A selection of recommended picture books for 4-year-olds to enjoy in autumn and feel the wonders of nature
You can feel the arrival of autumn in the air now.
Four-year-olds are gradually becoming able to express their own thoughts, and this is also a time when they are deeply drawn into the world of picture books.
Picture books that feature familiar autumn nature—fallen leaves, nuts, and insects—greatly expand children’s curiosity and imagination.
Here, we introduce picture books that will resonate richly in children’s hearts during the fall.
We hope this guide helps you discover a favorite, and that you enjoy the world of picture books together with your children!
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- Picture Books to Read with 4-Year-Olds in Winter: Heartwarming Recommended Stories
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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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Ages 4 can enjoy autumn! A recommended picture book selection that feels close to nature (21–30)
Oden Samurai (Chikuwa Scroll)
Set in Edo, where the autumn foliage is breathtaking, this story follows Oden Samurai Hirata Oden and his sidekick Kabuhei as they solve cases.
Just when they think they hear a woman’s scream, they learn a child has been abducted.
Hirata Oden searches for the child, but although he can hear the voice, he can’t see the child anywhere.
That’s when he pulls out the “Chikuwa of Justice.” Peering through the Chikuwa of Justice, he can see the child; meanwhile, Kabuhei, a rhinoceros beetle, flies off carrying the child.
Brimming with humor, it’s a picture book that children will find irresistibly fun.
Lurun the Little Ghost and the Halloween Friends
When it comes to Halloween picture books, the protagonists are often human children, but in this book the spotlight is on the ghosts.
Lurun the ghost is asked by a pumpkin ghost to join a Halloween party.
Lurun is very kind—encouraging the tearful pumpkin—but Lurun seems a little down, too…
What could be wrong? Both Lurun and the pumpkin ghost are utterly endearing, and this is a heartwarming, wonderful story.
A perfect book to enjoy during the Halloween season.
God’s glasses
This is a story about the gods set at Izumo Taisha in October.
In the old lunar calendar, October is called Kannazuki, “the month without gods,” but in Izumo it’s called Kamiarizuki, “the month with gods.” The reason is that, come October, deities from all over Japan gather in Izumo.
In this tale, various gods appear and put on glasses given to them by an optician.
Apparently, when they wear the glasses, they can see all sorts of things they couldn’t before.
What did the gods see? It’s an exciting autumn read that will keep you turning the pages in anticipation.
Kumakuma-kun’s Halloween
This is a Halloween lift-the-flap book that even infants and toddlers can enjoy.
It seems that a little bear has wandered into a haunted house.
No one’s supposed to be there, but you can hear voices, and it feels like someone’s watching… As you read, you’ll want to imagine how fast the bear’s heart is pounding.
Also, when you slide the mechanisms, the pictures move, so look forward to seeing how the illustrations change.
The artwork is cute and the colors are vibrant, so you can soak up the fun Halloween atmosphere.
Kuma-kun and Little Kuma’s Sweet Potato Digging
A perfect autumn story about a bear parent and child digging sweet potatoes in a fall field.
It gently portrays the joy of digging in the soil to find warm, cozy sweet potatoes and the fun of working together, accompanied by soft, friendly illustrations.
Written in simple language that even small children can understand, it’s ideal for reading at nursery school, kindergarten, or at home with a parent and child, helping readers feel the warmth of nature and the seasons.
After finishing, it leaves you thinking, “I want to do that together again,” warming the heart.
A recommended book for those who want to enjoy autumn activities and parent–child time.
Korowan Toko Koro
This is the autumn volume in the Korowan series, “Korowan and Rolling Acorns.” In the story, Korowan goes out to a park in autumn and finds lots of round things scattered on the ground.
A little cat tells him they are acorns.
Korowan then starts searching for all kinds of acorns lying about.
His excitement at discovering new things in autumn is so adorable and heartwarming.
Children who read this picture book will surely want to go to the park to look for nuts themselves.
Pill bug and the perfectly round moon
Let me introduce a heartwarming picture book featuring a tiny pill bug as the hero.
In this story, the pill bug spots a perfectly round moon in the nighttime forest and, with a fluttering heart, musters the courage to set off on an adventure.
Gentle prose and warm illustrations will spark children’s curiosity and imagination.
It’s perfect for reading aloud to kids, and it’s a book that lets both adults and children share in “little courage” and “kind feelings.” Since it’s a nighttime tale, why not read it together with your child before bed?