A collection of recommended picture books to read with 4-year-olds that will make the wait for Christmas exciting

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.
20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

Christmas is just around the corner! For 4-year-olds, it’s a special season filled with excitement as they look forward to Santa and presents.

What makes the magic of Christmas shine even brighter is discovering heartwarming picture books.

They can comfort children as they wait for their gifts, or introduce them to little-known stories about Santa.

We’ll introduce a variety of wonderful, fun picture books that are perfect for this time of year.

Enjoy the unique world of Christmas stories together with your 4-year-olds!

Books to Read with 4-Year-Olds! A Collection of Recommended Picture Books That Will Make You Excited for Christmas (81–90)

Nezumi-kun’s Christmas

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This picture book is the Christmas edition of the popular Nezumikun (Little Mouse) series, which centers on kindness toward friends.

The tree that Little Mouse makes seems small to the other animals.

And the trees made by the other animals, in turn, feel small to animals bigger than they are.

While everyone is busy showing off ever larger trees, the smallest of all, Nemi-chan, has made a big Christmas cake for everyone.

It’s a heartwarming story about shifting your perspective from yourself to others.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Grandma Baba’s Christmas Decorations

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This is the Christmas edition of the popular “Baba Baa-chan” series, in which the story unfolds while explaining how to make things.

It’s packed with ideas for making Christmas decorations, trees, and more.

It’s a picture book you can enjoy twice: fun to read and fun to make.

As nuclear families become more common, there may be fewer opportunities for people of different generations—like grandmothers and children—to work together.

This is a book we especially want children to read so they can discover the joy of spending time with a grandmother.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Boshi-kun’s Christmas Present

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This is a story about a hat dropped on a snowy day that gives presents to lonely animals.

First, it gives the rabbit the fluffy, round white pompom at the tip.

Next, it gives the bear the white fluffy trim around the hat.

When it gives the main body of the hat to the fox, the little Hat-kun no longer has a body.

As it struggles, unable to give a present to the reindeer, Santa returns.

The hat belonged to Santa.

Having been given back its body, Hat-kun helps deliver presents together with the reindeer.

It’s a quietly thought-provoking tale.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Katie’s Christmas Eve

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Katie and her little brother find Santa feeling under the weather with a cold, so they hop on the sleigh to help deliver presents.

Surely many children would love to help Santa, too.

Just imagining delivering gifts together is enough to make your heart race with excitement.

The beautiful colors and illustrations from abroad, perfectly matching the thrilling story, will spark children’s imaginations.

This is a picture book you’ll want to enjoy again and again.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Santa’s Present Factory

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This is a delightful picture book with the fun premise that Santa’s gift factory gets busy as Christmas approaches.

As you look around inside the factory, it becomes a quiz-style search to find who is doing what and where.

Not only does it include educational elements, but its colorful, cute illustrations and uniquely shaped, non-rectangular pages are sure to excite many children.

Once they get used to it, kids can read it on their own or enjoy reading it together with friends.

It’s a picture book everyone can enjoy.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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