A picture book that 3-year-olds will be captivated by! A special book for enjoying a fun Christmas

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.

Christmas is just around the corner at last.

That makes you want to read a Christmas picture book to your child, doesn’t it? Three-year-olds are at a stage where their imagination really blossoms, so you can share a wonderful time together through Christmas picture books.

But many people may be unsure which books to choose.

So here, we’ll introduce heartwarming Christmas picture books that will make children’s eyes sparkle.

Enjoy a delightful encounter with Santa Claus together with your child!

A picture book that captivates three-year-olds! A special volume to enjoy a fun Christmas (21–30)

Before the morning comes

http://www.amazon.co.jp

It seems that the mother in this story has to go to work after the children have fallen asleep.

Her job is a pilot… Even though it can’t be helped because it’s her work, she must be worried about her kids.

Perhaps that’s why, in this picture book, someone wishes to “change the world before morning.” Is it because heavy snowfall can cancel flights? Is it the mother’s wish, the children’s wish… or perhaps both? This is a wintertime picture book I recommend, one you’ll want to read carefully and savor.

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Merry Christmas

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Many children write letters to Santa at Christmas, don’t they? The siblings in this story, Yoshi and Na-chan, also wrote to Santa every year and set out some juice for him.

But then their mother suggests that, instead of juice, they should leave alcohol on Christmas.

It seems she’s planning to keep all the presents in the world for herself.

However, Yoshi doesn’t want everyone to end up feeling sad, so he…? This gentle, Christmas-themed tale depicts children’s growth.

Please pick it up and give it a read.

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Little Santa

http://www.amazon.co.jp

The story’s protagonist is a boy who wanders into Santa Claus’s house.

In that house stands a Christmas tree with many cards hanging from it.

The cards are messages to Santa from children.

Seeing them, the boy wonders what it would be like if he could become Santa Claus himself… and then he actually transforms into Santa.

It’s a dreamy tale, but the developments that follow may give adults more to think about.

What is the true meaning of Christmas? This picture book seems to depict questions we hadn’t even thought to ask.

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Hikari’s Adventure

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Betty is a girl who loves picture books.

One day, a bear named Cosmo popped out from the pages.

Though Cosmo is afraid of the dark, Betty invites him into the nighttime world, and their adventure begins.

It’s a charming story with gently dreamlike illustrations that make this a delightful book.

The very idea of an animal leaping out of a picture book is enough to fill any child with excitement.

Maybe Betty wanted to keep playing with Cosmo all along.

It’s also a perfect choice for bedtime reading.

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Fir Tree’s Wish

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Fir trees have those distinctive jagged needles, don’t they? The fir tree in this picture book absolutely hates its own leaves and longs for the soft, rounded leaves of others.

So it asks a fairy to change the shape of its leaves.

The fir tree is delighted—but once its leaves have changed, new problems it had never imagined begin to appear…

It’s an intriguing setup, with the fir tree—often the star of Christmas—struggling with self-doubt, and it makes you want to know what happens next.

Will the fir tree learn to like the way it looks, different from those around it, and find confidence in itself?

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Christmas Adventure

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Cosmo, who doesn’t like winter, sets out at Betty’s invitation to find the “Christmas Tree of Light,” said to stand in the forest where the brightest star in the world shines.

But even when they ask the animals, no one knows about it, and they can’t seem to find it.

Does the Christmas Tree of Light really exist…? This is a thrilling yet delightful book for children about an adventure through the forest at night.

Turn the pages with excitement, wondering what kind of tree they’ll discover, and join the adventure yourself.

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Christmas market

http://www.amazon.co.jp

A Christmas market set up in the town square… This heartwarming book lets you feel the connections between people, chance meetings, and kindness.

The protagonist of the story is Kuro, an abandoned dog.

Kuro meets a girl holding a white stuffed dog, forms a bond with her, and finds his own happiness.

It’s a lovely picture book where you can enjoy the lively, cozy atmosphere of the market while experiencing a moving story.

You’ll also learn what a Christmas market is like, and Kuro’s determined efforts to deliver something to the girl will touch your heart.

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