Best Winter Clothing Books for Storytime (Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade)

Looking for winter clothing books that keep preschool and early elementary groups engaged during storytime? These cozy favorites invite repetition, sequencing, prediction, and plenty of opportunities for movement and participation.

Cold Turkey (2018)

By Corey Rosen Schwartz & Kirsti Call · Illustrated by Chad Otis · Published by Little, Brown and Company

A bundled-up turkey gives away pieces of his winter clothing to chilly animal friends in this delightful read aloud. I prefer to sing it and have children guess what alliterative phrase each animal will represent. The repeated refrain and escalating pattern make it perfect for prediction and sequencing. Great for felt board storytelling as well. 

Froggy Gets Dressed (1992)

By Jonathan London · Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz · Published by Viking

A classic for winter storytime! Froggy forgets piece after piece of winter gear as he gets ready to play in the snow. Repetition, sound effects (“Zip! Zwit! Zut!”), and predictable structure make this a strong choice for phonological awareness, sequencing, characterization, pantomime, and group participation. Fantastic as a felt board story. For toddlers, you may want to shorten the sequence a little - but the punchline lands regardless.

The Mitten (1996

By Jan Brett · Published by Putnam

A winter folktale favorite rich with prediction and visual literacy. As animals squeeze into Nicki’s dropped mitten, children love anticipating who will climb in next. Excellent for sequencing, retelling, and felt-board or puppet adaptation (you can use a pillowcase for the mitten!) My favorite way to do it is with sign language. A staple for winter units.

Under My Hood I Have a Hat (2012)

By Karla Kuskin · Illustrated by Fumi Kosaka · Published by HarperCollins

This rhythmic, rhyming book builds layers of winter clothing piece by piece. Perfect for body awareness, vocabulary development, and inviting children to move or point as each clothing item is added. A wonderful singable and chantable option for preschool groups - and you can adapt it as an action rhyme too! 

Little Penguins (2016)

By Cynthia Rylant · Illustrated by Christian Robinson · Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

A simple, patterned text following penguins preparing for a snowy adventure. Great for dialogic reading with younger groups, talking about numbers, colors, and articles of winter clothing. Works beautifully with simple motions.

Harold Loves His Woolly Hat (2018)

By Vern Kousky · Published by HarperCollins

Harold refuses to take off his beloved winter hat— but how will he get it back when a crow snatches it? This humorous story invites discussion about problem solving and flexibility. A great choice for character voices and predicting what will happen next.