Three charm-filled books all about snow

It's snowing! Perhaps not right at this moment, but every year, in lots of places across our fair land, blankets of snow transform familiar landscapes; snowdrifts pile up, freeze, melt, and pile up again. All that snow plus preschoolers can mean wrestling with snowsuits, searching for lost hats and mittens, mopping puddles in the front hall but, especially for our little ones, it can also mean experiencing absolute wonder. And endless outdoor fun: snowmen, snow angels, snowballs, sledding, and even snow painting! For those times when you need a little winter magic (even in the middle of summer!), we offer you a few lovely books that capture the majesty and adventure of snowfall.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

This classic (1963) celebration of a snowfall in the city remains one of the loveliest children's books on any theme. (It is also noteworthy for its very big first: it was the first color picture book for young children to feature a small African-American hero.) On this happy morning, Willie wakes up to discover his familiar urban world transformed by a blanket of snow. We follow his little red-capped figure on a day of snowy discoveries. Keats's watercolor and cut-out images are spare and simply stunning. This was the first in the author's series of books about Willie's adventures, all of which we love and heartily recommend. 

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Susan Jeffers's exquisite pictures of the snowy forest and its creatures bring this beloved poem to life for small readers. It's a beautiful reading experience for kids and grownups, and we can think of no better way to share Robert Frost and the magic of winter with your children. The hush of the winter woods is spellbinding, and promises to mesmerize the most raucous of little snow-lovers in your midst.

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

For some small persons, snow is all about the snow-plows. If you have such a vehicle-obsessed one at your house, here's a classic that will delight to no end. Katy the "beautiful red crawler tractor" is the star of the Highway Department of the city of Geoppolis, and with good reason. When a big snow cripples the other trucks, it's up to Katy to dig out the city, so that planes can land and trains can run, water mains can be repaired, fires put out, patients taken to the hospital, and mail delivered. Thank goodness for Katy! It's a book not just about a tractor, but about how a city works, featuring numbered maps that track Katy's progress through the snow, from uptown to downtown - an all-around charmer!

More from The Savvy Source:

• 100 things to do before kindergarten!

• Mindful self-reflection and daring to dream.

• Find great activities in your town every day with Being Savvy Local.

• For our children, every day is a learning day.  Find and collect even more great ideas at http://www.savvysource.com/.