The air is crisp and cold. The winds kick up. The temperatures drop. The snow begins to fall, gently drifting to the ground to transform the bleak landscape into a winter wonderland.
There is no better time than a cold day to grab a book and curl up by the fire with a cup of coffee and a blanket!
Even when you live in non-snowy lands like I do, there is something about winter that makes you want to grab a book and dive in. But then the question becomes: What book should you read?
While the choice of book is entirely up to you, here are a few of my children’s favorite books, a few of our favorite books to read together, and a few of my favorite books to give you some ideas. Happy Reading!
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My Children’s Favorite Books
#1 :: Bindi’s Wildlife Adventure Series
by bindi irwin
Explore distant lands and discover incredible creatures as you travel with Bindi through this 20-book series. Each book takes you to a new place and introduces you to a new animal from a perspective you may never have imagined – all while bringing you along on an unforgettable adventure.
You can read more about Bindi’s Wildlife Adventure series here.
#2 :: Go, Dog, Go!
by p.d. eastman
This easy reader is filled with fun, dogs, and silly hats. It’s written using simple words so beginning readers can claim this one as their own. ‘Go, Dog, Go!’ mingles repetition, colors, and actions to create an enjoyable read you’ll want to come back to again and again.
#3 :: The Boxcar Children Series
created by gertrude chandler warner
Four children living in an abandoned boxcar and fending for themselves doesn’t sound like it would be the start of a children’s adventure series. Yet that’s exactly what it is. Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are unstoppable when it comes to finding adventure and mystery. The best part of all? They focus on helping others no matter what happens.
#4 :: Fancy Nancy
by jane o’connor
What could be better than playing dress-up and bringing some fanciness to the everyday moments in life? Nancy is an expert at taking the ordinary, throwing in some fancy clothes, glitter, a tiara, and a smattering of French and turning even the most mundane situation into something fancy!
You can read more about the fun and fabulous world of Fancy Nancy here.
#5 :: Travels with Gannon and Wyatt
by patti wheeler and keith hemstreet
If you’re looking for adventure, travel, intrigue, learning a bit of a foreign language, and finding out about different cultures, you won’t want to miss the Travels with Gannon and Wyatt series! Written as a travel journal, twins Gannon and Wyatt take you along as they explore places like Egypt, the Great Bear Rainforest, Ireland, Botswana, Australia, and more.
You can read more about Gannon and Wyatt’s Travels here.
#6 :: A Wrinkle in Time
by madeline l’engle
Dive into your imagination and find out for yourself whether it’s possible to travel through time and space. Whether it is possible to find a wrinkle in the fabric of time. And whether you have the courage to do what you need to do to help others.
#7 :: A-Z Mystery Series
by ron roy
What is better than solving mysteries with your best friends? Nothing, really. At least, that’s what Dink and Josh think. Come along on an exciting easy-chapter read that goes through the alphabet solving mysteries starting with The Absent Author all the way through to The Panda Puzzle and the Talking T-Rex.
You can read more about the A to Z Mystery Series here.
Our Favorite Books to Read Together
#1 :: I’m A Little Teapot
by iza trapani
This is a story, told in rhyme and song, about a little teapot who dreams of adventure in far away lands. And yet, she dreams and uses her imagination while sitting patiently on the stove to be used to make tea. A fun, clever, silly book that is a sheet delight to sing time and time again!
You can read more about this teapot’s adventures here.
#2 :: The Story of Dr Dolittle
by hugh lofting
Talking to animals in their own language is not a skill many humans can claim. Yet, through the pages of the adventures of Dr Dolittle, you are invited into a world of animals. A world of wonder. A world of intrigue. A world that many could not have imagined. Won’t you come along?
#3 :: Anne of Green Gables
by L.M. Montgomery
Sometimes it is the simple moments in life told from the perspective of another person that makes the biggest impression in your life. While at first glance, there seems nothing spectacular and everything ordinary about Anne-with-an-e, when you bring in a good does of imagination, anything can happen!
You can read more about Anne of Green Gables and her incredible imagination here.
#4 :: Little Blue Truck
by alice schertle
Kindness, generosity, friendship, and lending a helping hand are brought to light by the delightful Little Blue Truck and his friends. Told in rhyme, this series of children’s books is bound to delight your little ones and have them asking to read Little Blue once more.
You can read more about Little Blue and his friends here.
#5 :: Swiss Family Robinson
by johann david wyss
An exciting adventure. Strong family relationships. New things to discover and explore. This book has all the elements of a great adventure story as a family pulls together to not just survive, but thrive in circumstances that would cause most people to simply give up.
#6 :: Green Eggs and Ham
by dr seuss
This classic Dr Suess book has been loved by so many people, but don’t miss it simply because everyone recognizes it! Allow yourself to get lost in the story of rhyme and you’ll wonder if you just might eat your green eggs and ham on a train in the rain or in a house with a mouse.
You can read more about Dr Seuss and his incredible gift for rhyme here.
#7 :: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
by roald dahl
The story of Charlie is one that many know, but have you taken the time to read the original? Have you read the songs of the Oompa-Loompas and laughed at their antics? Have you delighted in the discoveries behind every door in the chocolate factory? What are you waiting for?
You can read more about Charlie’s tasty adventure here.
My Favorite Books
#1 :: Pride and Prejudice
by jane austen
Jane Austen wrote what she knew – she wrote about life. She wrote about the everyday life of having tea and visiting friends, of spending time with family and the emotions that each person wrestles with. Perhaps that’s why her books ring true even to this day. There are great stories to be found in the everyday events of life if only you have the eye and the wit to see them.
You can read more about Pride and Prejudice here.
#2 :: Sherlock Holmes Mysteries
by sir arthur conan doyle
Heralded as one of the greatest detectives of all time, Sherlock takes complicated, seemingly impossible webs of information and unravels them to solve each mystery. He brings order to the chaos he sees and just by being around him, you begin to open your eyes and observe more closely the things around you.
You can read more about Sherlock Holmes and his gift of deduction here.
#3 :: Chronicles of Narnia
by c.s. lewis
While some might dismiss these 7 books as children’s books, the fact of the matter is that they hold the power to engage, challenge, and delight the reader no matter what your age. Narnia isn’t a place simply for the young, but for the young at heart looking to learn more and to escape into a world where what is impossible in this world is possible.
You can read more about the land of Narnia here.
#4 :: A Wreath of Snow
by liz curtis higgs
Set in the rich traditions of a Scottish Christmas, this story of family and forgiveness will tug at your heart. A story that starts in seeming disaster is made beautiful and brings healing through an unlikely source: a snowstorm.
#5 :: Emma
by jane austen
Emma Woodhouse is refined, intelligent, interested in those around her, and just might think a little too much of herself. Perhaps this is why this book is so relatable: Emma could be you or me. The mistakes and the lessons she learns along the way endear her to you as she chooses time and time again to not simply wallow in her mistakes, but to learn from them and grow.
#6 :: A Christmas Carol
by charles dickens
A Christmas classic, to be sure, yet this small book has done much to impact the world. The story is very well known. There have been countless movies made exploring the story. It has become an icon of the season, but have you taken the time to read this compelling book for yourself?
You can read more about Ebenezer Scrooge and A Christmas Carol here.
#7 :: Little Women
by louisa may alcott
Join the adventures and the routine, the imaginations and the reality of four sisters who could so easily be you or me. Their lives are not extraordinary, but their love for one another exceeds all expectations. Their struggles, heartache, joys, and laughter will echo in your heart long after you turn the final page.
Additional Resources:
- Animal Adventures Around the World with Bindi’s Wildlife Adventures
- The Fabulous Fun and Flair that is Fancy Nancy
- Epic Travel Adventures for You to Explore: Travels with Gannon and Wyatt
- Exploring the Excitement that Makes the Mystery: The Z to Z Mystery Series
- The Adventures of a Teapot in Rhyme and Song
- Anne of Green Gables’ Imagination and Inspiration for Life
- A Little Blue Truck
- Dr Seuss: Rising to the Rhyming Challenge
- Roald Dahl: Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary
- Life Lessons from an Unlikely Source: Elizabeth Bennet
- An Introduction to the Great Detective: Sherlock Holmes
- The World of Narnia and the Lessons to be Learned There
- A Christmas Carol: A Fresh Look at a Christmas Classic
Resources
Looking for some of the books or materials mentioned on this page? Click on the photo below to purchase your own copy today.
Elizabeth Tatham, founder of Inspiration in the Everyday, is a homeschooling momma of 5 who loves helping other homeschooling mommas create a unique homeschooling adventure your kids will love…without the overwhelm! Join in on the journey with 7 simple steps to make your homeschooling day go faster, easier, and with less tears here.