For this year’s Winter Reading Challenge we’re thrilled to be working with Penguin Publishing to bring The Snowman and the Snowdog to our libraries.
From 1 December children will be able to come into the library and pick up a collector card and collect a sticker for each library book they read or listen to.
After reading or listening to four library books they will receive a certificate!
Whilst aimed at ages 4 to 11, everyone can take part no matter their age, and they have until 26 January to finish.
There’s no need to sign up; just visit your local library* to collect stickers and earn a certificate.
All library books count towards the challenge: eBooks, audiobooks, books read to the child, chapter books, picture books, graphic novels and any other kind of book that you can borrow from the library.
It’s free to take part in the Winter Reading Challenge, with a suggested donation of £1.
*Excluding Kingsclere Library, Lowford Library, Milford-on-Sea Library and North Baddesley Library
Looking for books for your child, or books to read together this winter? Have a look at these great winter themed books that you can borrow from Hampshire Libraries.
Books suitable for ages 0-4:
The Snowman
by Raymond Briggs
This classic picture book describes the friendship between a boy and a snowman and their magical journey over a sparkling winter landscape.
Ages 0+
The snowman and the snowdog
by Hilary Audus
The Snowman flies again! One winter’s night a little boy is taken on a breathtaking and magical adventure beyond his wildest dreams when the Snowman and Snowdog he has built come to life and take him over the rooftops and across the sea to the North Pole.
Ages 0+
The snow dragon
by Abi Elphinstone and Fiona Woodcock
When the first snow of winter falls, Phoebe watches it from her bedroom in Griselda Bone’s Home For Strays, wishing that the snow will bring with it some much-needed magic. However, in Griselda Bone’s orphanage magic is banned, along with daydreaming and doodling, and Phoebe’s day goes from bad to worse. But just when she’s about to give up hope, a Snow Dragon appears and whisks her away on an adventure, and maybe, just maybe, there’s enough magic to save Phoebe.
Ages 3+
Moomin and the ice festival
based on the original stories by Tove Jansson
It’s winter in Moominvalley and Moomintroll and his family are getting ready for the Long Winter Sleep. But as the first flakes of snow fall, they receive an exciting invitation to the Ice Festival. Will they be brave enough to venture out now winter is here?
Ages 3+
Funny footprints
by Katie Dale and Nanette Regan
In this story, it is Ben’s birthday and it is snowing! He goes for a walk with Dad and sees some very funny footprints in the snow. Where could they lead?
Ages 3+
Books suitable for ages 5-8:
Isadora Moon makes winter magic
by Harriet Muncaster
Isadora loves playing in the snow, especially when her creations come to life! But snow magic can’t last forever. Will she be able to save her new friends before they melt away? This book is also bursting with activities and fun things to make and do!
Ages 5+
The Snow Goose
by Anne Booth
Every year the magnificent silver Snow Goose brings winter to the Magical Kingdom of Birds. But this year something is wrong: why hasn’t he arrived? Lord Astor must be up to his tricks again. Can Maya and her friends uncover the mystery behind the missing snow goose, and bring winter to the kingdom?
Ages 5+
Pugs of the frozen north
by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
And they’re off! Who will win the Race to the Top of the World? Helga Hammerfest and her polar bears; bounder and cheat Sir Basil-Dumpling; Shackleton Jones with his robot-powered sled ?But wait! What’s this? Two kids riding a sled pulled by 66 pugs wearing jumpers?! The underdogs are coming!
Ages 6+
The Snowman
by Michael Morpurgo
When James wakes to see snow falling one December morning, he is delighted and rushes outside to make a snowman. With coal eyes, an old green hat and scarf and a tangerine nose, he is perfect and James can hardly bear to go inside and leave him. In the middle of the night, he wakes and creeps out to see his snowman again – and to his amazement, the snowman comes to life!
Ages: 7+
A boy called Christmas
by Matt Haig
You are about to read the true story of Father Christmas. It is a story that proves that nothing is impossible. If you are one of those people who believe that some things are impossible, you should put this book down right away. It is most certainly not for you. Because this book is full of impossible things. Are you still reading? Good. Then let us begin. A tale of adventure, snow, kidnapping, elves, more snow, and an 11-year-old boy called Nikolas, who isn’t afraid to believe in magic.
Ages 7+
Books suitable for ages 9-10:
Shadows of winterspell
by Amy Wilson
Enter the thousand worlds of Amy Wilson in her captivating novel, ‘Shadows of Winterspell’, sparkling with frost and magic. Stella has been living behind the magic of the forest for most of her life. Lonely, she enrolls at the local school, and as she begins to make friends, she discovers that she is even more different than she thought. But as autumn turns to magical winter, Stella realises that uncovering her own family secret is the only way to release the forest from the grip of a dark and old magic.
Ages 9+
Father Christmas’s fake beard
by Terry Pratchett
Have you ever wanted Christmas to be different? Turkey and carols, presents and crackers – they all start to feel a bit samey. How about a huge exploding mince pie, a pet abominable snowman, or a very helpful partridge in a pear tree? What if Father Christmas went to work at a zoo, or caused chaos in a toy store, or was even arrested for burglary? Dive into the fantastically funny world of Terry Pratchett, for a festive treat like no other.
Ages 9+
The eye of the north
by Sinéad O’Hart
When Emmeline’s parents mysteriously disappear, she finds herself flung into an adventure that takes her to the frozen north. There evil Dr Siegfried Bauer is plotting to awaken a mythical creature from the deep. And he’s not the only one determined to unleash the terrible beast. Can Emmeline stop their fiendish plans and save the world?
Ages 9+
The way past winter
by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
When Mila’s brother disappears, she believes he’s been taken by the Bear, a hooded stranger of legend who sought shelter at their home. Mila and her sisters follow his trail into the frozen north, determined to find a way past winter and bring their brother home.
Ages 10+
Books suitable for ages 11-13:
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
Set in Victorian England and highlighting the social injustice of the time we see one Ebeneezer Scrooge go from oppressor to benefactor when he gets a rude awakening to how his life is, and how it should be.
Ages 11+
Whiteout
by Gabriel Dylan
A school ski trip to a remote Alpine resort descends into terror when a snowstorm cuts off the group from the rest of the world. For, as Charlie and his classmates are about to discover, something ancient and evil lies in wait.
Ages 11+
All wrapped up
by Holly Smale
Harriet Manners knows a lot about Christmas. She knows that every year Santa climbs down 91.8 million chimneys. She knows that Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was almost definitely a girl. She knows that the first artificial Christmas trees were made out of goose feathers. But this Christmas is extra special for Harriet, because four days ago she had her first ever kiss. Now she just needs to work out what’s supposed to happen next.
Ages 11+
The winter place
by Alexander Yates
When a mysterious stranger and his brown bear show up on the same day that Axel and Tess are orphaned, Axel knows nothing will ever be the same. However, the strange duo are quickly forgotten when Axel and Tess are shipped off to Finland to stay with grandparents that they’ve never met. But when they arrive in Finland, Axel is stunned when the stranger and his bear reappear. More incredibly, the stranger tells him that his parents are lost and need help. Desperate to see his father again, and actually meet his mother, Axel follows the man and his bear, disappearing deep into the frozen wilds of northern Finland.
Ages 12+
⛄️❄️📚 Happy reading! 📚❄️⛄️
Hampshire Libraries 