By Teen Services Coordinator Joanna Harris and Reading Programs Coordinator Tora Burns, D.C. Public Library
Winter tends to be a time families are standing still and spending more time inside.
With that in mind, DC Public Library believes it’s important for kids to stay engaged
during this time with literature and activities that stimulate their minds.
These books allow children to explore fantastical worlds and reflect the diversity of their community. DCPL’s Winter Challenge in partnership with the Washington Wizards runs from
Dec. 9, 2024, to Feb. 28, 2025. For more details, visit: dclibrary.org/winterchallenge.
Picture Books
“The Magical Snowflake”
by Bernette Ford
Ori and her friends are sad because even though it’s been a very cold winter, there’s been no snow. Then, one day, Ori makes a wish, and a magical snowflake descends from the heavens. Ori and the magical snowflake bring winter fun and cheer across the town. Adults and children can beat the winter blues by singing the “Merry Winter” song and talking about the fun parts of the season.
“Bundle Up, Little Pup”
by Dori Elys
Kids and their pups bundle up to leave their warm houses and go out into the cold together. Young readers who love dogs of all shapes and sizes will enjoy the illustrations of bundled up pups.
Easy Readers
“Winter: A Solstice Story”
by Kelsey E. Gross
It’s the longest night of the year, the beginning of the winter solstice, and the animals in the forest sing about ways they can keep things bright in the dark and cold. Soft, light-colored illustrations add a sense of coziness and peace to this spell-like story about keeping happiness alive during the winter.
“Angela’s Glacier”
by Jordan Scott
In Iceland, Angela’s father introduces her to the glacier near her house. Angela explores the glacier almost every day with her father, then later by herself. But Angela gets older, and more things demand her attention: school, extracurricular activities, new responsibilities. She loses touch with the glacier and, by extension, herself. Angela’s story emphasizes both the importance of communing with nature and staying true to your roots, no matter how old you are or where life takes you. The illustrations use vivid blues and imaginative imagery to convey Angela’s almost magical connection to her glacier.
Middle Grade
“Dreamer”
by Akim Aliu
This is the graphic novel autobiography of professional hockey player Akim Aliu. Akim’s passion for ice hockey began when he was young and was unfortunately fraught with challenges, including racial bias and violence. Akim’s perseverance allows him to eventually achieve his dream. An engrossing and powerful read for young dreamers of all kinds.
“On Air with Zoey Washington”
by Janae Marks
Zoey helped clear her father’s name and get him out of prison. Now, she’s helping him again with his dream of running a restaurant. She makes the restaurant’s baked goods and hosts a podcast where she tells her father’s story, as well as the stories of other newly returned citizens, to help bring awareness to the struggles of formerly incarcerated people. This slice-of-life story does an admirable job showcasing the perspective of a child whose loved one was incarcerated, and the impact incarceration has on an individual and their family.
Young Adult
“Snowglobe”
by Soyoung Park
A dystopian novel about a future where the world is an icy, desolate landscape, except for the land within the Snowglobe. The Snowglobe is a contained world of comfort, and the only thing individuals must sacrifice in order to live inside of it is their privacy. The Snowglobe broadcasts 24-hour reality TV featuring the inhabitants of its inhabitants, and those who live in the icy wasteland watch and idolize those they see on their screen. When Chobahm gets the opportunity to live in the Snowglobe, she thinks all her dreams have come true. Soon, she comes to realize the ugly reality behind reality TV. A gripping science fiction story with commentary on social media culture and reality TV that will resonate with today’s teens.
“Blood at the Root”
by Laddrion Williams
Ten years ago, Malik’s life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. In a wholly unique saga of family, history and community, Malik must embrace his legacy to save what’s left of his old family as well as
his new one. If Harry Potter was Black and went to a HBU, you might get a book something like “Blood at the Root.”
