
Illinois State Awards
Monarch Award (K-3 Readers' Choice)
Bluestem Award (3-5 Readers' Choice)
Caudill Award (4-8 Readers' Choice)
National Awards
Staff Picks for Kids
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All You Need for a Snowman
One small snowflake fluttering down--
That's all you need for a snowman.
Or is it? In these pages, an exuberant crew is summoned to create a snowman of heroic proportions. -
Mouse's First Snow
One cold day Mouse and Poppa venture into the clear white world. From sledding down hills, to skating across the ice, to meeting fluffy snow angels, Mouse finds that wintertime is full of surprises. And before it's time to go home, Mouse just might have time to "make" a special new friend!
Available for the first time as a Classic Board Book, this seasonal story is perfect for little hands! -
An Amazing Snowman
ANIMAL STORIES. Featuring Olaf, the happy-go-lucky comic relief of Disney's "Frozen," this humorous tale of what it means to dream is told in verse and features charming illustrations. Ages 0+
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Penny and Her Sled
"A gentle story of patience."--Horn Book (starred review)
Caldecott Medal-winner Kevin Henkes's award-winning and bestselling mouse, Penny, stars in an irresistible story about anticipation, disappointment, and a brand-new sled. Told in five short chapters, Penny and Her Sled is perfect for reading alone, reading aloud, and sharing together.
When Penny, a sweet and curious mouse, gets a new sled, she can't wait to use it. But there's one big problem--there's no snow!
Patiently, Penny waits and watches for the snow to appear. She puts on her scarf and hat. She sleeps with her mittens. Maybe if she's ready, the snow will finally come. But day after day, the snow does not arrive. Finally, Penny decides she will use her sled for other things--it's too wonderful not to!
With a little imagination, the sled becomes a bridge for her glass animals to cross. It becomes a bed for her doll, Rose. It becomes a magic carpet that takes Penny and Rose on adventures all around the world.
And as Penny waits for a snowfall that may never appear, she learns all about the power of patience, imagination, play . . . and spring! Told in five short chapters, and with an emphasis on family and patience, Penny and Her Sled is the perfect choice for emergent readers and for family sharing.
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Ready, Set, Snow!
Everybody knows shark expert Freddy Thresher is also a snowshoe whiz--or is he? When Mrs. Wushy announces that the class will be competing in the mini-Winter Olympics, everyone is excited for the competition. But, after betting Max the bully that he will win the Snowshoe Race, Freddy heads straight for snowshoe boot camp, and fast! Will Freddy be able to win gold amid sled pulls and the infamous Snowball Toss? (copy continues)
First grade and kindergarten teacher Abby Klein has been teaching for almost twenty years, and she brings her firsthand knowledge of children to this popular series. As well, she tailors each story and the language in it for new readers--using just the right words, as well as the issues that are most important to children this age.
For extra fun, the word "fin" is hidden in every illustration, and children will have a good time playing the games in "Freddy's Fun Pages" at the end of the book. Attention shark lovers! Freddy Thresher is a first grade expert on sharks, and each book features cool facts about sharks as an added bonus.
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Snowmen at Night
Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've wondered . . . what do snowmen do at night? This delightful wintertime tale reveals all! Caralyn Buehner's witty, imaginative verse offers many amusing details about the secret life of snowmen and where they go at night, while Mark Buehner's roly-poly snowmen are bursting with personality and charm. From the highly successful team that created such winning titles as Fanny's Dream, Snowmen at Night is fabulous, frosty, and fun!
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Sneezy the Snowman
B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire--and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again--and make him feel "just right." Hilarity chills the air with playful mixed-media illustrations by Stephen Gilpin as Sneezy attempts to warm himself with some silly results.
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The Most Perfect Snowman
A heartwarming winter story perfect for fans of classics like The Snowy Day, The Mitten, The Snowman, and The Giving Tree.
Drift was a very plain snowman. Every day he dreamed of wearing a stylish hat, a scarf, and mittens just like the other snowmen—and, most of all, having a pointy orange carrot nose.
Then, he knew, he would finally be perfect—and he would finally belong.
Until one special, snowy day, Drift’s deepest dreams come true.
But when dark clouds roll in and a terrible blizzard begins to blow, can Drift face giving up what he loves most and become the most perfect snowman of all?
From celebrated cartoonist Chris Britt, The Most Perfect Snowman is a touching story about kindness, friendship, and the importance of giving.
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Hello, Snow!
The joys of a winter day
"Goodbye, Mommy . . .
Here we go!
Through the door
And . . . HELLO, SNOW!"
On the morning of a fresh snowfall, a young girl bounces out of bed, scrambles into warm clothes, grabs her dad, dashes outside, and jumps right into the delights of a snowy day. Whether she's rolling a giant snowball, bumping into a new friend, or tumbling into a pile of white, her spirit and energy are hard to resist.
Playful rhyming text and exuberant watercolor illustrations full of funny antics and details reflect the enthusiasms of a snow-loving girl on this best of winter days. -
Ant and Honey Bee
The funny, endearing insect pals find a way to be more than fair-weather friends in a second early chapter book from Megan McDonald and G. Brian Karas.
Brrrr! The leaves are off the trees, and frost is on the ground. It’s time for bugs to hunker down and hide out for the winter. But Ant isn’t ready to hunker down. Ant isn’t ready to be all by herself for months on end. The thought of a long chilly season without her best friend, Honey Bee, is enough to make Ant shiver with dread. Can Ant brave the cold for one last surprise visit before the snow flies? And will Honey Bee welcome an interruption of her peace and quiet? The author of the Judy Moody series teams up again with award-winning illustrator G. Brian Karas to show that true friends can weather whatever comes their way — even if one is feeling antsy and the other has blissful hibernation in mind. -
The Snow Jewel
These are no ordinary princesses-they're Rescue Princesses!
Northernland is the snowiest kingdom the Rescue Princesses have ever visited. They are delighted to go sledding, drink hot cocoa, and make friends with the girl who lives there, Princess Freya.
When Princess Freya's mischievous kitten goes missing, the princesses leap into action. They have to find the kitten-even if it means letting Freya in on their Rescue Princess secret.
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Snow Dog, Go Dog
Snow doesn't stop the Golden Retriever, Tinka. She runs and plays and sleds with her boy. But when her friend Millie the beagle shows up, off races Tinka. And she gets lost--till her boy finally rescues her.
A companion to Fun Dog, Sun Dog and Cool Dog, School Dog.
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Snow Dance
In this illustrated children's book, Ruthie would rather go sledding than go to school. When she asks both children and adults how they might spend a snow day, they begin to envision fantastic alternatives to their usual routines. Ruthie teaches them her newly invented song and snow dance to help make their wishes come true. Even those in non-snowy climates will appreciate the longing for an unexpected vacation from work and school.
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Into the Snow
Into the Snowis an exuberant story told in the child's own voice. Celebrating immediacy and exploration, along with the tender bond between mother and child, this is a story that feels good, the way all real things do.
Masamitsu Saitowas born in 1958 in Japan. He studied graphic design at Tama Art University. His work can be found in magazines, on chocolate packages, and inside wonderful books.
Yuki Kanekois an artist, naturalist, translator, and author. She grew up in Japan, and now lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.
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First Snow
Look out. Now look up. From the sky one flake falls, then another. And just like that—it's snowing.
In this beautiful book from debut creator Bomi Park, a young girl wakes up to the year's first snowy day. From her initial glimpse out the window to her poignant adventures—rolling a snowman, making snow angels—the girl's quiet quests are ones all young readers will recognize. Simple, muted text and exquisite, evocative art conjure the excitement of a day spent exploring the wonder of snow—and the magic that, sometimes literally, such a day brings. As subtly joyful as a snow day itself, this book will find its home in the hearts of young adventurers everywhere.
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