[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 (21–30)
brown bear
From autumn to winter…
and then spring.
This is the story of a brown bear mother and her cub, told alongside the changing seasons.
In autumn, brown bears eat plenty of nuts and fruit; when winter comes, they spend their time in a den—and that’s when new life is born.
What might the cub feel as it bursts from the dark den into the warm, vivid world of spring? The illustrations, rendered mainly in black, are a bit distinctive, yet they also convey a certain warmth.
Bears are popular animals among children, so I hope this picture book offers a glimpse into a bear’s life.
Surprise kotatsu
A warm fixture that appears in winter and is so cozy you can’t bring yourself to get out…
the kotatsu.
Falling asleep under the kotatsu and catching a cold is a classic winter scenario, isn’t it? This picture book features the kotatsu as its theme.
It’s a lift-the-flap book: when you flip back the quilt, you’ll find all sorts of things—cats, thieves, ghosts, and more.
There are clues visible before you lift the flap, so you can enjoy a guessing game, too! A perfect book to brighten winter read-aloud time, full of excitement as you wonder what will appear next.
Speaking of winter…
This is a book where you can enjoy all sorts of things related to winter.
Speaking of snowmen? Cold hands.
Speaking of cold hands? Mittens… and so on, like a word-association game.
With each page you turn, you can feel winter from different perspectives.
It’s a small picture book just the right size for babies and toddlers, so they can turn the pages themselves and have fun.
The simple illustrations are easy to understand, making it a great first seasonal picture book for winter.
After reading, try finding lots of wintry things around the house or on a walk.
Look closely at the pure white snow.
This is a counting picture book I highly recommend for babies.
Its charm lies not only in helping little ones get familiar with numbers, but also in the flocked illustrations of rabbits that offer a soft, fuzzy texture to touch.
The fluorescent-colored animals that stand out against a world of white and gray, along with the shimmering snowflakes, are strikingly vivid.
Every page turn brings a new delight, drawing in the adults reading along as well.
The design is stylish, too—leave it open for display and it could even serve as interior decor.
Mole-kun and Winter
The picture book Mole and Winter features an inquisitive little mole.
Thinking it was snowing, Mole took out his sled—but it turned out not to be snow at all, but frost.
So Mole asks the clouds to let it snow.
Can they really do that? If you give them some water to drink, they grant his wish and make it snow.
It’s a dream-filled tale that’s sure to delight children.
With its clear, simple story, even very young kids can enjoy it.
Snow (A Song Picture Book)
This is a picture book based on the lyrics of the Ministry of Education song “Yuki” (Snow).
In step with the lyrics, a little girl’s eyes sparkle at the sight of snow, and she slides down a snow-covered slide.
She’s experiencing winter with the free-spirited joy of childhood.
So captivated by the snow, she remembers her hat and scarf but forgets her gloves.
A dog later brings them to her—an adorable scene that shows just how absorbed she is in the snow.
It’s a picture book that conveys the charm of snow and the fun of playing in it, so be sure to sing along as you read it with your child.
Snowy path stroll
Yukimichi Sanpo is a story about a girl taking a walk through a snowy landscape.
She looks outside to find a world of silver—who wouldn’t want to go out? Bundled up warmly, she crunches along the snow-covered path.
Along the way, she discovers camellia blossoms dusted with snow and icicles lined up along the eaves.
As you gaze at the beautiful watercolor illustrations, it feels as if a real winter scene is unfolding right before your eyes.
Children are sure to look on with sparkling eyes and enjoy it, too.
I’d be delighted if this picture book helps you find yet another way to enjoy winter.