I love reading to my kids. It’s something that I can do if I’m tired, hungover, or…I don’t know…stuck in my house with them for 10 months straight?! When all I feel like doing is lying on the couch, reading reminds me that I’m a halfway decent parent.

I organize our books by seasons/holidays: snow/winter, Valentine’s, St. Patrick’s, Easter, spring/trees/bugs, gay Pride, 4th of July, summer, kings/castles/dragons, back to school, fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Our collection rests on the top shelf in my closet (mostly because my middle child wants to read Halloween books 24/7/365). This also keeps them a little more special, since they’re not out all of the time.

While holiday books remain my favorite, these five books help me appreciate the snow. For most of us, it’s easy to love the other seasons. Cold, dreary January in Chicago? Not so much. But these books warm me up to wintertime…just a little.

“BIG SNOW” by Jonathan Bean

What I like about this book: It perfectly captures the anticipation of a child waiting for that BIG SNOW! David’s imagination (and antics) remind me of my own offspring.

“LITTLE OWL’S SNOW” by Divya Srinivasan

Favorite line from this book: “Snow is like a special secret not everyone can know. Are you ready for it to melt away so soon?”

“NOW IT IS WINTER” written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Mary Newell DePalma

What I like about this book: The little mouse is basically me: “Will spring EVER come?!” I feel you, Mousie.

Favorite line from this book: “Now it is winter…Now is good as in ‘goodnight’ and sweet as in ‘sweet dreams.’ Now is the blessing. Now is the time to love. Now is the time to be.”

“OWL MOON” written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by John Schoenherr

What I like about this book: Descriptions, descriptions, descriptions. “I could feel the cold, as if someone’s icy hand was palm-down on my back.”

“SNOW” written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Lauren Stringer

Favorite lineS from this book: “And the snow, while it is here, reminds us of this: that nothing lasts forever except memories. And while the snow is here this brief moment, let us take a walk and see how beautiful the world is…It is the snow’s turn now. We’ll watch it fall.”

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For more books about snow, winter, and even Abraham Lincoln, here are two previous posts:

http://www.chicagonow.com/social-butterfly-mom/2015/01/11-books-about-snow/#image/1

http://www.chicagonow.com/social-butterfly-mom/2014/01/12-childrens-books-february/#image/1