Winter Is Here! 7 Picture Books About Sledding Adventures

Red Sled, by Lita Judge
The best thing about wordless picture books for the youngest readers is that there’s so much room for them to tell their own story. In Judge’s (almost) wordless tale, the story is simple—a group of woodland creatures borrows a child’s sled and takes it for a midnight ride. But there’s so much zest, so much expression, and so much energy in Judge’s illustrations that the story takes on a life of its own, even without the text to guide the reader. The illustrations feel quiet and classic, like the snowfall itself, while still conveying moments of humor. The perfect book to pair with hot chocolate after a snowy afternoon outside.

Stella, Queen of the Snow, by Marie-Louise Gay
Stella and her little brother, Sam, are favorites in our house, maybe because they’re so similar to my daughter and her own tag-along little brother. In Stella, Queen of the Snow, the siblings venture out into a winter wonderland to go ice skating, make snow angels, and, yes, sled. As always, Sam is full of questions for his big sister and a little unsure about this new adventure. But Stella always has an answer (even if she has to make one up), and a dose of encouragement. Armed with a powerful imagination, and a sense of whimsy and magic, this duo enjoys all the first snow has to offer.

Ten on the Sled, by Kim Norman and Liza Woodruff
Preschoolers familiar with Ten in the Bed are going to catch on to this one very quickly. Ten woodland friends all pile on to a sled for a daredevil ride, but ten of anything on a sled is never a good idea. One by one, the friends go tumbling out, creating a snowball that grows larger and larger as the sled continues racing down the hill. The rhymes are enhanced by bright, zany illustrations, complete with animals decked out in scarves, earmuffs, crash helmets, and goggles. Prepare yourself: this is one of those books that’s going to be on repeat during the winter season.

The Iciest, Dirtiest, Scariest Sled Ride Ever, by Rebecca Rule and Jennifer Thermes
Sometimes you get the perfect white snow. But as many of us know, sometimes that fluffy white stuff is followed by rain and sleet, leaving a slick layer of ice all over everything. Such is the case in The Iciest, Dirtiest, Scariest Sled Ride Ever. Not to be deterred by the wintry mix, Lizzie and her six friends convince Lizzie’s grandfather to allow them to take a spin (perhaps literally) on his old-fashioned sled. After dragging the mammoth sled up to the top of the tallest sledding hill, all seven pile on for the ride of their lives. Both the author and the illustrator are New Englanders, so you know this is as authentic as it gets.

Snow! Snow! Snow!, by Lee Harper
Simple, joyous, and fun, this one follows two pups and their canine dad on a snowy day adventure. After a night of snow covers the ground in a blanket of white, this trio wastes no time in getting out the door. They climb the tallest hill, pile onto the sled, and go speeding down, only to a hit a bump that sends them flying. The next few pages show them soaring through the clouds, only to hit the ground to cries of “Again! Again!” Which pretty much sums up the sledding experience, don’t you think?

Red Sled, by Patricia Thomas and Chris L. Demarest
This rhyming text seems at first oddly minimalistic, but an endnote from the author explains the reason for the structure, a reason that once understood seems rather brilliant. The story itself centers around the nighttime ride of a young boy and his father. Feeling sad, the two decided a nighttime sled ride might be just what is needed to cheer them up. After bundling up and dragging their red sled to the top of a tall hill, the two ride down together. As hoped, the ride lifts their spirits, as does the hot chocolate they share upon returning home. Simple, quiet, no surprises here. Just a good, solid winter story.

Max and Marla, by Alexandra Boiger
Remember the movie Cool Runnings? I can’t be the only one, right? This book has the same themes: Olympian hopefuls, perseverance, friendship. But it’s a whole lot cuter. Best friends Max and Marla have Olympic-sized plans, but they face challenges right from the start. Their sled has “technical difficulties,” their outfits are all wrong, the weather is rough; they become a giant snowball. All the normal Olympians-in-training stuff. But through it all these two make lemonade out of lemons (or ice cream out of ice?) and persevere. Cute story, cute illustrations, a nice addition to your winter collection.
Bundle up! Winter is here!