Here are ten (plus two!) beautiful books you can curl up and enjoy together on a cold winter’s day or night.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

The wonder of winter’s first snowfall is perfectly captured in Ezra Jack Keat’s Caldecott Medal-winning picture book.

Snow by Uri Shulevitz

A playful depiction of a snowy day and the transformation of a city.

Brave Irene by William Steig

A brave girl ventures through the bitter snow to deliver a handmade dress for her mother. By the master genius Steig.

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

Katy the brave tractor does important work through each season, making it possible for the townspeople to do their jobs.

Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler

A very silly, rhyming story about the adventures of a stick in winter.

Winter is Here by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Celebrate the sights, sounds, and smells of winter with Caldecott Medalist and Newbery Honor author Kevin Henkes.

A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, illustrated by Edward Ardizzone

Written by a genius. Illustrated by a genius. A lyrical magnificent poetic telling of a child’s Christmas in a small Welsh town. (I’m Welsh so I may be biased but it’s still true—the language weaves a beautiful spell in this magical book. A classic.

Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper, illustrated by Kenard Pak

A little girl discovers ten ways to pay attention to what might have otherwise gone unnoticed–one of my favourite pastimes.

Little Penguins by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Five little penguins bundle up and enjoy a snow day.

Winter Sleep by Sean Taylor and Alex Morss, illustrated by Cinyee Chiu

A cozy bedtime story about the earth and her animals going to sleep for winter.

And as a bonus, two of my books that are great picks for winter:

Near by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Jago

A retelling of Psalm 139, reminding you that no matter how far you go in God’s wide world—even to the North Pole—God is always near to you.

Bunny’s First Spring by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by David McPhail

I know it says spring—but the book is really about all the seasons and particularly winter when everything looks like it died. The little bunny frets as the world turns cold and hard, but as winter turns to spring, he discovers hope is at the heart of things.