Snow by Walter de la Mare illustrated by Carolina Rabei*

 The word choice is specific and appeals to the senses. The reader feels immersed in the snow fall and its aftermath. The illustrations illuminate the joy snow brings to children. 

I loved Mr. de la Mare's writing style so much that I ordered a used copy of his poetry collection Peacock Pie illustrated by Edward Ardizzzone. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

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

 When Lina wakes up, she discovers that her town is covered with snow after the night's blizzard.  Not even a blizzard will thwart Lina from "grape leaf day" when she and her grandmother make warak enab together.  As she trudges through the snow, she realizes she is hearing unique sounds in the blanketed world.  She keeps count of the different sounds and then shares them with her grandmother as they make warak enab.  

A sweet story that celebrates ethnicity, grandmothers and snow.

*figurative language 

-Borrowed from the library.

Snow Crystals by W. A. Bentley and W. J. Humphreys*

I love the picture book Snowflake Bentley.  
After reading it aloud to my sons (for the umpteenth time!!), I shared this book with them.  It contains about two hundred plates of photos he took of snowflakes and frost.  The photographs are beautiful and remind one of God's careful design in even the tiniest of objects!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell

On her way home from school, a girl finds a lost wolf pup.  She returns it to the pack, but then she is lost in the snow storm.  Will the wolves return her kindness?

On a few blogs I read they have this book as a possible Caldecott winner for this year's awards.

-Borrowed from the library.

Judy Moody and Stink The Holly Joliday by Megan McDonald illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds*

My eight year old read this book to himself.  He really liked it because there was a guy named Jack Frost who gave Stink presents.
Judy and Stink (brother and sister) live in Virginia.  Stink desperately wants it to snow on Christmas, but it has not snowed there for 100 years! 
Humorous sibling banter will keep readers laughing.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Snow Walker by Margaret K. and Charles M. Wetterer illustrated by Mary O'Keefe Young*

Milton Daub braves the fierce Blizzard of 1888 in the Bronx.  He and his father make snow shoes for him and he buys and delivers many cans of milk, medicine and food to neighbors trapped in their homes.
The authors highlight his bravery and unselfishness.  How parents have changed. . .not many parents now would let their child outside in a blizzard for hours!!
Guided Reading Level: K (2nd grade)
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

City of Snow by Linda Oatman High illustrated by Laura Francesca Filippucci*

In rhyme, the account of the Great Blizzard of 1888 is related through a young girl's eyes.  She describes how March 11, 1888 begins as a rainy day with the promise of spring in New York City. By nightfall the rain has turned into snow.  The reader experiences the consequences of the blizzard and its aftermath.
I especially liked the illustrations.
Strategy: figurative language
Pair with: Terrible Storm Carol Otis Hurst, The Snow Walker by Margaret K. and Charles M. Wetterer, and I Survived True Stories-Five Epic Disasters by Lauren Tarshis (all books about this specific blizzard).
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Terrible Storm by Carol Otis Hurst illustrated by S. D. Schindler*

Currently I am reading Quiet Power by Susan Cain and have been sharing the strengths of introverts with my boys.  So this book that features an introvert and an extrovert was apropos.
Two childhood gentlemen reminisce about the Blizzard of 1888.  The introvert is snowed in a the tavern with lots of people while the extrovert is snowed in a barn with only animals to keep him company!  Each page features two illustrations, one of the introvert and another of extrovert along with their point of view.  When I read this book aloud, my fourth grader read aloud the one grandfather's comments while I read aloud the other grandfather's point of view.
The men in this story are the author's grandfathers so the story is true.
I love this book for many reasons.
First, the illustrations depict that time well and are, at times,  humorous.
It is a perfect book for a mini Reader's Theater and/or for children to read aloud to practice fluency (two different grandfathers plus a narrator).
Lends itself to comparing/contrasting and point of view.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Before Morning by Joyce Sidman illustrated by Beth Krommes

The scratch-board art combined with water color drew me to this book (plus I really like this author/illustrator team).
Though the text is sparse, the thoughts it provokes are numerous.  It provides a lot of opportunities to infer.
A mother leaves for her job as a pilot, longing to be home with her daughter and husband.  A snow storm creates a wonderland, making wishes come true.
The author's note adds insight on her purpose for writing the book and provides a springboard for discussion.
Strategy: inferring
Mentor text for writing invocation poetry.
-Borrowed from the library.
I own Swirl by Swirl by this author/illustrator team and also Winter Bees and Red Sings from Treetops by Ms. Sidman.

Snow Day! by Lester L. Laminack illustrated by Adam Gustavson

The narrator shares his/her desires for a snow day and imagines how he/she will spend it.
The ending is a bit of a surprise!
Readers will empathize with the narrator's disappointment.
Funny!
Strategy: connections (T-S)
*Borrowed from the library.

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton*

Katy, a red crawler tractor,  rescues the City of Geoppolis after a snow storm dumps piles and piles of snow upon it.
I especially liked the borders on some of the pages.
A classic!
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
Guided Reading Level: L (2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.9

Outside by Deirdre Gill*

After a snowstorm, the younger brother is bored inside so he ventures outside to explore the winter wonderland.  Using his imagination a whole new world opens up to him.  Meanwhile his older brother remains inside staring at the TV and computer screen.  Who will join whom?
My boys liked the illustrations in this book.
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed from the library.
Strategy: inferring

This Place in the Snow by Rebecca Bond

Children anticipate the snow plow after a winter storm.  Why?  The snowplow creates a huge mound in which they design and build a massive fortress.
A book that celebrates imagination and play!
I liked Ms. Bond's word choice-"lay like lace along the trees", "hatted houses", "capsuled cars", "lumbering plow".
Borrowed from the library.

The Little Snowplow by Lora Koehler illustrated Jake Parker*

Can Little Snowplow handle the approaching big blizzard?  His fellow machinery "friends" do not think so.  He proves that small can be mighty.
My kindergartner and I talked how "ow" can sound like a long o or "ou".  Snowplow offers the perfect opportunity to discuss this concept.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

Supertruck by Stephen Savage

The garbage truck just picks up trash, right?  But who is the truck who rescues the other trucks after the blizzard?
Resembles Superman in a way (look at the last illustration!).
Very simple text with bold illustrations.

Charlie the Ranch Dog-Charlie's Snow Day by Ree Drummond illustrated by Diane deGroat*

I Can Read! Level 1  Beginning Reader
Charlie joins his family in sledding down a huge hill.  Sledding down is a wonderful experience but trudging up the hill is a different story!
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: inferring, connections

First Snow by Peter McCarty

Pedro comes from afar to visit his cousins Sancho and  and his siblings.  During his visit it begins to snow.  He has never seen snow and is not sure if he likes.  Gradually he accumulates and has a change of heart about winter.
Illustrations consist of a pastel  palette against a creamy background.
The characters comprise of many different animal creatures.
Strategies: connections, predicting

Blizzard by John Rocco**

A new favorite!!
Mr. Rocca tells how he and his family survived the blizzard of 1978 on Rhode Island.  He specifically relates how he used rackets as snow shoes to walk to the grocery store for his neighbors and family.
I love, love the pull out page which expands into four panels and shows his path from his house to the grocery store.
I also love how he cleverly displays which day of the week it is.
Very clever and creative book.
A mentor text for a personal narrative.
***HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Six Snowy Sheep by Judith Ross Enderle and Stephanie Gordon Tessler illustrated by John O'Brien

Six sheep receive a perfect Christmas gift to play in the snow.
Repetitive text make for an opportunity for listeners to join in the reading or great for beginning readers.
Lots of Alliteration!
Guided Reading Level: I
Grade Level Equivalency: 1.7

Disaster Strikes-Blizzard Night by Marlane Kennedy*

#3 in series
My second grader read this book to himself.  He liked it because it was exciting.
Once again Jayden is living with a new foster family.  He and the family are taking a trip to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan when a snow storm cause the van to crash.  Jayden, an avid reader, uses his knowledge to help him and his foster siblings survive.
*Highly recommend.
The books in this series are short (100 pages) so they appeal to reluctant readers or transitional readers who are building stamina.
Grade Level Equivalent: 4th grade
Guided Reading Level: Q (beginning of 4th grade)