Montessori Books To Read This Winter
As the seasons press forward, the books we read tend to look more toward the holiday season. Montessori fits in all faith traditions, and there are some wonderful books that you can read with your children to celebrate all the winter holidays, from Christmas to Kwanzaa. Likewise, books on the changing weather and the miracle of snow are old favorites in our Montessori household.
Some of my children’s favorite books are simply tales of kids like them enjoying the winter weather. Books like Ezra Keat’s The Snowy Day are a wonderful exploration of a child’s encounter with piles and piles of winter wonder!
Whether the weather has started to change where you are or fall is still sticking around for a bit longer, these are some of my favorite Montessori books to read this winter.
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through links below.
Holiday books for Montessori kids
Reading about holidays is a great way to learn about other cultures, religions, and traditions, and to reinforce your own. These books give a kid-friendly glimpse at various holidays throughout the world and across various religious faiths.
Little Bible Playbook: The First Christmas
Perfect for littles, this board book tells the story of the Nativity of Jesus in a colorful and cozy way! The cute illustrations and clear message will keep your children engaged and learning, or help calm them down for sleep during a cold winter’s night.
Lucia Morning in Sweden
If you don’t celebrate St. Lucia’s day, it’s okay - it’s a common and joyous celebration in Sweden and this book is a great tool to teach your children about it. It follows the lives of three Swedish children as they prepare for Lucia morning and all the food, music, and costumes that help them celebrate.
Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent
Jotham wants to find his family, but has to face robbers, kidnappers, and thieves as he makes his way across the countryside. During his journey, he finds the 3 Wise Men, innkeepers of Bethlehem, and finally the newborn Savior Himself. It’s a classic and well-loved tale that your children will want to hear every Christmas season.
Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Christmas with Carols, Presents, and Peace
Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Hannukah with Light, Latkes, and Dreidels
Hanukkah is a wonderful celebration within the Jewish faith, and this book helps young children learn everything about this festival of light.
Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Kwanzaa
Learning about the Kwanzaa festival of first fruits is easy and fun with this book, celebrating the origins and traditions of this holiday. From the founder, Maulana Karenga and his reasons for creating the holiday, to how African American families celebrate it today, this is a great resource to learn about Kwanzaa in a way that’s tailored for kids.
Montessori Books About Winter Weather
These books are focused on the weather, transitioning from fall to winter, and the snow. They’re a great way to learn about why winter happens, what snow really is and how it forms, and a variety of wintry questions!
Over and Under the Snow
Above the snow, it’s calm and serene, beautiful white punctuated with brightly colored leaves. Below the snow, however, there are many animals hibernating or looking for good things to eat in the shivery winter weather. This is a great book to teach children about all of the things that animals are doing behind the scenes while the landscape sleeps under the chill of winter.
All About Winter Weather!
What’s A Season? - Winter
With colorful pictures and wonderful rhymes, this winter book provides a cozy, adorable look at all the wonderful aspects of the coolest season of the year. From snowmen to the curly wisps of smoke out of a snowy chimney, prepare to be immersed in everything winter has to offer.
The Shortest Day
Caldecott award winner Susan Cooper creates a beautiful ode to the winter solstice with her poetry in this whimsical and lyrical book. The Shortest Day has been a classic in my family for a long time, and I am certain your children will love it, too.
The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder
The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice
The history of solstice celebrations and the facts about the shortest day of the year are the topic of this book that perfectly pairs tradition and science together. Combining lyrical prose and cute illustrations, The Shortest Day provides some great insight into the solstice in a way that will have your kids clamoring to read it again and again.
Montessori Books About Winter Fun
The experience of winter as a kid is unlike anything else in life. From the giving of gifts to the lights, decorations
Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story
Join Grandma and Grandchild as they travel through the winter landscape and explore how each part of nature goes to sleep for the cold months. This is a perfect book for getting cozy and reading before your child’s own short-term hibernation (bedtime!)
Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter
Follow brother and sister as they encounter each last bit of autumn and say “goodbye for now” and hello to the first splendid day of winter. From animals getting ready to hibernate to the last setting sun of fall, the children encounter the connection between autumn and winter in this beautifully illustrated book.
The Snowy Day
One of the most beloved winter books of all time, The Snowy Day follows young Peter as he puts on his snowsuit and explores the glory of a large snowfall. Sliding down hills, playing with his friend, and even saving a snowball for later, Peter enjoys every bit of the winter wonderland outside his door.
What are your favorite winter books?
The coldest months of the year are some of the best to cuddle up with a good book. From celebrating holidays to learning about what animals do when the snow and cold knocking, the books on this list are my favorites for this time of year.
What are your favorite books to read with your children during winter?