Picture Books Recommended for a One-Year-Old's Christmas! A Collection of Stories That Will Captivate Your Child

Last updated:2025/10/23

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

“Which Christmas picture book should I choose?” Many of you are looking for the perfect book to create special Christmas memories with your child.At around one year old, children start to enjoy picture books—gazing intently at the colorful images and pointing at them.Christmas during infancy is a wonderful opportunity for parents and children to share special moments through picture books.So here, we’ll introduce Christmas picture books that one-year-olds will be captivated by.Please choose one that suits your child’s interests and developmental stage.

Recommended picture books for a 1-year-old’s Christmas! A collection of works kids will love (1–10)

Delicious! Christmas

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Cutting fruit, topping cakes with cream, roasting chicken in the oven…

This Christmas picture book depicts adorable little elves getting ready for the holiday.

It’s a pop-up/interactive book, and moving the mechanisms makes Christmas even more delicious.

Watching the elves prepare for Christmas will surely fill children with longing for that special day.

Let’s prepare a feast and a cake, and spend a wonderful Christmas with our family.

Raise the rankinglower

sasashina

Report a problem

A Gift from the Window

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Santa came for Christmas! He went from house to house handing out presents, but it seems this Santa is a bit forgetful.

He thought it was a cat’s house and gave a ribbon as a present, but it was actually a pig’s house—the pig was just wearing pajamas with a cat pattern.

This is a lift-the-flap picture book with holes where the windows are, so when you turn the page, a different animal appears than the one you expected.

Will everyone be happy with Santa’s unexpected gifts? Don’t worry—the story wraps up nicely in the end, so you can read it with peace of mind!

Raise the rankinglower

sasashina

Report a problem

Christmas Black Bear

http://www.amazon.co.jp

This is a Christmas-themed volume in the “Ohanashi Kurokuma” series.

Little Kurokuma writes letters to his forest friends, inviting them to a Christmas party he’s hosting.

Everyone will bring gifts, and they’ll do a gift exchange.

On the day of the party, the exciting gift exchange begins.

Wondering who will receive what, children will feel as if they’re taking part themselves, their hearts pounding as each present appears—and they’ll delight in the surprises.

We hope this picture book helps children feel the joy of choosing and giving gifts.

Raise the rankinglower

sasashina

Report a problem

Peek-a-boo for Christmas!

http://www.amazon.co.jp

This is a lift-the-flap picture book that uses felt to enhance the warm, cozy atmosphere of Christmas.

When lifting the felt flaps, turn them slowly while saying “Peek-a-boo” in a gentle, conversational way.

It creates a storybook world that’s perfect for Christmas.

As you read on, you’ll find a mirror page at the end.

Children will get even more excited and delighted when they see their own faces reflected in the mirror.

The cover, featuring Santa’s gentle expression, is also memorable—so be sure to give it a read.

Raise the rankinglower

mayumi

Report a problem

Christmas Ghost

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Among Ms.

Keiko Sena’s Ghost series, “The Ghost of Christmas” is especially popular with children.

It’s a warm, compassionate story about a girl who, after enjoying Christmas Day, thoughtfully prepares cake and a flashlight for a ghost.

Kids who love the Ghost series will be captivated by it.

It may also evoke a sense of excitement and anticipation for Christmas.

The cover, featuring the ghost and a Christmas tree, leaves a memorable, heartwarming impression as well.

Raise the rankinglower

mayumi

Report a problem

Christmas is exciting

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Let me introduce a perfect pop-up picture book for Christmas: “Christmas Is So Exciting.” The story features a pair of bear siblings who can’t wait for their presents.

Santa delivers gifts to children who have been good all year… That single line might make many kids’ hearts skip a beat, just like the bear siblings.

Lift the flaps and presents appear—it’s a wonderful picture book that even little ones can easily enjoy.

It would be lovely to ask, “Have you been good?” and hear a cheerful, “Yeees!” in return.

Raise the rankinglower

sasashina

Report a problem

Barbapapa’s Present

http://www.amazon.co.jp

This is a story themed around the Barbapapa family’s Christmas.

On Christmas Day, a bird from a southern country arrived as a present.

But where the Barbapapa family lives is far too cold for a bird from the south, and everyone scrambles to heat up the room! What will happen to the southern bird? Keeping living creatures is difficult, and living in a place different from where you were born is even harder…

This is a fun yet strongly message-driven work that makes you think about many things.

Raise the rankinglower

sasashina

Report a problem