beauty of the picture book: monthly pics for january

For most of my life, I lived my winters in the sunshine of a warm climate. Shorts, t-shirts, and tank tops could occasionally be worn in the months from December to February in my home town. In the months leading up to "winter," visits to white sandy beaches wearing typical beach attire are not uncommon.

My husband, who is from a climate with full-on winters, can attest that the sunshine, warm weather and the white sandy beaches can make a guy do crazy things -- like propose to a girl you have known for only three months.

I will say, however, that LOVE too can make a girl do crazy things -- like move to your husband's home town and buy your first winter wardrobe for the snow and temperatures in the teens.

So here we are, many years later, with two bigs and two littles in our lives ... all wearing their winter wardrobes.

Winter 2013

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Picture Books for January

After your kiddos have played in the snow outside, get a cup of hot cocoa, sit by the fire, and enjoy these (snowy) Caldecott Medal selections inside.

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
White Snow Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt
Snow by Uri Shulevitz
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader (not pictured, but worth mentioning)

Additional Resources

Winter Nature Study ideas at Homeschool Share
The official website of Wilson A. "Snowflake" Bentley
Incredible biographical information and video interview with Uri Shulevitz
An animated storybook of The Snowy Day at the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation

What good winter reads do you recommend for January?