February Book List

Cozy books to read again and again.

If you live in the southern United States, as I do, February is a sunny, pleasant month – a time with reasonable temperatures that lure everyone outside. I grew up intuiting that winter = December/Christmas/sometimes January, followed by an immediate spring and then summer in March.

If you live further north, you’re still in a mini Ice Age. I spent 14 years of my life in New York, so I sympathize!

If you missed January’s book list, you can see it here.

Photo by Madeleine Craine on Unsplash. Cropped.

February’s book list caters not to the season (which varies greatly depending on where you live) but rather to an atmosphere. Coziness. My hope is that whatever your weather, you can cozy up with a book.

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Five cozy picture books for February

If you buy a book based on my recommendation, I am grateful if you purchase through my link. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Owl Moon, by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr (affiliate link)

Dad and his son stay up late to go owling. They hike through snowy forests by moonlight, persevering and silent, hoping to stare into an owl’s eyes, face to face. Cold and full of blues and purples, this Caldecott Medal-winner makes you snuggle tight, breathless with anticipation. I love the lesson in patience and its rewards.

Saint George and the Dragon, by Margaret Hodges, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman (affiliate link)

This masterful retelling of a famous story is complete with intricate illustrations. With several paragraphs to a page, this is aimed at the upper end of the picture book age range, but the gripping bravery in the tale often holds younger kids spellbound and silent, too.

Everyone should own this book, whether you intend to read it to a child or enjoy it yourself.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (affiliate link)

A bear hunt — what could be easier? A family fords rivers, hikes through forests, plows through snowstorms, and despite their indomitable upbeat spirit, each step of the journey is harder than the last. The repeated motifs and cadence make this a favorite for young kids (this is my favorite book for transitioning from board books to paper), and it’s charming for older ones as well.

Watch the baby in the book, who shows more sense than anyone else.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, by Robert Frost, illustrated by Susan Jeffers (affiliate link)

Frost’s undiluted poetry is accompanied by beautiful illustrations that enhance, rather than distract from, the words. I love poetry, and our family memorizes lots of it without illustrations. But sometimes, there’s a place for a well-composed illustration whose intricacy and beauty matches the rising and falling cadence of the poetry.

Always Room for One More, by Sorche Nic Leodhas, illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian (affiliate link)

There was a wee house in the heather, and the dad insists on inviting every stranger to come in. The warmth of the hospitality—and the hospitality shown in return by the guests—is a sweet picture of how generosity and kindness are good in their own right and also good for us.

This Caldecott Medal-winning adaptation of a folk song includes a few Scottish words and the music to the tune in the back. If you can figure out how to sing beyond the first verse, please teach me how you did it.

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There are five cozy picture books for February—books worth re-reading and owning.

What are some of your favorites for this season?