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 a 4-Year-Old! A Collection of Recommended Picture Books That Will Make You Excited for Christmas (11–20)

Christmas All-Star

http://www.amazon.co.jp

A Christmas picture book written by Hirotaka Nakagawa with illustrations by Yasunari Murakami.

The main characters from various familiar celebrations—like Hina Dolls Day and Children’s Day carp streamers—suddenly say they want to celebrate Christmas…

The very idea is exciting, isn’t it? With traditions from both Japan and the West and from different seasons, it’s a lively gathering overflowing with diversity.

True to the styles of Nakagawa, who is also a singer-songwriter, and Murakami, who is also a ukulele artist, this is a rhythmic and peaceful book.

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hiyori

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100 Santas

amzn.asia

Christmas is something children look forward to—and in fact, the busy Santa feels the same way.

Here’s a delightful picture book that reveals some of Santa’s secrets.

In a town where 100 Santas live, they spend the entire year preparing for Christmas.

All 100 Santas are incredibly busy until the big day.

The hardest part is getting the presents ready, and the Santas themselves can’t wait for Christmas, when they get to enjoy a few Santa-only pleasures.

It’s a charming book that makes you want to step right into its pages.

It also makes a great Christmas gift.

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kepiko

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Gifts from the Window

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Let us introduce a Christmas pop-up/pull-tab picture book by Taro Gomi that’s loved by both adults and children.

Santa Claus is peeking through a window to see what’s going on inside the room.

He keeps delivering presents one after another, but because he’s such a scatterbrained Santa, he’s in such a hurry that something unexpected happens! Since the window parts are cut out, the view Santa sees and the scene inside the room connect through the windows, which is great fun.

Share a chuckle at the flustered Santa Claus as you read it together with your kids.

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kepiko

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Wanpakudan’s Christmas

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Introducing a Christmas picture book from the popular “Wanpakudan” series, beloved by children! On Christmas Day, the close-knit trio is decorating a Christmas tree in their room when they start arguing, saying, “There’s no way Santa exists!” Just then, a mysterious cat appears and says it can take them to meet Santa.

In the land of Santa they visit, they encounter the real Santa Claus—who’s lost his cheer…

The Wanpakudan picture books are a hugely popular series with clear, easy-to-follow story structure and a delightful fantasy world.

Be sure to give them a read!

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kepiko

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The Mysterious Christmas Box

amzn.asia

We’re introducing a uniquely Japanese Christmas picture book featuring an engawa (traditional veranda)! On Christmas Day, a boy finds a mysterious box on the engawa.

When he opens it, he discovers Santa Claus inside, dashing around an unfamiliar town preparing for Christmas! Through the sight of Santa visible inside the box, the boy’s excitement comes to life.

It’s a picture book that will make even adults think, “I wish I could watch Santa arrive like this.” Please enjoy reading it with your child as you look forward to Christmas Day together.

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kepiko

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Santa Claus’s helper

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Introducing a heartwarming Christmas picture book created with Canva’s artificial intelligence.

When you hear “created by AI,” you might imagine something mechanical, but this picture book is filled with truly charming illustrations.

Because the illustrations have a felt-like texture, just looking at them will make you feel warm and cozy.

The story depicts the interactions between Santa Claus and a girl who wants to help him, as well as the joy of Christmas presents, making it a perfect recommendation for the holiday season.

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kepiko

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Books to Read with a 4-Year-Old! A Collection of Recommended Picture Books That Will Make Christmas Feel Even More Exciting (21–30)

Christmas on December 26

http://www.amazon.co.jp

“Christmas on December 26” is a story that takes place after Christmas.

A girl who received a dog from Santa sets out to find him so she can say thank you.

She must have been overjoyed to want to search for someone just to say “thank you”… It’s a work whose pure-hearted childlike sentiment will move adults as well.

Precisely because getting presents at Christmas has become so commonplace today, I hope children will never forget this sense of gratitude.

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sasashina

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