Posted on December 13th, 2010
Who doesn’t want to curl up under a blanket and read a great book during the winter months? PLAYGROUND is giving away six classic children’s books that celebrate the wonders of the season. Plus we have some easy, fun and educational activities your family can do before and after you read.
Just 10 to 15 minutes a day of family reading can help spark a love of reading in children, according to Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation’s largest children’s literacy organization.
Tell us the age of your little reader for a chance to win an age appropriate book to snuggle up with your kids and start racking up those minutes.
The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats (ages 0 - 3) In this Caldecott Medal winner, a young city boy spends a delightful day in the snow.
Activity: In the story, Peter tucks a snowball into his pocket. While he’s getting ready for bed, it melts. Discuss what happened. What other things melt? Why do some things melt, while others don’t? Help your kids use a clock to see how fast an ice cube melts in the Florida sun.
Frederick, by Leo Lionni (ages 2 - 8) In this Caldecott Honor winner, winter’s coming, and Frederick the field mouse isn’t helping his family prepare. But his imagination comes in handy during the long, bleak winter.
Activity: Instead of gathering food, Frederick stores up memories. Talk about your own family. If your family were to hibernate, what memories would you pack? What do you look forward to doing when spring comes?
Snow, by Uri Shulevitz (ages 3 - 6) Another Caldecott Honor winner, in this book, the residents aren’t expecting snow, but one small boy has faith. Flake by flake, the town is blanketed with snow, and everyone enjoys the winter wonderland.
Activity: Look closely at the illustrations. Where do you think the boy lives? How is this town different from ours? Create an indoor ice rink. Tear off sheets of wax paper, scatter them around, and watch as your kids slip and slide.
Winter Trees, by Carole Gerber (ages 4 - 7) In this book, children are introduced to the art of observing nature. A boy and his dog use their senses of touch and sight to identify seven snow-covered trees.
Activity: Look out your window, or stroll around your community. Are the trees the same? Different? What trees do you have in your neighborhood? When you get home, use your index finger to take turns tracing tree silhouettes on each other’s backs. Guess which tree is being drawn?
Snowflake Bentley, by Jacqueline Briggs Martin (ages 4 - 8) The exquisite woodcuts in this 1999 Caldecott Medal winner tell the story of Wilson Bentley and his quest to capture the wonder of snowflakes on film. Along the way, he discovered two important truths: Every snowflake is unique, and each one is beautiful.
Activity: Grab paper and scissors, and help your kids make paper snowflakes.
A Hat for Minerva Louise, by Janet Morgan Stoeke (ages 2 - 10) It’s getting cold out, so silly Minerva goes in search of something to keep her head warm.
Activity: Have an indoor scavenger hunt! If you were to lose your hat, what could you use instead?
December 14th, 2010 at 11:02 am
She is 2 and LOVES to read!
December 14th, 2010 at 11:03 am
My readers are 7 and 10! Love the books!
December 14th, 2010 at 11:04 am
I have a wonderful 2 yr old girl and 8 yr old boy - both love story time and so does mama!
December 14th, 2010 at 11:06 am
I have an almost 5 year old boy who loves to read!
December 14th, 2010 at 11:08 am
My lil 1 yr old boy and 4 yr old girl LOVE story time as well.
December 14th, 2010 at 11:12 am
I have a 4 month old that would love to start collecting books!
December 14th, 2010 at 11:17 am
My little girl is 19 months old. When you don’t hear here playing around the house, you can usually find her sitting by herself with a book in hand. She also loves story time with her 14 year old sister.
December 14th, 2010 at 11:33 am
I have 2 boys ages 2 and 6 who love books!
December 14th, 2010 at 11:44 am
My daughter is three and she loves books. She is really into Christmas and winter this year so any of these books would be great!
December 14th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
My son is 4 and loves to have his big sister (who is 10) read to her…. And my daughter is #1 in her entire school for to Accelerated Reading program!!! She has over 320 points for the year so far!!
December 14th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
My little snowflakes are 3 and 18 months. The books are so cute.
December 14th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
My 3 yr old is fascinated with this cold weather and I’d love a “winter” book to share! Thanks! :)
December 14th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Leif is 2 years old & loves to be read to!
Thanks!
December 14th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
My little snowflake is 2 1/2 and loves storytime!!!
December 14th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
I have a two year old girl as well!
December 14th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
My little reader is 4 and loves books!!!!
December 15th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Me and my eight year old love reading at night.
December 15th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
I have a 5 month old and an 8 year old that likes to snuggle up and read books with me!
December 15th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
My kids are 6 and 2 and we read EVERYDAY since they were born, lol. More books pleeeeeeease. :)
December 15th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
My little reader is 4. She loves reading and all these books sound great!
December 15th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
My baby girl is 8 months and loves when I read her stories!
December 15th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
I have a 3, 7 and 10 year old thenolder ones love to read and the little one loves to be read too.
December 15th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
My daughter is in her first year and we love to read to her at bedtime.
December 15th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
My 3 1/2 year old loves books! She will sit indefinitely while being read too. Thanks for sharing these classics.
December 15th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
I have a 5 year old boy who gets so excited when he reads books to me. He smiles from ear to ear in delight as we read about so many adventures!!!
December 15th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
I Have 2 sweet babies, one is 4 and one is 6. We all look forward to bedtime and reading together. A winter book would be perfect for our warm Florida. Thanks
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:45 pm
We have a three year old who loves his books.
January 19th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
My kids love having books read to them. My seven year old has started reading to his 3 year old sister- love it!