[February] Picture books for 3-year-olds with themes of Setsubun and winter
February, when the cold truly sets in, is a season that brings a sense of winter, with snowfall piling up and the arrival of Setsubun.
Children attending daycare are surely looking forward to events themed around playing in the snow and Setsubun.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of picture books for three-year-olds perfect for February.
We’ve picked a wide range—from stories that capture the feel of winter to tales featuring oni (ogres) as the stars of Setsubun.
From timeless classics loved across generations to buzzworthy new titles, we’ve gathered a variety to help you choose read-alouds for February.
Be sure to check them out!
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- Picture Books to Read in February [For 5-Year-Olds]
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- [For Age 4] Must-Read in January! Picture Books to Enjoy Winter
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- [Quiz] A Collection of Quizzes You Can Use in February Childcare
- [February] Picture books for 1-year-olds: books that evoke winter and Setsubun
- [For 2-year-olds] Enjoy spring-recommended picture books with your children
[February] Picture books for 3-year-olds with Setsubun and winter themes (11–20)
Good fortune in, demons outWritten by Rintaro Uchida / Illustrated by Takashi Yamamoto
Fuku wa uchi, oni mo uchi is a picture book that captivates children with its unique story of heartwarming encounters on Setsubun night.
Rintaro Uchida’s gentle, warm words blend beautifully with Takashi Yamamoto’s vibrant illustrations, making it perfect for three-year-olds eagerly awaiting the Setsubun festivities.
Reading it together as a family reveals another side of the oni—usually considered “scary”—and helps children learn the importance of kindness and acceptance.
Even in the cold of winter, this book will warm the heart.
A highly recommended read-aloud for Setsubun day.
Pumpkin Soup Bath
Here’s a humor-filled picture book by Keiko Shibata, famous for the “Bread Thief” and “Polar Bear Picture Book” series.
Even the title—“Pumpkin Soup Bath”—makes you want to read it, doesn’t it? The story follows a trio of best friends—a bear, an alpaca, and a cat—who are walking through the forest with hungry tummies when they stumble upon a pumpkin bath.
There’s a sign saying you may get in but absolutely must not drink it… Still… Well, enjoy the punchline with your child and have a good laugh! It’s a curious picture book that makes you feel all warm and cozy as you read.
My cloak has a hood.
“My cloak has a hood”—the rhythm makes you want to read it in a lilting 5-7 cadence.
The little bear girl who appears in the story wears a bright red cloak trimmed with fluffy fur along the edges.
On sad days and happy days alike, she always keeps this cloak on.
If you love wearing cute cloaks instead of coats in winter, this is a must-read.
The bear’s expressive face is utterly charming, and you’ll truly want to read it again and again.
What kind of clothes does your child love most? Just like the bear in this story, favorite outfits are the ones you want to wear over and over.
Six Frogs and a Chilly Night
There are times when you want to sleep but just can’t, right? Kids are full of energy too, and sometimes they just can’t fall asleep even at night.
In this picture book, you’ll meet some frogs who took it so easy that they forgot to hibernate.
You’d think they’d hate the cold, but when they saw snow for the first time, they were thrilled and started playing in it.
Children are sure to be captivated by the adorable frogs and the heartwarming story.
And if they copy the frogs and play in the snow, they might sleep soundly at night.
Aokun Fukuchan
Speaking of Setsubun, it’s the event where ogres show up…
As February approaches, children might be getting nervous with excitement.
In this picture book, Ao-oni the blue ogre and Fuku-chan, the god of good fortune, make an appearance.
It seems the two of them are talking about switching the roles of ogre and fortune.
With a heart-thumping, exciting turn of events, children may forget their fear and simply enjoy the story.
Rather than a typical holiday-themed picture book, this one shines for its engaging narrative, and I highly recommend reading it as Setsubun draws near.
red gloves
This picture book charms with its gentle illustrations and storytelling, focusing on a child’s red mittens.
The two red mittens are always together, warmly wrapping a pair of small hands.
They helped when the child made a snowman for the first time and when rolling snowballs.
The way the red mittens are spoken of like close friends leaves your heart feeling softly warmed.
Children often lose their mittens, so if they think of them as friends like this, they might take better care of them.
In this book, the child loses one of the red mittens, too.
Let’s hope it’s found safe and sound…
[February] Picture books for 3-year-olds themed around Setsubun and winter (21–30)
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.