Some of my favorite reading memories growing up were in the cold winter months. I remember snuggling up on the couch, or by the fire and losing myself in atmospheric winter reads. As a result, some of my favorite chapter books are centered in wintertime. In case you too are looking for some arctic winter reads, here is a fun mix of old classics and new releases in our collection!
Greenglass House by Kate Milford
Starting off strong, Greenglass House is one of the coziest winter reads I have ever read. It’s wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky smuggler’s inn is always quiet during this season, and twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers’ adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again… Soon Milo’s home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each one bearing a strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects go missing and tempers flare Milo and Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the truth about Greenglass House–and themselves.
The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
A classic that most people are familiar with, is The Magician’s Nephew. This is the start of the famous Chronicles of Narnia series (although people often mistake The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe as the first book). Narnia . . . a land frozen in eternal winter . . . a country waiting to be set free. Witness the creation of a magical land in The Magician’s Nephew, the first title in C. S. Lewis’s classic fantasy series, which has captivated readers of all ages for over sixty years.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Truly one of my favorite books of all time, Nevermoor is the start of an epic fantasy series. Perfect for fans of Harry Potter, this series is a true hidden gem. Morrigan Crow was cursed to die on her twelfth birthday, and yet a strange and magical man rescues her to Nevermoor, a magical city where she is safe from her curse. However, to stay in Nevermoor, Morrigan must be accepted into the prestigious Wundrous Society. Full of adventure, friendship, and magic this is a perfect series to escape into during the cold winter months.
The Barren Grounds by David Robertson
Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home until they find a secret portal to another reality. They meet Ochek, the only hunter supporting his starving community who teaches the kids traditional ways to survive. If you loved the Chronicles of Narnia, you are sure to love this one as well.
The Sea in Winter by Christine Day
It’s been a hard year for Maisie Cannon, ever since she hurt her leg and could not keep up with her ballet training and auditions. Her blended family is loving and supportive, but Maisie knows that they just can’t understand how hopeless she feels. With everything she’s dealing with, Maisie is not excited for their family midwinter road trip along the coast, near the Makah community where her mother grew up. But soon, Maisie’s anxieties and dark moods start to hurt as much as the pain in her knee. How can she keep pretending to be strong when on the inside she feels as roiling and cold as the ocean?
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
The modern fantasy classic that Entertainment Weekly named an “All-Time Greatest Novel” and Newsweek hailed as a “Top 100 Book of All Time.” Now an HBO original series. Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal–including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world. Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want. But what Lyra doesn’t know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other…
Orphan Elizabeth Somers’s malevolent aunt and uncle ship her off to the ominous Winterhouse Hotel, owned by the peculiar Norbridge Falls. Upon arrival, Elizabeth quickly discovers that Winterhouse has many charms–most notably its massive library. It’s not long before she locates a magical book of puzzles that will unlock a mystery involving Norbridge and his sinister family. But the deeper she delves into the hotel’s secrets, the more Elizabeth starts to realize that she is somehow connected to Winterhouse. As fate would have it, Elizabeth is the only person who can break the hotel’s curse and solve the mystery. But will it be at the cost of losing the people she has come to care for, and even Winterhouse itself?
The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown
On a cold winter night, Iris and her best friend, Daniel, sneak into a clearing in the woods to play in the freshly fallen snow. There, Iris carefully makes a perfect snow angel — only to find the crumbling gravestone of a young girl, Avery Moore, right beneath her. Immediately, strange things start to happen to Iris: She begins having vivid nightmares. She wakes up to find her bedroom window wide open, letting in the snow. She thinks she sees the shadow of a girl lurking in the woods. And she feels the pull of the abandoned grave, calling her back to the clearing…Obsessed with figuring out what’s going on, Iris and Daniel start to research the area for a school project. They discover that Avery’s grave is actually part of a neglected and forgotten Black cemetery, dating back to a time when White and Black people were kept separate in life — and in death. As Iris and Daniel learn more about their town’s past, they become determined to restore Avery’s grave and finally have proper respect paid to Avery and the others buried there. But they have awakened a jealous and demanding ghost, one that’s not satisfied with their plans for getting recognition. One that is searching for a best friend forever — no matter what the cost.
Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone by J.K. Rowling
Last but not least, the ultimate classic, Harry Potter. We have multiple versions here at the Floyd County Library (print, ebook, audiobook, etc) but I recommend the fully illustrated version. The colorful illustrations add a whole new dimension to this already magical tale. Personally, I don’t think anything says “winter holiday season” quite like Harry and his magical friends.
Hopefully, these titles have inspired you to pick up a book and embrace all the chilly excitement of winter!
