Recommended Picture Books to Read in January for 0-Year-Olds
This time, we’re introducing picture books perfect for 0-year-olds that you’ll want to read with them in January.
Whether your child has been enjoying picture books since spring or was just recently born, picture books are something everyone loves.
There are so many kinds of picture books that it can be hard to choose, right?
In this article, we’re sharing lots of recommended picture books for 0-year-olds.
Children enjoy different aspects—like the fun of repeated words, shapes, and colors—so please use this article as a guide to find the perfect picture book for your child!
- [For 1-year-olds] Recommended picture books to read together in January
- [For 2-year-olds] Recommended picture books to enjoy reading in January
- [For 0-Year-Olds] Picture Books to Read in Spring | Enjoy Picture Books with Your Children
- [March] Picture books that 0-year-olds will find interesting and enjoy
- [February] A collection of picture books we want to read with the 0-year-old class
- [For 5-year-olds] Picture books recommended for reading in January
- [For 2-year-olds] Let's read together! Recommended picture books for March
- [For 1-year-olds] Perfect for March! A special selection of picture books recommended for 1-year-olds
- [For 3-Year-Olds] Recommended for January! A Collection of Exciting and Heartwarming Picture Books
- [February] Picture books for 1-year-olds: books that evoke winter and Setsubun
- [Picture Books] Savor the fun of words: A special feature on recommended onomatopoeia picture books
- Winter picture books that captivate infants: A collection of heartwarming read-aloud ideas
- [For Age 4] Must-Read in January! Picture Books to Enjoy Winter
[For 0-Year-Olds] Recommended Picture Books to Read in January (1–10)
Ha-ha-ha-choo!
The mischievous little Sneeze Bug goes visiting all sorts of creatures in the picture book “Ha-ha-ha-ACHOO!” Whenever he lands on someone’s nose, they can’t help but sneeze.
What’s fun is how their appearance changes at that moment.
When you do a read-aloud, some children will likely imitate the sneezes in their own style or cover their noses and mouths.
Since January is the season when colds are going around, this sneeze-themed picture book seems like a perfect fit.
Marumaru popopon
One of the titles in the Shimashima Guruguru series, well known as picture books that delight babies, is Maru Maru Popopon.
Playing peekaboo, a lively little “circle” pops out to join the fun! The circle turns into food, becomes an animal, rolls around, flies off—what an adventure! You won’t be able to take your eyes off any page.
After reading this picture book, children will start looking for circles all around them in everyday life.
Snowmen, the first sunrise of the year, mandarins, rice cakes—there are all kinds of circles in January, too!
Pipi and Kiki’s Mochi-Pounding Pettan
A perfect recommendation for babies spending their first New Year! Here’s a picture book that cheerfully introduces mochi pounding.
It’s a simple story about two adorable rabbits pounding mochi.
With die-cut features and interactive elements—like slipping your fingers into a stretchy white cloth to make the mochi puff up or the rabbits’ bellies swell—it’s an activity book little ones can enjoy from an early age.
The pages are thick, too, so you don’t have to worry about a 0-year-old tearing them.
Give this picture book a try for the New Year—it’s just right for the season!
[Age 0] Recommended Picture Books to Read in January (11–20)
Penguin Exercise
January is cold and a time when infectious illnesses tend to spread… With fewer chances to play outside, many kids are probably wanting to move their bodies more.
A book I highly recommend for times like these is the picture book “Penguin Exercises.” Just like the title says, it’s a book where penguins do exercises—and the way they move is incredibly adorable.
It starts with deep breathing, gradually loosens up the body, and ends with jumps that kids love.
You can imitate the moves even while sitting, so try reading it with infants, even from 0 years old, and get moving together.
mandarin orange
A popular entry in the Shimashima Guruguru series, Mikan Orange.
Little Mikan-chan turns into all kinds of shapes—like a ghost and even a sock! There are also lots of faces that babies love.
With its bold contrasts featuring mainly white, black, and orange, this picture book can be enjoyed even by babies who can’t yet recognize many colors.
Mikan (mandarin oranges) are known as a winter fruit and are considered good for preventing colds.
We hope children will find them familiar through the picture book and enjoy eating them, too.
The mountain bathhouse
There are plenty of kids who don’t like taking baths, right? But winter is cold, and we’d really like them to soak properly and warm up.
So let me introduce this picture book, “Yama no Ofuro-ya-san” (The Mountain Bathhouse).
All kinds of animals go splash! and jump into the bath.
Once they’re in, they all look so comfortable and happy.
Reading this book might make your child think, “Maybe I’ll try taking a bath.” There’s also a traditional seasonal bath for January called “matsu-yu” (pine bath), so if you like, why not give that a try as well?
Yuki
If someone asked, “What snow song do you know?” wouldn’t that nursery rhyme start playing in your head? This book, Yuki (Snow), is actually a picture-book version of that very rhyme.
Snow falls from the sky, piles up, and turns everything into a white, silvery world.
Its wonder and fun are depicted from a child’s perspective.
Children will surely see it the same way, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
Many other wintery elements appear besides snow, making it perfect for read-aloud time in January! If you like, hum the nursery rhyme as you read it together with the kids.