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I think we all know by now that I have a serious love for children’s literature. I am a children’s author myself, and I LOVE to create lists of picture books that fit themes, like seasons, character traits, and topics. Winter picture books are always some of my favorites because here in Chicagoland, winter is chilly and the perfect season to cuddle up with a stack of good books. Can you tell that’s my love language?! When my passion for picture books and my love for social emotional learning align, my heart skips a beat. I compiled a list of 10 beautiful winter picture books with an SEL focus. Check out the links and read the description to see which CASEL competencies each book focuses on!
Do Like Kyla
This sweet book about sisters engaging in winter magic definitely touches on the competency relationships. Students can reflect on the girls’ relationship and how Kyla responds to her little sister.
Snowflake Bentley
This is one of several non-fiction winter picture books that I love, but it made the list because of its focus on self management. The book covers how Bentley had to have perseverance and fortitude to discover all that he did about snowflakes! Not only will students learn something new about snowflakes and how we know what we know, but also the man that discovered it first.
Making a Friend
This sweet, heartwarming book is about a squirrel that struggles to make friends. This book covers the CASEL competency of relationships as readers learn about how friendships can form in unlikely places and situations.
Katy and the Big Snow
This is one of the many classic winter picture books that you may already know! This winter staple is such a reminder of The Little Engine That Could. Katy explores self awareness and self management as she learns about perseverance, self confidence, and all that she can do when she has the right mindset.
The Snowy Day
Another winter classic! At first glance this may not seem like a book with an SEL focus. Readers can reflect on Peter’s self awareness as he explores so much newness in his city.
A Solstice Tree for Jenny
This is one of the few winter picture books that touches on a different side of the holiday season. Jenny’s family does not celebrate a winter holiday, which allows readers to be attuned to the competency of social awareness. The book gives us an insight into Jenny’s desire for winter traditions and give us a glimpse into her journey of self awareness, too.
The Biggest Best Snowman
Main character Nell feels that she’s too small to accomplish anything. Readers can feel her character growing and changing with the help of some winter friends, which ties in well to the competency of self awareness.
Snow
This is not one of those “classic winter picture books”, although for many it has become a staple on their winter picture book shelves! This book explores social awareness in such a unique way. Everyone thinks “it’s just one snowflake”, however one or two snowflakes falling CAN (and often does) amount to something! This is a great book for making connections to how one small thing can make a huge impact.
The Magic of Friendship Snow
This picture book is perfect for a study on friendships or for any child who has struggles maintaining friends. As one can assume, this book targets the competency of relationship skills in an explicit yet magical way!
The Winter Train
This book truly could not be cuter! It’s a new title for me, and will definitely be one I’ll be returning to year after year. This story shares animal friends who depend on the skill of self awareness as they use cooperation and teamwork to leave their cold forest on a train for a warmer place!
Looking for more winter blog posts?
