[For 1-year-olds] Recommended picture books to read together in January
When January comes, the cold really sets in, doesn’t it?
Of course, it’s important to spend time playing energetically outdoors, but it’s also important to relax and read picture books indoors.
This time, I’d like to introduce picture books recommended for one-year-olds that are perfect to read together in January.
Children around one year old can vary quite a bit depending on whether they’re on the younger or older side of the age range.
In daily childcare, whether they can help out, how we understand their feelings, and coordinating activities as a group can be challenging.
Amid all that, picture books are wonderful items that, regardless of age in months, draw children in once you start reading—they gather around and listen intently.
I hope you’ll find some favorite books for the children and enjoy them together!
- Recommended Picture Books to Read in January for 0-Year-Olds
- [For 2-year-olds] Recommended picture books to enjoy reading in January
- [February] Picture books for 1-year-olds: books that evoke winter and Setsubun
- [For Age 4] Must-Read in January! Picture Books to Enjoy Winter
- [February] A collection of picture books we want to read with the 0-year-old class
- [For 2-year-olds] Enjoy spring-recommended picture books with your children
- Have fun in childcare! A collection of play ideas to liven up cold days in January
- Ideas for Childcare Quizzes to Enjoy in January
- [For 1-year-olds] Perfect for March! A special selection of picture books recommended for 1-year-olds
- [For 1-year-olds] Picture Books to Enjoy in Spring | Wildflowers and Creatures
- [For 3-Year-Olds] Recommended for January! A Collection of Exciting and Heartwarming Picture Books
- Winter picture books 1-year-olds will love! A heartwarming collection of read-aloud ideas
- [For 5-year-olds] Picture books recommended for reading in January
[For 1-year-olds] Recommended Picture Books to Read Together in January (11–20)
The Squirrel’s Bathhouse
Let me introduce the picture book “Risu no Ofuro-ya-san,” which also lets you enjoy peekaboo! As the title suggests, a squirrel runs a bathhouse.
Normally, you’d wash customers’ bodies with a towel, but this squirrel washes them with his proud, fluffy tail.
All the customers hide their faces with towels, so ask “Who could it be?” and enjoy a guessing game with the kids.
Seeing the animals’ blissful faces will make children want to take a bath too.
Especially in the cold winter season, let’s enjoy bath time and warm our bodies thoroughly.
Pikopiko the Rabbit
A rabbit parent and child find a basket in the forest.
When they open it, they discover a stuffed rabbit named Pikopiko inside.
The rabbits look puzzled at its appearance, which is a little different from their own.
Pikopiko keeps being fussy—refusing tiny strawberries and insisting it can’t sleep without a fluffy blanket and a music box.
But freshly picked strawberries are delicious, and a blanket of leaves is warm…
In the end, they spend time together like a real family.
It might remind you a little of a child going through the “no” phase.
The Mochi’s Feelings
It seems mochi have worries that only mochi can understand.
The star of this picture book is a splendid kagami mochi.
But its expression is anything but cheerful… Apparently, it’s on edge, wondering when it’s going to be eaten.
Being eaten means being torn and kneaded—enough to make any mochi dread the whole ordeal.
Some children might even think, “Poor Mr.
Mochi,” but don’t worry.
The kagami mochi escapes on its own two feet, and a surprising turn of events awaits! It’s a delightful winter tale about mochi.
Be sure to give it a read.
Kuupii and Kirakira-chan
The story’s main character is Kuupee the little bear.
Kuupee meets Sparkle-chan, who has been separated from her friends, and decides to help her find them.
It’s a heartwarming tale perfect for winter read-alouds, and the white parts of the illustrations—like snow and snowmen—are fluffy to the touch, so you can enjoy the tactile feel as you read.
There are also glitter details and other fun features that kids will love.
As you search for Sparkle-chan’s friends with Kuupee, enjoy the textures and scenery of winter.
Guruguru-chan and Fuwafuwa-chan
When we woke up in the morning, everything was a world of silver! Little Squirrel Guruguru was overjoyed.
But seeing that white, cold stuff for the first time, she wondered, “What is it?” Then Fluffy the Rabbit came along and told her, “It’s snow.” After that, the two of them rolled around and played in the snow, and before they knew it, they were covered head to toe in white.
This is a seasonal picture book where little ones can also enjoy peekaboo.
Seeing Guruguru and Fluffy having so much fun will surely make children look forward to playing in the snow too.
White, white Korowan.
This is a recommended winter read starring Korowan, a little puppy.
While Korowan is playing in front of his house, something like white fluff starts to fall from the sky.
When it touches his nose, it’s cold and melts right away.
When he asks his mother, she tells him, “That’s snow.” The snow keeps falling through the night, and by the next morning everything is pure white! Overjoyed, Korowan romps around in the snow.
Seeing Korowan play so happily will surely make children want to join in some snow play too.
[For 1-year-olds] Recommended picture books to read together in January (21–30)
The Great Adventure of Sorachi Village
This is a story about Hiro the dog, who has all sorts of encounters while chasing a butterfly.
He meets a customer at a coffee shop, a girl throwing a party, and some delicious-looking, ripened grapes… While enjoying each new meeting, Hiro’s true goal is still the butterfly.
He chases it with all his heart—but when he comes across the grapes, uh-oh…? It seems he forgets all about the butterfly.
With each page they turn, children will surely search for the butterfly alongside Hiro and feel a thrill of excitement wondering what will appear next.