This Week’s Winter Library Books for Toddlers

This week’s toddler winter library books leaned into all of the winter things: getting dressed, waiting for snow, noticing tiny winter details, and lingering a little longer indoors. These weren’t books we flipped through once and forgot about. They were reread on the couch, carried into the playroom, and woven into our days in small, ordinary ways.

As a former English teacher, early literacy has always been important to me. Watching my toddler explore new words, notice details, and fall in love with stories reminds me why I’m so passionate about raising strong readers from the very start.

Each week in The Laminated Library, I share toddler books we actually borrow, read, and live with plus one simple way to bring a favorite story from the list into real life through play

Our Toddler’s Favorite Winter Book This Week

There is no doubt in my mind that my toddler's favorite book from this week's list is Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London.

There’s something deeply validating about a book where the main character also keeps forgetting his pants. The repetition, the silliness, and the very real routine of winter dressing made this one so much fun for my toddler to read again and again (and again and again and again).

This Week's Toddler Book List

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Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London

This one brought big laughs. The onomatopoeia sound effects alone were enough to keep her attention, but the real magic was how closely it mirrored our mornings.
Supports: sequencing, memory, daily routines
👉 Buy the book (link)

Game of Gnomes by Kirsten Mayer

This book is quieter, but my toddler loved the hunt of finding the gnomes (and learning a new vocabulary word), pointing, and noticing new details each time.
Supports: visual scanning, attention, problem-solving
👉 Buy the book (link)

Just One Flake by Travis Jonker

This is a cozy, slow read. The kind you don’t rush through. It was serendipitous that we had a light snow a few hours after we read this.
Supports: patience, emotional awareness, seasonal vocabulary
👉 Buy the book (link)

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert

This book surprised me in the best way. It is bright, bold, and full of ideas. This one sparked lots of pointing, naming, and plenty of “look at that!” moments.
Supports: creativity, categorization, early storytelling
👉 Buy the book (link) | Board book version (link)

Snowflakes on Our Tongues by Mike Ornstein

If I had to pick a favorite, it would be this one. Silly animals, farm life, and a goofy twist at the end that made me chuckle out loud.
Supports: sensory awareness, observation, descriptive language
👉 Buy the book (link)

Story-Led Play Idea

After reading Just One Flake, we set up a super simple winter sensory bin that turned snowflakes into hands-on play. You likely have everything you need around the house: cotton balls, cups, scoops, tongs, and bowls.

Toddlers can scoop, pinch, and move the “snowflakes” from one bowl to another, practicing fine motor skills, counting, and sorting as they go. It’s amazing how something so simple can keep little hands busy while connecting back to the story they just read.

For older toddlers, you can even challenge them to count how many cotton balls they can fit in each bowl, or sort them by size or texture if you mix in a few pom-poms or cotton balls of different sizes. It’s easy to set up, quick to clean, and a fun way to bring a snowy story to life indoors

Want More Story Led Play?

When a book becomes a repeat read around here, I love finding simple ways to bring it off the page and into our play.

I create story-led play packs designed specifically for toddlers. These play packs are easy to prep, simple to use, and rooted in books little ones already love. You can explore them all here.

For Your Next Library Trip

Sharing these books isn’t just about filling our library. It’s about nurturing curiosity, language, and confidence in little readers. As someone who spent years teaching children to love stories in a classroom, I can’t help but get excited every time a book becomes a repeat read in our home.

If you’re looking for winter toddler books that work well for library trips, rereads, and simple story-based play, this list is a great place to start.

Save this post for your next library run, and I’ll see you back here next week in The Laminated Library 📚 🤍