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!
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- [For Age 4] Must-Read in January! Picture Books to Enjoy Winter
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- [February] Recommended picture books for 4-year-olds: Works that let children feel winter at preschool
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- [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 (21–30)
Hedgehog-kun’s Snowman
Here’s the perfect book for a snowy day.
The story goes like this: On a snowy day, a grandmother can’t help worrying about whether the package she ordered will arrive safely.
So little Hedgehog builds a big snowman as a landmark to keep the mail carrier from getting lost, but… It’s the kind of tale that makes you want to keep reading.
The illustrations, painted mainly in soft hues, carry a certain warmth, and the depiction of snow—like little tufts of cotton pressed onto the page—is lovely.
It’s a book that would also make a delightful gift.
Hikari’s Adventure
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.
Fir Tree’s Wish
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?
The Snow Hare’s Gift
The hero of this story is Pete the snow bunny.
He’s happily playing in the snow with his friends, but it’s so cold that everyone heads home.
Feeling at a loss, Pete suddenly has a great idea—something gentle and heartwarming that shows how much he cares about his friends.
This picture book uses silver foil on every page, so it sparkles as you turn the pages and fills you with excitement.
It’s also perfect for the Christmas season, making it a wonderful gift.
The Yokai Grandma of Yokai Village
Where do you all go back to in the countryside? For children, visiting Grandma’s house in the country is something novel and exciting—and even more so if it’s Great-Grandma’s.
Perhaps this picture book–like world exists somewhere between daydream and reality.
The heroine, Sumire, goes to stay over at her great-grandmother’s house, and when Great-Grandma starts moving her mouth and beckoning with her hand… Well, you’ll have to read to find out.
A highly recommended book that will make you want to visit Yokai Village!
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.
Christmas Adventure
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.