The Winter Olympics are right around the corner, and the winter games offer an opportunity to teach students about lessons in perseverance, determination, setting goals, and winning and losing. And, there are some really cool sports to watch! So, let’s kick off the Winter Olympics with some fun books that will not only inspire your students but may even bring out a few laughs. Here is a list of my favorite must-reads for the Winter Olympics.
I’m sharing all of these books on video as well! Check out the Winter Games Read Aloud Books video on my Youtube channel.
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Winter Olympic Picture Books
Olympig! By: Victoria Jamieson
Olympig! is the triumphant story of an underdog, or better yet, an underpig! Boomer has practiced and practiced working so hard and is confident he will be a top contender in the upcoming Olympics. But, things don’t exactly go his way, but with his mom, as a proud cheerleader, she reminds him that what matters is working hard and trying your best. And, you don’t need to win for others to be proud of you. A great story that provides valuable lessons but will also include some laughs!
Tacky and the Winter Games by: Helen Lester
Tacky and the Winter Games is a hilarious story that reminds us that it’s perfectly fine to beat to your own drum! In this story, all of Tacky’s friends are training for the winter games, and he decides to join them, but Tacky’s training looks slightly different from his friends. Will Tacky’s creative ways help this team? Definitely, a fun read to pull out for the Winter Olympics.
Snowman Paul at the Winter Olympics by: Yossi Lapid
Snowman Paul at the Winter Olympics is a great book to read to kick off the Winter Olympics. It’s the story of Paul the Snowman who competes in all the events and wins! But, sadly, Paul was cheating and had to return the medals. A great lesson on honesty but also what it means to be fair. I love how Paul’s friends call out Paul’s mistakes, but a valuable lesson was learned.
Wally Raccoons Farmyard Olympics by: Leela Hope
Wally Raccoons Farmyard Olympics is a fun story of a raccoon who is excited to join the Olympics but can’t find the right sport for him. But, with some help, he finds a sport that he can excel in. An overall fun story that reminds us that we can all find something that we’re good at!
Max and Marla by: Alexandra Boiger
Max and Marla are best friends and aspiring Olympians! This is a wonderful story of perseverance, and the importance of hardwork. I love the lessons and the bit of adventure as we follow Max and Marla. These two truly show us what it takes to become an athlete while reminding us that winning isn’t everything, especially when you have a friend at your side. A must-read to celebrate the Winter Olympics!
Salt in His Shoes by: Deloris Jordan
Salt in His Shoes is not a story about winter or the Olympics, but it’s an extraordinary true story of Michael Jordan. This book explores Michael’s doubts about himself and his worries that he might never be tall enough or a good enough basketball player. But, with perseverance, patience, determination, hard work, and a ton of practice, you can achieve the goals you have set for yourself. One of my favorite books to open a discussion on the importance of setting goals.
Jabari Jumps by: Gaia Cornwall
Jabari Jumps is one of my absolute favorites, and while it doesn’t include snow or a winter game, it consists of a brave little boy who is ready to overcome challenges. This is a marvelous picture book that teaches us that while we all have fears, we also can overcome those fears. I love the messages about building up confidence.
Drum Dream Girl by: Margarita Engle
Drum Dream Girl is a story inspired by a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who never gave up her dream of being a drummer and succeeded in breaking Cuba’s traditional taboo against female drummers. And many of the athletes competing in the Winter Olympics also faced challenges, struggles, and hurdles to get where they are today. But, this beautiful story shows us that perseverance can help you overcome even the most significant hurdles.
Do you have a favorite Winter Games book?
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