Picture books to read in winter! Story ideas that will captivate 3-year-olds
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!
- Books to Enjoy Winter With: Picture Book Ideas to Read with Your Two-Year-Old
- Picture Books to Read with 4-Year-Olds in Winter: Heartwarming Recommended Stories
- [February] Picture books for 3-year-olds with themes of Setsubun and winter
- [For 3-Year-Olds] Recommended for January! A Collection of Exciting and Heartwarming Picture Books
- Winter picture books 1-year-olds will love! A heartwarming collection of read-aloud ideas
- Picture Books to Read with 5-Year-Olds: Recommended Titles to Make Winter More Fun
- Winter picture books that captivate infants: A collection of heartwarming read-aloud ideas
- [For Age 4] Must-Read in January! Picture Books to Enjoy Winter
- Autumn Picture Books That 3-Year-Olds Will Love! A Recommended Collection Perfect for Read-Alouds
- [February] Recommended picture books for 4-year-olds: Works that let children feel winter at preschool
- [For 3-year-olds] Recommended Picture Books to Read in March
- [For 3-Year-Olds] Recommended Picture Books for Spring | Exciting and Thrilling Reads
- [February] Recommended picture books for 2-year-olds: Books that evoke winter and Setsubun
Picture Books to Read in Winter! Story Ideas That Will Captivate 3-Year-Olds (11–20)
Nemu in winter hibernation
Nem, a hardworking boy, has come to live on his own at Ippo House.
The season of harsh winter hibernation is just around the corner.
Besides Nem, there are other residents at Ippo House: Pao, who lives in a room filled with books; Mio, who loves painting and singing; and Hiira, who is the same age as Nem.
The four of them interact as they prepare for winter.
This heartwarming book tenderly watches over Nem, leaving you with a cozy feeling.
Someday, children too will strike out on their own like this and broaden their worlds, won’t they? A work that gently spreads through the hearts of adults as well—tinged with a little loneliness and a little joy.
to make a winter coat
A cold winter has arrived.
Saki-chan wants to go play outside, but she doesn’t have a coat to wear.
Then her mother lets her wear her own red coat.
However, since it was too big, they decide to tailor it…
Watching her mother’s coat transform into a lovely coat just the way Saki-chan likes it feels like magic and fills you with excitement.
This is a book that nurtures a sense of valuing things and an interest in making things.
Feel the season of winter as you enjoy this warm story.
When the snow stops
A heartwarming story about a parent and child rabbit, perfect for winter reading.
It’s snowing that day, so they can’t go outside, and the father can’t make it home.
The little rabbit is alone at home with its mother.
They decide to skip their shopping trip and spend time indoors playing cards and relaxing together.
Then, on a night when the snow lets up, they step outside for a little while to play in the snow.
A quiet winter tale portraying a special time shared between parent and child.
Why not read it during a precious moment with your own child? This gentle world is sure to soothe your heart.
What is yuki?
A story about a spring-born fox and rabbit who have never seen snow and ask their friends in the forest, “What is snow?” Using the clues they gather, the two set out to search for it.
Will they be able to find snow? Whether you already know snow or not, you’ll imagine what it’s like together with the fox and rabbit—and surely feel excited.
Enjoy the beautiful forest scenery and join them on their snow hunt.
And when real snow falls, try playing in it, too.
Go-Go Snowball Fight in the Yokai Village
This is a story about yokai happily playing in the snow.
It’s one volume in the hugely popular Yokai Village series.
This time, a Kijimunaa is coming from a southern island.
Because the Kijimunaa comes from a warm place, it isn’t good with the cold.
So the yokai kindly lend it hats and scarves, and even interpret for it since it speaks in a dialect.
Through this picture book, children can learn a lot about how to connect with new friends and how to have fun together.
Merry Christmas
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.
Picture books to read in winter! Story ideas that will captivate 3-year-olds (21–30)
Setsubun Seven
This is a picture book about Setsubun, taught by heroes.
Speaking of Setsubun, the classic tradition is driving out ogres while saying, “Demons out! Good fortune in!” It’s an event that can make children’s hearts race, but because it’s part of Japan’s traditional culture, I really want them to experience it.
This picture book carefully explains the origins of Setsubun, so I think children will clearly understand why the event is necessary and what they should do.
And if a hero is by their side, they’ll surely be fine even if an ogre shows up!