[For 3-Year-Olds] Recommended for January! A Collection of Exciting and Heartwarming Picture Books
After the New Year holidays, our lively three-year-olds are coming back to preschool.
Some children might feel a bit nervous returning to daycare or kindergarten after such a long break.
So today, we’d like to introduce some recommended picture books for January that three-year-olds can enjoy! You might find books about New Year’s traditions, bath time, hot pot, snow, and other familiar experiences that children may have had—now brought to life in picture-book form.
We’re sure their eyes will sparkle with excitement.
Enjoy reading them together while chatting with the children!
- [For 3-year-olds] Recommended Picture Books to Read in March
- [For 2-year-olds] Recommended picture books to enjoy reading in January
- [February] Picture books for 3-year-olds with themes of Setsubun and winter
- Recommended Picture Books to Read in January for 0-Year-Olds
- [For 3-Year-Olds] Recommended Picture Books for Spring | Exciting and Thrilling Reads
- [For Age 4] Must-Read in January! Picture Books to Enjoy Winter
- [February] Recommended picture books for 4-year-olds: Works that let children feel winter at preschool
- [February] Recommended picture books for 2-year-olds: Books that evoke winter and Setsubun
- [For 2-year-olds] Let's read together! Recommended picture books for March
- Picture books to read in winter! Story ideas that will captivate 3-year-olds
- [For 1-year-olds] Recommended picture books to read together in January
- [For 5-year-olds] Picture books recommended for reading in January
- [For 3-year-olds] Perfect January Winter & New Year Crafts! A Collection of Fun, Hands-On Ideas
[For 3-Year-Olds] Recommended for January! A Collection of Heartwarming, Exciting Picture Books (51–60)
Bam and Kero’s Cold Morning
On a cold morning, Bam and Kero head to the pond to go skating.
There, they find a duck trapped in the frozen ice.
They hurry to rescue it and gently thaw it out in a warm bath.
After that, they take a bath together with the now-energetic duck and help dry its feathers.
While they’re taking care of it, Kero keeps bringing things he wants them to look at—so cute! And those knickknacks and toys are so appealing! Kids will be glued to the pages and will want the same things.
The story is a bit long, but it’s a book you can enjoy just by looking at the pictures.
Choo-choo Train: A Snowy Stroll
This is a story about animals riding a locomotive and taking a stroll through the snow.
A daruma doll sits in the driver’s seat, and beyond the snowy scenery, many other wintry touches are sprinkled throughout.
The locomotive is a huge hit, running along the tracks packed to the brim… when suddenly a big snowball drops down and it makes an emergency stop! Just what is that snowball…? Blending in classic winter pastimes, this is a book that lets you joyfully wander through a snowy landscape.
After reading, some children might even go looking for snow themselves.
I hope this picture book helps you feel the special delights that only a cold winter can bring.
Te arā Īmo uga ĪmoAya Watanabe
From the hugely popular “Vegetable Life” picture book series for children, here’s an introduction to the delightfully titled “Te-ara-IMO Uga-IMO.” Handwashing and gargling are very important daily habits.
But kids might skip them because they’re eager to play or find washing a hassle.
At times like that, why not read this picture book first and then try washing and gargling? It’s packed with catchy, rhythmic phrases that kids will want to sing along to.
If everyone hums along while washing their hands, it’s sure to make the routine more fun.
In conclusion
We’ve introduced some picture books for January that we recommend for three-year-olds.
In January, many children probably enjoyed New Year’s celebrations at home, as well as eating mochi and hot pots.
Through picture books, please help them share their happy memories and repeat fun, catchy phrases over and over—enjoying the world of picture books in ways that are just right for three-year-olds!


