When New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina announced that schools would be closed on Tuesday, Farina also offered this piece of advice to parents: “Keep your kids home. Reading a good book is not a bad way to spend a day off from school,” she said. After hearing Farina’s remarks, as a public service announcement we here at Metro thought we’d compile our favorite snow and winter storm themed books that would be both entertaining and educational for your children. From the classic picture book that was the first to ever feature an African-American child to the fictionalized story of a family struggling to survive one of the most brutal winters in our country’s history, here are our picks: “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats (for ages 4-6): Little Peter is delighted at the transformation of New York City after the first snowstorm of the season.
“Brave Irene” by William Steig (for ages 4-8): The story of the young daughter of a dressmaker who braves an impending winter storm to ensure that a duchess gets her ballgown in time. “The Long Winter” by Laura Ingalls Wilder (for ages 8 -12): The story of how the Ingalls family survived the winter of 1880-81 as their food and coal supplies run dangerously low. “My Side of the Mountain” by Jean Craighead George (for ages 10-12): 12-year old Sam is sick of living in his crowded apartment with his parents and siblings. He decides to run away to Catskills and ends up caught in a treehouse during a blizzard. “Snow Falling in Spring” by Moying Li. (ages 13 and up): Why not use the snow day to learn a little history? In this young adult memoir, Li takes readers through what it was like to come of age during China’s Cultural Revolution. Follow Lakshmi Gandhi on Twitter @LakshmiGandhi.
Here are some storm-themed book suggestions for your kids
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