The Snowy Day Book Review: A Winter SEL Classic for Mindfulness, Feelings, and Emotional Growth

Paloma Ruiz Olmo
Dec 16, 2025
6 min read

Updated: Jan 4

The Snow Day book review on SEL teachings.

Winter can be a magical season for children — fresh snow, cozy routines, and time to slow down. But it can also bring changes in schedules, big emotions, and extra energy that children don’t always know how to manage. That’s why winter is an ideal time to intentionally incorporate social-emotional learning (SEL) and character education through books.

One of the most powerful winter picture books for SEL is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. This timeless story may appear simple, but it offers rich opportunities to support emotional awareness, mindfulness, independence, and reflection — essential skills for young children at home, in classrooms, and in homeschool environments.

This post is part of our Winter Books for SEL & Character Education series, where each week we highlight a winter-themed children’s book paired with reflection questions and hands-on activities that support emotional development. We begin with The Snowy Day because it lays the emotional foundation for everything that follows.

What Is The Snowy Day About?

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is a beloved winter children’s book that follows a young boy named Peter as he explores his neighborhood after a snowfall. Through quiet moments of discovery — such as crunching footsteps, making snow angels, and observing how snow changes — the story encourages mindfulness, emotional awareness, independence, and curiosity.

Because of its gentle pacing and relatable experiences, The Snowy Day is a favorite winter read-aloud for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and early elementary children.

Why The Snowy Day Is Ideal for Winter SEL and Character Education

Many winter books focus on excitement and fast-paced action. The Snowy Day stands out because it does the opposite — it slows everything down.

Rather than rushing children from one event to the next, the story invites them to notice small moments, tune into their senses, and reflect quietly. From a social-emotional learning perspective, this is incredibly valuable. Before children can cooperate with others, problem-solve, or engage in creative play like building snowmen, they need to feel emotionally regulated and grounded.

The Snowy Day models how to:

Slow the body and mind
Notice emotions without judgment
Observe the environment with curiosity
Build confidence through independent exploration

These skills form the foundation of emotional regulation, self-awareness, and healthy character development — especially during winter, when routines and energy levels often shift.

Social-Emotional Learning Skills Supported by

The Snowy Day

Emotional Awareness Without Overlabeling

One of the most powerful elements of The Snowy Day is how it presents emotions naturally. Peter experiences excitement, curiosity, disappointment, and calm — but the book never exaggerates or overexplains these feelings. Children simply see emotions as part of everyday life.

This helps young readers understand that feelings come and go. They don’t need to be fixed, avoided, or rushed away. This gentle exposure supports emotional awareness and builds a healthy relationship with emotions from an early age.

Mindfulness Through Sensory Experiences

Mindfulness for children doesn’t have to involve formal breathing exercises. In The Snowy Day, mindfulness shows up through sensory awareness. Peter notices how the snow sounds under his boots, how it feels on his clothes, and how the world becomes quieter after snowfall.

These moments naturally calm the nervous system and support self-regulation. For parents and homeschool families, this makes the book an accessible way to introduce mindfulness through storytelling rather than instruction.

Independence and Self-Confidence

Peter’s quiet independence is another important SEL takeaway. He explores his neighborhood on his own, makes observations, and reflects on his experiences. This builds self-trust and confidence — key components of character education that support resilience and decision-making as children grow.

How The Snowy Day Supports Learning at School

Educators often choose The Snowy Day for winter read-alouds because it supports both academic and social-emotional goals without overstimulation.

In classroom settings, the book naturally supports:

Winter vocabulary development
Listening and comprehension skills
Calm transitions between activities
Reflective discussion and journaling
Preparation for cooperative winter projects

Because the story is quiet and steady, it helps regulate classroom energy rather than adding to it. This makes it especially effective during morning meetings, calm corners, writing centers, and winter thematic units.

How The Snowy Day Supports Families and Homeschool Learning

Parents and homeschool families appreciate The Snowy Day for its flexibility and emotional depth. The story encourages meaningful conversations without lectures and works well for mixed-age siblings.

At home, this book:

Encourages outdoor observation and curiosity
Supports calm winter routines
Sparks conversations about feelings naturally
Creates a cozy, grounding reading experience

It’s an excellent read-aloud before going outside or as a calming story afterward, helping children transition smoothly between active and quiet moments.

Winter Theme Connection: The Pause Before the Snowman

Although The Snowy Day doesn’t feature a snowman directly, it plays an important role in our snowman-themed SEL series.

Before children can build a snowman together, they must first:

Feel emotionally regulated
Notice their surroundings
Imagine possibilities

The Snowy Day represents the pause before the snowman — the quiet noticing that leads to creativity, cooperation, and joyful winter play.

Winter SEL Activity: Peter’s Noticing Journal

This activity is designed to mirror the heart of The Snowy Day by helping children slow down and notice their internal and external experiences.

After reading the story, invite children to create a “noticing page.” Using white paper and crayons or markers, ask them to draw one quiet winter moment they noticed — either from the book or from their own day. This could be snow falling, looking out a window, feeling cold air, or resting after play.

Once the drawing is complete, gently guide reflection by asking how their body felt during that moment. Did it feel calm, excited, curious, or relaxed? Children can add facial expressions, colors, or simple symbols to represent those feelings.

This activity reinforces the idea that emotions don’t need to be changed — they simply need to be noticed. Just like Peter, children learn that paying attention to small moments helps them feel more grounded and present.

Winter Extension: Making Snow at Home

Not every family or homeschool environment has access to real snow. This simple extension allows children to explore winter sensory experiences while staying aligned with the themes of The Snowy Day.

To make pretend snow, mix baking soda with a small amount of water until it becomes soft and fluffy. Another option is crushed ice placed in a bowl for short, supervised exploration.

As children explore, encourage them to slow down and notice what they feel. Is the snow cold or cool? Soft or grainy? How does their body respond? These questions support sensory awareness and emotional regulation.

You can connect this back to the story by discussing how Peter noticed changes in the snow throughout the day. The focus isn’t on the result — it’s on observation, curiosity, and mindfulness.

Reflection Questions to Deepen SEL Learning

Reflection helps social-emotional learning stick. After reading The Snowy Day, invite children to talk or journal using open-ended questions such as:

How did Peter feel when he first saw the snow?

What part of the story felt calm to you?

What happens when something doesn’t go the way Peter expects?

How does slowing down help us enjoy winter more?

What would you like to notice more during winter days?

These questions help children connect the story to their own experiences and expand emotional vocabulary naturally.

Character Education Takeaway

At its core, The Snowy Day teaches children that quiet moments matter. It shows that feelings don’t need fixing, curiosity builds confidence, and slowing down supports growth. These lessons extend far beyond winter and help children develop emotional resilience, self-awareness, and empathy.

Final Thoughts: Why The Snowy Day Belongs in Your Winter SEL Collection

If you’re building a winter SEL unit, planning a snowman-themed learning series, or simply looking for meaningful winter books for your child or homeschool routine, The Snowy Day is the perfect place to begin.

It prepares children emotionally for everything that comes next — creativity, cooperation, and connection.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, Inspire, Guide & Nurture may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend books and resources we genuinely love and use to support social-emotional learning at home and in classrooms.