Winter Chapter Books

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Cozy up with your kids and one of these great winter chapter books! They’re perfect for independent readers and for reading aloud!

Our weather warmed up last week, and I almost forgot it was still winter. Then, we got some snow. Bummer!

It wasn’t even enough to play in. Just a dusting on the flat surfaces – the deck, the slide, the patio table. Just enough to remind me that it’s still winter.

We went from upper 40’s to mid-20’s, and I decided it’s the perfect weather for curling up in front of the fire with come hot chocolate and a good book!

Winter Chapter Books

In my search for some new books to read, I was reminded of some of my favorite winter chapter books for fluent readers.

These books are geared toward kids reading at least a third grade level. However, if your child isn’t reading at a third grade level, these books make great family read-alouds.

If you’d like to browse through some more winter book lists, be sure to check these out:

• Winter Read-Alouds for Kindergarten
• Classic Winter Children’s Books
• Winter-Themed Books for Toddlers
• Children’s Books About Winter

Fill your book basket with a great collection of winter chapter books for kids. Most of these books can be found at your local library or used bookstore.

If you have a hard time finding them, you can order them on Amazon by clicking the images below.

 

Stone Fox – This is one of my all-time favorite winter chapter books! Be sure, however, that you have some tissues on hand when you read it. It’s a tear-jerker.

Magic Tree House: Winter of the Ice Wizard – All three of my children loved the Magic Tree House books. We read them all!

Mr. Popper’s Penguins – This is another family favorite. Who doesn’t love Mr. Popper, his penguins, and all their many adventures? When you finish reading it, watch the movie, and then compare/contrast the two.

 

Skating Shoes– Two girls with little in common become fast friends. But, when their paths begin to take them in two different directions, can their friendship survive?

The Long Winter – This is the 7th book in the Little House series. The Ingalls family finds themselves enduring a long winter with dwindling supplies.

Nancy Drew: The Mystery at the Crystal Palace –  Nancy Drew mysteries will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they try to figure out ‘whodunit.’

 

Magic School Bus: Lost in the Snow – Ms. Frizzle’s class is on its way to learn how snow is made. They take a wild ride into the clouds and get to float down on snowflakes. But how will they get back to the Magic School Bus?

The Boxcar Children: The Mystery at Snowflake Inn – Grandfather is taking everyone on a special holiday trip to an old-fashioned New England inn. The Aldens have fun playing in the snow, ice-skating and working puzzles. Then suddenly they become part of a very special puzzle.

Sugar and Ice – When her passion presents a unique opportunity, will Claire find the strength to stand up to those who want to see her fail?

 

 Cool as Ice – An 11-year-old hockey player faces many challenges — on and off the ice — when he’s picked for an all-star hockey team.

Julie of the Wolves – We meet a brave girl named Miyax and the wild pack of wolves that teaches her how to survive in the Alaskan wilderness.

My Side of the Mountain – We love this story of survival! Sam leaves his crowded New York apartment, and he goes to live in the mountains.

 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – I’ve never read through this series, but Emma and I are currently listening to this book in the car on the way to and from ballet rehearsals. We are loving it!

Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates – I remember reading this book when I was a kid, and I enjoyed reading it to Emma.

The Dogs of Winter – Based on the true story of a small boy, a cruel city, and the incredible dogs who save him.

 

 Phantoms in the Snow – In this gripping journey, a fifteen-year-old pacifist must decide what he believes as he faces the reality of World War II.

My Thirteenth Winter – In her thirteenth winter, Samantha Abeel found the courage to confront her problems — and was diagnosed with a learning disability. She discovered that she was stronger than she’d ever thought possible — and that sometimes, when things look bleakest, hope is closer than you think.

Dear America: The Winter of Red Snow -Eleven-year-old Abigail Jane Stewart’s fictionalized diary about her life, family, friends, and neighbors, and the sides they have to choose in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, during the height of the Revolutionary War, renders a vivid portrayal of one of the most memorable and crucial winters in American history.

 

Snowbound Mystery – A freak snowstorm isolates the Aldens in a mountain cabin where they discover a coded message.

Miss Hickory – Most dolls lead a comfortable but unadventurous life. This was true of Miss Hickory until the fateful day that her owner, Ann, moves from her New Hampshire home to attend school in Boston—leaving Miss Hickory behind. For a small doll whose body is an apple-wood twig and whose head is a hickory nut, the prospect of spending a New Hampshire winter alone is frightening indeed. In this classic modern day fairy tale, what’s a doll to do?

Caleb’s Story – Everyone is excited about the arrival of a new family member except for Jacob, who holds a bitter grudge. Only the special love of Caleb, and the gift he offers, can help to mend the pain of the past.

 

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain – “There are no bears on Hemlock Mountain, No bears, no bears at all…” Or so young Jonathan is told by the grown-ups as he sets out alone over Hemlock Mountain. But as Jonathan discovers on that cold winter night, grown-ups don’t always know…. And there are bears on Hemlock Mountain!

Caddie Woodlawn – Caddie Woodlawn is a real adventurer. She’d rather hunt than sew and plow than bake, and tries to beat her brother’s dares every chance she gets. Caddie is friends with Indians, who scare most of the neighbors — neighbors who, like her mother and sisters, don’t understand her at all.

Miracles on Maple Hill – Marly’s father came back from the war a different man. Something inside him seems as cold and dead as the winter world outside. But when the family moves to Grandma’s old house on Maple Hill, miracles begin to happen. The sap in the trees begins to rise, the leaves begin to turn, and Marly’s father starts to bloom again, like the world around them.

 

The Poet’s Dog – When Teddy (the dog) finds Nickel and Flora trapped in a snowstorm, he tells them that he will bring them home—and they understand him. The children are afraid of the howling wind, but not of Teddy’s words. They follow him to a cabin in the woods, where the dog used to live with Sylvan . . . only now his owner is gone.

Snow Treasure – In the bleak winter of 1940, Nazi troops parachuted into Peter Lindstrom’s tiny Norwegian village and held it captive. Nobody thought the Nazis could be defeated—until Uncle Victor told Peter how the children could fool the enemy. It was a dangerous plan. They had to slip past Nazi guards with nine million dollars in gold hidden on their sleds. It meant risking their country’s treasure—and their lives.

Absolutely Truly – An unsent letter in a first edition copy of Charlotte’s Web leads to a hunt for treasure in this heartwarming middle grade mystery from the author of The Mother-Daughter Book Club.

Round Out Your Unit with These Activities:

This set of Chronicles of Narnia peg dolls are perfect for allowing kids to reenact and retell the stories in this book series. 

When you give little girls a pioneer dress and bonnet to add to their dress-up center, you will inspire hours of imaginative play!