Snowman and Snow Play Preschool Books and Enrichment Activities

A snowman-themed preschool lesson can be a delightful way to explore winter weather, appropriate dress, and creative winter play with preschoolers. Here are some recommended children's picture books and activities that you can use in your snowman-themed preschool lesson or library story hour.

Snowzilla by Janet Lawler and Amanda Haley

Snowzilla is the biggest snowman around. Cami Lou has help building the snowman using all of her parents' power equipment. But the townspeople feel threatened by the towering construction, and a local judge orders Cami Lou to take it down. But Cami Lou cannot be deterred, and she launches into a flurry of action, sending emails and blog posts to all of her friends. This is an entertaining story with a rhyming cadence that evokes Dr. Seuss, while telling a modern tale of one girl's activism and big plans. This is not like any other snowman book I have ever read!

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert

Snowballs is a must-read book for its creative collage art. Ehlert builds an entire family of snow people (even their dog Spot) using layered collage papers and everyday objects that she skillfully photographs. Her quirky uses of everyday items like washers and ticket stubs paired with more unconventional things (like a colorful Peruvian scarf) make this book a fun read for a variety of age groups. Try reading this book through during the story hour, then if you have time, have the children look for items in the book.

All You Need for a Snowman by Alice Schertle

A simple rhyming book suitable for younger preschoolers about children building a snowman. During each page, Schertle adds just one more thing you need to build a snowman.

One Snowy Day by Diana Murray and Diana Toledano

This book is a counting book while also telling a charming rhyming story about two children, their friends, and their dog playing in the snow. They make snow angels, go sledding, build a snowman, and make snowballs for puppy to catch. This satisfying read aloud ends where it begins, in a land shrouded in millions of snowflakes, and children tucked safely in bed. One thing I really like about this book is that lots of children will see themselves in this story! The illustrations are darling.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

A timeless classic published in the 1960s, and perhaps one of the most well-loved children's books of all time. The Snowy day the story of Peter's magical day playing in the snow. The simple text and illustrations show the author's understanding and ability to express what it is like to be a child and to discover the wonder and awe of snow play, dragging a stick through the snow, making a snow angel, and yearning to join in a snowball fight with older children. This one's a Caldecott award winner.

A Perfect Day for It by Jan Fearney

Jan Fearney, a children's book author from Australia, has published two versions of this book with different book covers. I own the Harcourt version pictured here. Bear leads his furry friends on a long march up a hillside, declaring that it's "a perfect day for it!" Bears animal friends guess all kinds of things, but they don't learn what bear has in mind until he invites them to climb down his back and sled down the mountain. The bright and appealing illustrations and anticipation-building storyline will capture your audience's full attention.

The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel

is a book to share with your emergent readers and pre-readers. The book uses pictures of the clothing items in place of some of the text, so children can read along with you during your story presentation. Children love being able to participate in reading a story. I recommend that you review the word pictures with the children before you begin reading with them.

Let's Pretend: Take a Walk in the Snow

Pretend play pairs well with music and movement activities. In this guided walk, pretend to take a stroll through a snow-covered meadow and end up having a snowball fight. You could also pretend to build a snowman, make snow angels, or a snow fort. Start inside by pretending to put on coats. Put on some gentle music, and focus on the sights, sounds, and sensations they will feel. For illustrative purposes, here is a script you can follow with actions in italics.

• Today we're going to take a pretend walk through the snow. Is everyone ready?
• If we're going to play in the snow, we're going to have to get ready.
• Everyone, put on your coats! Mime putting on your coat, sleeve by sleeve.
• Don't forget your zipper! Pretend to pull up the zipper on your coat.
• Now put on your hats. I'm choosing my favorite blue hat today. What color is your hat?
• Ok, now put on your gloves! Mime putting on your gloves
• Uh-oh, I think I forgot something! What did I forget? (wait for a response) That's right, I forgot my boots!
• Put on your right boot! Mime putting on boot
• Put on your left boot! Mime putting on boot
• Now we're ready to go for a walk in the snow. Brrr, it's cold outside. Good thing we have on our warm coats!
• The snow is deep, lift your legs to up high to walk through the snow. (pretend you are walking through a deep snow drift)
• Time to make a snowball. Scoop the snow (Make a scooping motion with your hand.) Now make a ball with both hands.
• Look at all of those huge snowballs you made. Snowball fight! (pretend to throw your snowball at the kids)
• Wow, you all got me!

Just because you are working with a theme doesn't mean your preschool art experience needs to be "themey." Most early childhood experts recommend that early art experiences are more about the experience than about the results. So a take-home craft is less desirable than an interesting and exploratory art experience.

• Snowman fingerpainting. Using prepurchased or homemade white finger paints, Show children how to make snowmen using different-sized circles.

• Cotton ball snow. Make a snowman picture using elmer's glue or paste and fuzzy cotton balls. Young kids love exploring with textures.

• Winter day collage. Make a simple collage. Include favorite things to wear on a cold snowy day, favorite foods, and pictures of winter weather.

• Snowflake cutting. Cut snowflakes from pieces of white paper. Use fancy origami folds or fold paper into basic squares.