Read It, Make It: Books and a Treat for Snowy Days

by Patricia J. Murphy

Photo credit: Anastasia_Panait/Shutterstock

The first day of spring is a few weeks away, but there’s still a chance for a snowy day or two, depending on where you live. Whether you’re dreaming about building a snowman, enjoying a snow-packed day at the park, or longing for snowflakes in paradise, you can experience snowy feelings without leaving the warmth of your home! Here are several books to help you celebrate snow days all year long.

  • Read It!

  • The Snowman

    by Raymond Briggs

    Available from:

    This classic wordless story of a snowy day adventure depicts a boy’s excitement when his snowman comes to life. Briggs’s masterful and colorful illustrations take readers on a magical winter journey that will have them dreaming of their own snowman springing into action!

    Also available from:
  • Snow

    by Sam Usher

    Available from:

    Sam cannot wait to get outside to play in the snow, but he must wait for Grandad to get ready. Even though Sam and Grandad aren’t the first people to make tracks in the snow, they are the most imaginative — throwing snowballs with zoo animals, people, and pets! Sam discovers that good things and good times come to those who wait!

    Also available from:
  • Snow Angel, Sand Angel

    by Lois-Ann Yamanaka, illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky

    Available from:

    Claire lives by the beautiful Hapuna Beach and mountains of Hawaii, but she longs to see snow. However, Claire learns to appreciate what she has on her Big Island — even without a snowflake in sight. Readers will also discover Hawaii’s unique flora, fauna, and environmental culture. Aloha!

    Also available from:

MAKE IT!


What’s better than cuddling up with a wintery book? How about reading a few while enjoying yummy snow people cookies, too! Below, you’ll find simple instructions for snow people cookies, or if you desire, snow people dough ornaments.
read-it-make-it-snow-people-cookies

What you’ll need:

  • The phone number of your local bakery or ingredients to make your favorite sugar cookies! See the recipe in step #1 below.
  • Yummy white frosting. (Both homemade or store-bought work just fine!) See the recipe in step #2 below.
  • Chocolate chips for the eyes and mouths and orange-colored candies for noses.
  • Powdered sugar to dust your cookies (or each other).
  • Hot cocoa to drink with the cookies!

How to make snow people cookies:
Step 1. Use your favorite recipe for a sugar cookie (or order them at your favorite bakery as we did!). Or here’s a recipe from Food Network that we like.
Step 2. Let the cookies cool, and then spread white frosting over each one. We used vanilla frosting to make our snowmen faces. Need a tasty frosting recipe? Check out this one.
Step 3. Use your choice of chips (e.g., semi-sweet, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, or chocolate candies) for your snow people’s eyes and mouths.
Step 4. Choose a bright orange candy (e.g., Peanut M&M’s, Skittles, or a baby carrot) for your snowman’s nose. If you choose carrots, dry off the carrots, so they don’t slide off the cookie or droop. (We’re speaking from experience here!)
Step 5. Use your choice of chips (mentioned in step #3) to create smiles, frowns, smirks, surprised faces–or whatever you wish. Take this opportunity to talk about different feelings and what they look like, feel like, and ways to express them.
Step 6. Sprinkle cookies with powdered sugar to create an even snowier look!
Step 7. Eat and share with family members, friends, neighbors–anyone who needs cheering up on a snowy day!

Not interested in making a sweet treat? Here’s a recipe for snow people dough ornaments!

Happy snowy days!