    I’m reading The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser to my kids right now and they all love it. It’s supposed to be for my 7 and 9 year olds but the 12 and 13 year olds always find a reason to be in the room with us while I’m reading. It takes place in the days before Christmas and it’s just what we needed.

    Reply
    • Erica says

      December 21, 2020 at 8:47 am

      That is a wonderful book!

      Reply

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