Picture books to read in winter! Story ideas that will captivate 3-year-olds

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.

As the cold winter season arrives, how about filling your time with your three-year-old with the warmth of picture books? At this age, children begin to enjoy the flow of a story and their imagination expands greatly.

Here, we’ll introduce picture books that offer winter-specific delights, carefully selected from among many favorites.

Through these books, you can enjoy special read-aloud moments that are unique to this season.

Spend heartwarming time with your child, together with some wonderful winter picture books!

Picture books to read in winter! Story ideas that captivate 3-year-olds (51–60)

Snow (A Song Picture Book)

http://www.amazon.co.jp

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.

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snow play

http://www.amazon.co.jp

On a cold winter morning, when children look out the window and see the snow has piled up, they get excited, don’t they? This picture book lets parents rediscover that sense of excitement and enjoy it together with their children.

The story begins when Little Pig looks out the window in the morning and sees that snow has fallen.

On snowy days, it’s thrilling to think about what kinds of games to play outside.

Snowball fights, sledding, building snowmen—many activities come to mind, but what did Little Pig choose to do? It might be nice to ask children what games they’d like to play when it snows.

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snowball

http://www.amazon.co.jp

The picture book Snowball, featuring the adorable Tottoru rolling snow, is utterly charming.

One morning, Tottoru notices that snow has fallen and makes a small snowball.

Then he starts rolling it over the snow, and the snowball grows bigger and bigger.

Before he knows it, he’s reached the top of a hill—and the snowball tumbles down.

What will happen to the snowball? The exciting turn of events will surely make children’s hearts race.

It’s a perfect read-aloud for winter that conveys the joy of playing in the snow.

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The Land of Snowmen

http://www.amazon.co.jp

The picture book on the next page, Snowman Country, begins with Hop making a snowman.

Hop names the snowman “Pepe.” Pepe has to return to the country of snowmen.

Because Hop loves Pepe, he asks to go to the snowman country together.

It’s a very heartwarming story.

It’s also recommended to enjoy the story while talking with children about what the snowman country might be like.

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Usako-chan on a Snowy Day

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Usako-chan is overjoyed to see snow for the first time.

Bundled up warmly, she has fun outside sledding and skating.

Then she finds a little bird crying.

It seems the bird is cold… So Usako-chan decides to make a home for it.

Will the little bird stop crying? This is a lovely picture book where, amid the fun of winter play and a few small mishaps, you can feel Usako-chan’s kindness.

It’s a story that even very young children can enjoy, so be sure to include it in your winter read-alouds.

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sasashina

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