If you want to bring seasonal joy into your bilingual classroom, these winter books in Spanish give you the perfect mix of culture, vocabulary, and heart. Each title on this list works beautifully for elementary readers, especially if you want something that builds language skills without overwhelming your students.
Below you will find ten winter themed Spanish or bilingual picture books plus simple activity ideas you can use during read alouds, centers, or early finisher time.
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1. Iguanas in the Snow / Iguanas en la nieve by Francisco X. Alarcón
Summary: This poetry collection celebrates winter through the lens of Latino culture, family life, and nature. The poems blend everyday moments with cultural pride, giving your students bilingual snapshots of winter experiences. The imagery is warm, inviting, and perfect for discussing figurative language in Spanish.
Activity idea: After reading, invite your students to write a short winter poem in Spanish that describes a memory, food, or tradition from their own life. Create a class poetry wall to display their writing.
2. Tren de invierno (The Winter Train) by Susanna Isern
Summary: This gentle story follows a group of forest animals as they travel together on a magical winter train. Themes of teamwork, kindness, and seasonal change appear throughout the book. The illustrations support comprehension and make it easy for students to visualize the journey.
Activity idea: Have students sequence the events from the story in Spanish. Then let them create their own animal character and write a short paragraph describing how their animal would help on the winter train.
3. My Snow Day / Mi día nevado by Ally Nathaniel
Summary: This bilingual text captures the excitement of a child experiencing snow, from playing outside to noticing the changes winter brings. The simple vocabulary makes the book accessible for both emerging bilinguals and confident readers. It is great for introducing winter themed verbs and nouns in Spanish.
Activity idea: Ask students to write a compare and contrast paragraph in Spanish about what a snow day looks like in the book versus what a winter day looks like where they live.
4. Me gusta la nieve by Sarah Nelson
Summary: This beautifully illustrated book uses sensory language to explore what snow looks, sounds, and feels like. Students will notice descriptive phrases that help them visualize winter scenes. The repetitive structure makes it easy to discuss patterns in language.
Activity idea: Assign students a page and have them identify sensory details in Spanish. Then let them add one new sentence that describes something else you might see, hear, or feel on a snowy day.
5. Haciendo un muñeco de nieve by Carolyn Kloski
Summary: This book follows children as they build a snowman together, highlighting cooperation, creativity, and winter fun. The language is simple and clear, which makes it a strong choice for vocabulary practice. It also works well as a quick seasonal read aloud.
Activity idea: After reading, let students design their own snowman and label the parts in Spanish. Extend the task by having them write three sentences describing the snowman’s personality.
6. Mil mariposas blancas by Jessica Betancourt-Perez
Summary: This tender story follows a girl who wishes for snow after moving to a new country. Themes of hope, belonging, and change make it relatable for many bilingual students. The book encourages emotional reflection and discussion in Spanish.
Activity idea: Ask your students to illustrate a moment of hope from the story. Then let them write a short reflection in Spanish about something they are hoping for this winter.
7. El mitón by Jan Brett
Summary: This classic tale tells the story of a lost mitten that stretches to fit one animal after another. Students will enjoy the predictable pattern and the humorous illustrations. The Spanish edition provides rich vocabulary and opportunities for retelling.
Activity idea: Have students create a character map in Spanish for one of the animals. They can describe the animal, explain its role in the story, and predict what would have happened if the mitten had stayed small.
8. Lo bueno del trueno by Sharon Purtill
Summary: This encouraging story helps children understand storms and weather related fears through calm explanations and comforting illustrations. Although not exclusively about snow, it fits well into winter weather discussions. It is especially helpful for building emotional vocabulary in Spanish.
Activity idea: Have students brainstorm weather related words in Spanish. Then let them write a short advice paragraph for younger kids about how to stay calm during a winter storm.
9. Un día de nieve by Ezra Jack Keats
Summary: This timeless classic follows a young boy as he explores his neighborhood after the first snowfall. The Spanish translation maintains the charm, simplicity, and warmth of the original. Students can easily connect to the sense of wonder and curiosity.
Activity idea: Give students a simple storyboard with four boxes. They can draw and write in Spanish to retell the key events. Encourage them to use transition words like primero, luego, después, and al final.
10. Diez maneras de escuchar la nieve by Cathy Camper
Summary: This thoughtful story highlights how winter invites us to slow down and listen. As a girl walks to her grandmother’s home, she discovers that snow makes different sounds depending on how you interact with it. The book encourages mindfulness and careful observation.
Activity idea: Take your class on a short outdoor “sound walk”. When you come back inside, invite them to write or draw the sounds they noticed. They can share their lists in Spanish and compare how winter sounds differ from other seasons.
Bringing Winter Joy to Your Bilingual Classroom
Using winter books in Spanish gives you a simple way to support vocabulary, reading fluency, and cultural awareness. These titles also open the door to meaningful writing, creative art projects, and calm seasonal lessons that your students will look forward to each year.
