7 Winter Picture Books We’d Love to Live In!

The Nutcracker, by Alison Jay (Illustrator), Annmarie Harris
This gorgeously illustrated picture book is perfect for any young sugar plums who love the Nutcracker ballet, and wish they could jump right up onstage with Clara. If you can’t make it to the theater, here is an easy way to bring this enchanted story right to your home. Who wouldn’t want to spend an evening in the Marzipan Palace or at the Land of Sweets? A sweet treat indeed!

The Polar Express 30th Anniversary Edition, by Chris Van Allsburg
The illustrations in this classic Christmas story are so rich and vibrant that you may already feel like you are living within its pages! I’m certainly not the only person who wants a ride on this magical train, as my friend takes her children on a Polar Express inspired train ride in CT (complete with hot chocolate, cookies, and Santa) as a tradition each year. Hop aboard!

The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats
Running out into the first powdery white snow of the year is one of winter’s great joys. This iconic book lets you experience the magic of that morning along with Peter, without the headache of shoveling or the gray dirty slush piles (a particularly gritty hazard in New York City) that show up in the next day. I’m ready to move in!

Madeline’s Christmas, by Ludwig Bemelman
Okay, so all of the girls at Miss Clavel’s boarding house are sick on Christmas Eve in this story, but what’s a little cold when you can be in Paris in December? I will happily live in any of Bemelmans’ delightfully illustrated Madeline adventures, but this one is particularly perfect for the winter season!

Bunny Slopes, by Claudia Rueda
Any ski bum would love to live inside the pages of this clever book. It’s an interactive read, so your young ski bunny may almost feel like they are zooming down the mountain. Shake up this picture book and watch the snow, without having to even lace up your ski boots!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland, by Richard B. Smith, Felix Bernard, and Tim Hopgood 
Hum along to this melodic book as you explore the illustrated world of this beloved holiday song. Living in a winter wonderland, complete with sleigh rides and wildlife (like red foxes and white snow owls) seems pretty fabulous to me!

The Snowman, by Raymond Briggs
It’s easy to get lost inside this dreamy book. There are no words in this story, so the narrative has to come from your imagination. If your child has ever dreamed that their icy snowman could come to life and play, they will want to live inside this tale. Pure winter magic!