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What makes a children’s picture book feel cozy? Well, it could be a few things—a warm colour palette, a positive message, or sometimes even just how you go about experiencing the book by reading it somewhere that makes you feel comfortable and at peace. In addition to those options, what makes it especially cozy to me is the art and story details—the visual patterns on a blanket or sweater, or the descriptive language that captures our senses and the way that we experience the world.
At this time of year, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the darkness, the cold, and the decreasing energy. For that reason, I try to exist in a hominess vortex—twinkly fairy lights on as much as possible, plenty of couch blankets, and lots of time reading. These grey days, toddler in lap, we’ve been gravitating to picture books that give us a warm, fuzzy feeling. After all, living somewhere rainy or snowy means that going outside can be a pain, what with all the layering and pre-planning that needs to happen. In fact, some days going outside just isn’t feasible, so if you’re also in the midst of hibernation and need some cozy picture books to share with your kids, here is a list of ones that have really hit the spot for me lately.
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
Listen, you know that you are in for hygge vibes from the book’s cover, where the title is presented in a font that is textured like a knitted sweater. I discovered this book long before I had a child of my own, and it was one of the first children’s books I purchased for myself because I just thought it was delightful. Annabelle lives in a cold, snow-coated town, and Klassen’s grey, black, and white art makes the snow look like it’s perpetually falling. Annabelle knits herself a sweater from a seemingly endless ball of yarn, eventually crafting similar ones for every creature and person in town. Even the people who, at first, don’t seem to deserve their own. As she fills the town with sweaters, the monochrome illustrations gradually get brighter and cheerier. The mix of fairy tale and humour pairs well together in a way that is undeniably winning.
The Snow Theater by Ryoji Arai and David Boyd
This story is set against the backdrop of a snowy town, pairing a story of friendship and kindness with a dreamlike setting. The illustrations manage to balance the stark, white snow with the vivid brightness of a small snow theatre filled with tiny snow people, and the book definitely feels like something to reach for when you’ve just returned home from the cold.
Wintergarden by Janet Fox and Jasu Hu
In this one, a little girl helps her mother with their indoor windowsill garden. Set entirely inside their apartment, this has all the hallmarks of a cozy picture book. Warm illustrations, a parent and child doing something together, with descriptive writing that really situates the reader in the story. When the family goes out into the snow, their footsteps are muffled, the houses are lit up, and cars pass through slush. The local shops are “warm and full and bright and smell like cinnamon and apples”, so it’s like living in Stars Hollow at wintertime. Overall, it gives a mellow and restful feeling.
Sato the Rabbit by Yuki Ainoya and translated by Michael Blaskowsky
These are the surreal adventures of Sato, a rabbit with a man’s face. So maybe a man in a rabbit costume? The book never clarifies, and that’s exactly in keeping with its weird, winsome spirit. The book is split into vignettes that cover the eccentric activities that make up Sato’s day. For instance, Sato’s way of watering his garden is by using a hose that has been blown into by an anthropomorphic pond. When the garden has had enough, the water shoots into the sky and forms a rainbow to alert Sato that the job is done. In another vignette, the reader learns Sato loves walnuts because sometimes when he cracks them open, he finds “especially wonderful” things inside, such as shelves of fresh bread and hot coffee. That story in particular, which is mostly just descriptions of what’s inside these amazing walnuts, always makes me feel especially snuggly. There are a bunch of sequels, equally worth reading.
The Magical Snowflake by Bernette Ford and Erin K. Robinson
This book is gorgeous to look at, with vibrant art that almost shimmers on the page. It’s mid-winter and there still hasn’t been any snow, much to everyone’s disappointment. When a little girl makes a wish for snow, one little snowflake makes its appearance. She and the rest of the town follow the snowflake around, singing as a proper winter snowfall takes hold. It’s a really lovely celebration of community and a beautiful rendition of how clean and clear early snow feels.
Snow Sisters! by Kerri Kokias & Teagan White
It’s a snow day for two sisters, one a playful redhead and the other a bookish brunette. Limited, repeated prose highlights the differences in temperaments as each girl puts her own spin on winter activities. One sister sleds till she stumbles, while the other puts stuffed animals on the sled and pulls them around. White’s illustrations are detailed and warm, creating a fantastically homey setting, and really situate the siblings in their snowy world.
There you go, five perfect books to read under a blanket with someone you love. Stay warm and enjoy these cozy picture books for kids.
For even more wintry kid lit, check out these picture books to read in the winter.