I spend a lot of time curled up in my “reading nook” with my favorite classic novels, rediscovered memoirs, and mystery novels. But I also spend a lot of time with a kid – or two – on my lap, reading aloud. And while I’ve been reading more novels to the kids (especially Peanut) lately, we still do love our picture books. I especially can’t get enough of the combination of beautiful words and mesmerizing artwork. There are some really stunning offerings in the libraries and bookshops these days; here are a few of my favorites.

Kate Messner writes some gorgeous prose, and the art by Christopher Silas Neal in her “over and under” series (which now includes Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt; Over and Under the Pond; and Over and Under the Rainforest) is absolutely breathtaking. I could fall into these books and just live in the natural rhythms of their world. Over and Under the Snow is absolutely lovely. Recently my cousin Jaime took her baby boy on a story walk through a local (to her) park; the story was Over and Under the Snow and, of course, she fell in love with it too.

Snow Birds, by Kirsten Hall, was one of Nugget’s Christmas gifts this year, but I think I might have been even more excited to read it than he was. It’s just beautiful – lovely, peaceful art and stunning kid-friendly poetry. Even if you’re not a bird nerd (as Nugget and I proudly are) it’s a lovely read. Destined to become a new family favorite for sure!

Can’t have a list of snowy season picture books without Jan Brett’s classic The Mitten, now can we? (Narrowly beating out that other classics, The Snowy Day, which is also beloved in our house.) If you don’t already know the story of a forest full of chilly critters who crawl into a hand-knitted mitten to warm up, get thee to your local bookstore and pick up a copy! I think both of my kids have read this in school, by now, and I have the pile of The Mitten-themed art projects to prove it. But we love it for home, too, especially piled up together under a warm blanket on a cold winter Sunday afternoon. Nothing better.

You certainly don’t have to have ankle-biters around the house to enjoy the peaceful art and inspiring words in these snow-themed picture books. What are your favorite picture books to celebrate chilly days?