[For 2-year-olds] Recommended picture books to enjoy reading in January
By the time children are two, some begin to enjoy the humor of repeated words and feel a fondness for characters, discovering picture books in ways that differ from when they were zero or one.
With that in mind, here are some recommendations: picture books perfect for two-year-olds to enjoy in January.
Two-year-olds’ picture-book world expands quickly—they get excited just seeing the cover, and they start remembering simple words and imitating them.
In this article, we introduce a variety of picture-book worlds.
Let’s read the books that catch your child’s interest together and have fun!
- [For 1-year-olds] Recommended picture books to read together in January
- [February] Recommended picture books for 2-year-olds: Books that evoke winter and Setsubun
- [For 2-year-olds] Enjoy spring-recommended picture books with your children
- [For 3-Year-Olds] Recommended for January! A Collection of Exciting and Heartwarming Picture Books
- [For 2-year-olds] Let's read together! Recommended picture books for March
- Recommended Picture Books to Read in January for 0-Year-Olds
- Picture Books to Read in February [For 5-Year-Olds]
- [For 0-Year-Olds] Picture Books to Read in Spring | Enjoy Picture Books with Your Children
- Books to Enjoy Winter With: Picture Book Ideas to Read with Your Two-Year-Old
- [For 5-year-olds] Picture books recommended for reading in January
- [February] Picture books for 1-year-olds: books that evoke winter and Setsubun
- A special feature of recommended picture books for Christmas that will captivate 2-year-olds!
- [For Age 4] Must-Read in January! Picture Books to Enjoy Winter
[Age 2] Recommended Picture Books to Read and Enjoy in January (1–10)
Yuki
Let me introduce the picture book “Yuki,” which features adorable winter illustrations.
Have you ever heard the song that goes, “Yuki ya konkon, arare ya konkon”? This picture book gently depicts snowy scenes, and even children seeing a picture book for the first time might feel like going out to play in the snow.
It conveys both the unique, hushed stillness of a snowy day and the girl’s excitement as the snow piles up.
Please try turning the pages and reading it together with your child while singing the song!
Bam and Kero’s Cold Morning
We’d like to introduce the Bam and Kero picture book series by Yuka Shimada, hugely popular with both children and adults.
This story takes place at the frozen pond behind Bam and Kero’s house.
One morning, when they go to the pond, they find little Kai-chan frozen in the ice and unable to move.
They quickly rescue Kai-chan and put him in warm water, and he gradually regains his strength.
It’s a picture book filled with the gentle warmth of Bam, Kero, and Kai-chan.
After reading it, you might be reminded of the thin sheets of ice that form in buckets during winter.
Counting Song of the Twelve Zodiac Signs
This is a unique and easy-to-remember picture book that lets you learn the twelve zodiac animals to the tune of the Kagome Kagome song.
The melodies and text link together in a very unique way to teach dates, numbers, and how to count foods, making it a fun book to read aloud.
It’s a gentle picture book highly recommended for children who are starting to learn numbers or the twelve zodiac signs.
Of course it’s perfect for New Year’s, but it’s also a book you can enjoy in everyday life—so please try reading it out loud.
[For 2-Year-Olds] Recommended Picture Books to Enjoy Reading in January (11–20)
Let’s warm up.
A warm bath in winter feels so comforting, doesn’t it? In this picture book, a little rabbit finds a hot spring and tries to get in.
But it turns out to be the monkeys’ hot spring, or the bears’ hot spring, so they won’t let the rabbit in.
Will the rabbit be able to warm up in a hot spring? Winter baths are cozy once you’re in, but getting in can be tough.
Still, after reading this picture book, kids might feel like they’re enjoying a hot spring themselves.
Cozy soup
When it comes to picture books perfect for the deepening winter chill, “Poka-Poka Soup” is the one to pick.
One day, Takkun catches a cold and is lying in bed when he hears a voice coming from deep inside the futon.
As he ventures further in, he finds a chef making warm soup just for him.
After drinking the soup, his whole body feels toasty warm.
The soup his mother made tastes just the same as the chef’s.
It’s a story set deep within the futon that will make you feel warm inside, too.
After you finish reading, you might just feel like peeking under your own covers.
The Giant Turnip
The Gigantic Turnip is a picture book that has been loved for many years.
It begins with a grandmother and grandfather planting turnip seeds.
A cat and a dog show up to help pull out the stubborn turnip that just won’t budge.
It’s fun to flip through the pages while chanting the rhythmic refrain.
The Gigantic Turnip is often used as a play in nurseries and kindergartens.
Try turning the pages with your child while wondering together when the turnip will finally come out.
Because there are many repeated chants, it’s easy to learn the words and enjoy along the way.
New Year’s bus
This picture book, “New Year’s Bus,” is a story about the zodiac animals and Bus-kun racing on New Year’s Eve night to see the first sunrise of the year.
Everyone dashes off trying to be first, causing a huge traffic jam and some tumbles, and they even help the dragon, who was flying in the sky, after it crashes into a tree and gets stuck.
Amid all sorts of mishaps, they all enjoy the first sunrise together in the end.
The book is packed with ideas kids will love, like pumping air into the bus to make it bigger and tickling to make it fly.
Be sure to read it in January and have fun!