10 Best Hibernation Books for Kids: Nature Picture Books
Hibernation Books for Kids. When my kids start asking questions, I start book hunting. That’s how most of my booklists are curated. Their questions led to fascinating discoveries. Below is a list of our favorite picture books about Hibernation. We’ve added fun words to our science vocabulary, such as hibernation, torpor, brumation, diapause, and migration. Does it get better than reading books and exploring God’s beautiful world with your children?
Q: Did you know hibernators are divided into two groups?
A: True hibernators and deep sleepers.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I, as an Amazon Associate, earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Heads up: If a book is marked by an asterisk (*), look for content warnings below the book description in italics.
Hibernation Books for Kids: A Picture Book Collection
1. Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
The Over and Under book series are great nature books for young children. This one follows a dad and daughter on a cross-country ski trip through the winter woods. Along the way, they learn about different animals making their home in the winter snow.
More Snow Picture Books {HERE}
2. Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers: How Animals Adapt in the Winter by Jessica Kulekjian
When days grow short, flowers fade and colors crumple to the ground…all the hiders hide.
This delightful picture book is a great introduction to how various animals adapt to changes in weather. The text is simple enough for preschoolers and informative sufficient for school-age children. Each page features informative sidebars about specific animals, including the Eastern box turtle, wood frog, carpenter ants, and more. The vibrant illustrations take the viewer on a visual adventure as a father and child journey through the woods.
3. Hibernation Station by Michelle Meadows
Fuzzy slippers, warm pajamas. Forest babies and their mamas…show up early at the station! Time for winter hibernation.
Animals in pajamas make me smile! This is a fun rhyming book that introduces young kids to the animals that hibernate, as they board the train conducted by a bear in pajamas.
4. Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming
Bear sniffed once. She sniffed twice. “I smell winter in the air,” said Bear. “It is time to crawl into my cave and sleep. But first I must tell Snail.”
This is a hibernation book that features Denise’s unique illustrations with spreads of color as woodland creatures tell each other that winter is coming and it’s time to sleep. Fleming’s artistic style is quite unique in pouring colored paper pulp through hand-cut stencils.
5. Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story by Sean Taylor
Granny Sylvie is a wise one. This living book follows Granny Sylvie and her grandson as she tells of the animals and their winter sleep. This may be one of my favorites on the list of Hibernation books for Kids.
6. Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart
This simple book is a great way to explore the habitats of animals during the winter.
Q: Do Bears Really Hibernate? {Here’s a site} to help you answer that question.
7. Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky
Right before winter comes, a bear shows up! The animals hide, but he knows they are there. He walks through the rugged, wild woods and crawls into a den to settle down all winter long. Jim Arnosky is one of my go-to authors for nature books.
More Fall Books for Kids {HERE}
8. Wait, Rest, Pause: Dormancy in Nature by Marcie Flinchum Atkins
This non-fiction picture book made this list because of the captivating, real-life photos. The text is simple and great for young learners.
9. Animals Hibernating: How Animals Survive Extreme Conditions by Pamela Hickman* (out of print)
This informative book reads more like an illustrated textbook and is better shared with upper elementary kids. I did enjoy sharing the sidebars “if you were a..” with my young kids, and we did a few of the featured labs. * Content Warning: Briefly references Australian Aboriginal people.
What’s the Opposite of Hibernation? Estivation.
10. Summertime Sleepers: Animals That Estivate by Melissa Stewart
Did you know some animals sleep through the hottest days of the year? It’s called Estivation. Be sure to add this one to your summertime booklist.
For More Summertime Sleepers Check Out:
Beneath the Sun by Melissa Stewart
A Few First Chapter Books Featuring Sleeping Animals
- The Bear (Lighthouse Family) by Cynthia Rylant
- Winter’s No Time to Sleep (The Adventures of Sophie Mouse) by Poppy Green
More Books for Fun: Featuring Sleepy Animals in the Winter
- Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
- Bear Can’t Sleep by Karma Wilson
- The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett
- A Loud Winter’s Nap by Katy Hudson
- Bear Has a Story to Tell by Phillip C. Stead
- The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting
- Leaves by David Ezra Stein
As always, I’ll continue my hunt for more chapter books and picture books featuring animals that hibernate.
Interested in More Booklists for Kids: Check These Out!
Favorite Picture Books for October
View the complete monthly Booklist for October {HERE}.
Favorite Snowy Books for Toddlers and Kids
Get the Snowy book collection {HERE}.
Favorite Fall Picture Books
Get the complete list of Fall Picture Books {HERE}.
Thanks for Stopping By!
Lastly, thank you for stopping by! I hope you find a favorite hibernating book from this Best Hibernation Books for Kids Booklist. As always, I will continue to keep this booklist updated with any picture books (fiction or non-fiction) and chapter books featuring hibernating animals. If you have any recommendations, please subscribe to my newsletter and hit reply or join me on instagram. (my comments are currently disabled) Please feel free to tag me on Instagram @mudpieswithsprinkles or reply to my newsletter. My comment section is currently closed.
Come grow with us by joining our weekly mailing list. I hope you have a beautiful day! I truly appreciate your support and kindness.
HAPPY READING!
– With Great Joy, Katie
PIN IT FOR LATER!
