Great books for little ones to snuggle up and read

These wintry titles are perfect to enjoy curled up by a warm fire or under a fluffy blanket.

Two of our featured titles may inspire a fun-filled sing-along for the entire family by revisiting seasonal songs in a fresh way. Nature poetry that captures the wonder of wintertime combined with interesting facts ignites creativity and offers a new way to look at the changing seasons.

Just as no two snowflakes are the same, these books offer a variety of new experiences and are waiting to be discovered at your local Fort Worth Library.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Based on the song by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith

Henry Holt and Co., 2016

For ages 2 and older

Based on the classic winter song of the same name, this beautifully illustrated book features a family discovering a bright and snow-filled visit to the woods. Join them on this melodic adventure into nature as they interact with woodland creatures after a fresh snowfall. Simple winter pleasures such as sledding, building a snowman and feeling the winter chill on your nose await this energetic family on a wintry walk.

Colorful illustrations capture the snowy adventures the family shares under the watchful eyes of deer, owls, squirrels and winter birds. While Texas weather may not guarantee a snow-covered winter wonderland, sharing this book is a way to introduce this beloved song to a new generation of readers — and, quite possibly, singers.

Arctic White

By Danna Smith

Henry Holt and Co., 2016

For ages 2 and older

A young girl explores her home searching for nature’s colors only to find white and shades of white. Even wishing upon a star for different colors reveals more shades of gray. Wondering where the color has gone, she sets off with her grandfather across the arctic-white snow and ice-covered tundra in search of colors. Others join in the trek seeking something other than the dark and cold white.

Bundled in coats, boots, hats and gloves, the group waits on the snowy mountaintop and is rewarded with the breathtaking colors of the Northern Lights. Blues, greens, yellows, reds and oranges swirl off the page and instantly warm the cold dark of the tundra.

As the colors fade back to the seemingly ever-present dark, the group begins its trip home. Once warm at home, the grandfather and granddaughter paint their memories of the gentle explosion of color that engulfed the sky. Perhaps this story of an outdoor search for color will inspire a similar trek through your back yard to discover the colors awaiting your family.

Snowy Bear

By Tony Mitton

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2016

For ages 2 and older

Poor snowy bear is in search of a warm home during a snowstorm. The blowing wind seems to send a chill right off the page as the little bear is turned away from the fox’s den and owl’s nest. The soft blues and smudgy whites of the snowy illustrations swirl around the soft warm glow of the fire light coming from a small farmhouse.

Snowy bear peeks in the warm room awash with reds and oranges to find a small girl peering out the window. A cozy hug and sharing games put both at ease as they read stories by the fire until bedtime arrives. This sweet tale of a bear in search of a warm, dry place to sleep reveals an ending with the warmth and coziness only friendship can provide.

If It’s Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws!

By Kim Norman

Sterling Children’s Books, 2013

For ages 2 and older

If you’re looking for a winter celebration, look no further than this fun-filled romp on a snowy day. Fans of the childhood classic action song If You’re Happy and You Know It will recognize the familiar arrangement and repetition that encourages children to join the winter animals in clapping their paws, tasting a snowflake, grabbing their skis, sculpting a friend, building a fort and other winter activities.

Humorous illustrations featuring winter animals dressed in their warmest winter clothing add an endearing quality to the singsong text. The last line of the story sums up the dreams of slumbering animals tucked in tight under warm blankets.

“There’s a world of wild adventures … in your head.”

Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold

By Joyce Sidman

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014

For ages 6 to 10

Perfect for older readers who enjoy animal facts, this collection of poetry captures the beauty and magic of winter wildlife and introduces educational tidbits to blend poetry, science and art. Rick Allen’s illustrations feature wood prints, linoleum cuts and other techniques that result in images that capture the movement of different animals in their winter environments.

Snowflakes swirling to icy waters challenge a curious fox on a journey through the forest. Swans, snakes, moose, bees, voles and chickadees star in poems exploring their adaptions to the challenges of a cold and snowy winter. The poem Brother Raven, Sister Wolf introduces two species whose existence is intertwined. Further explanation tells how the seemingly different animals aid each other’s survival.

Winter’s power is presented in several nature poems dedicated to snowflakes, ice, trees and the eventual spring thaw. Paired with nature facts, these poems explore the effect a winter environment has on animal survival.

This story was originally published November 25, 2016 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Great books for little ones to snuggle up and read."