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 Your Four-Year-Old! A Collection of Recommended Picture Books That Will Make You Excited for Christmas (31–40)

The 100th Christmas Cake: A Christmas Eve Story 2

http://www.amazon.co.jp

On Christmas Eve night, the animals of the forest are busily making 100 cakes! As they work together to carry the cakes, they meet people along the way who need help.

Each time, they share one cake, and by the end, only a single cake remains.

But then, a warm little miracle happens, gently wrapping the reader’s heart.

A classic tale that captures the Christmas spirit: kindness goes around and comes back to you.

With simple words and delicate embroidered illustrations, it’s a gentle story perfect for a quiet night.

Raise the rankinglower

Nanaka

Report a problem

Various Christmas trees

http://www.amazon.co.jp

I wonder how we should decorate this year’s Christmas tree.

Just thinking about it is such a fun time, isn’t it? That’s exactly when I recommend this picture book, “All Kinds of Christmas Trees.” In the story, you’ll find trees decorated in places like the forest, the land of ice, and even the bottom of the sea.

The forest tree is adorned with lots of acorns, the icy land’s tree doubles as a slide, and the undersea tree is decorated with seaweed and pearls.

After reading this book, kids will surely start imagining their very own tree.

It’s a delightful, dream-sparking read I highly recommend.

Raise the rankinglower

sasashina

Report a problem

Delicious! Christmas

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Cutting fruit, topping cakes with cream, roasting chicken in the oven…

This Christmas picture book depicts adorable little elves getting ready for the holiday.

It’s a pop-up/interactive book, and moving the mechanisms makes Christmas even more delicious.

Watching the elves prepare for Christmas will surely fill children with longing for that special day.

Let’s prepare a feast and a cake, and spend a wonderful Christmas with our family.

Raise the rankinglower

sasashina

Report a problem

The Little Helpers’ Christmas

http://www.amazon.co.jp

They say there are 120 Santas, but that seems like a small number to deliver presents to children all over the world, doesn’t it? Some kids might wonder how they manage to finish in just one night.

You could say this picture book offers a delightfully fun answer to that question.

In the story, elves who have been given the job deliver presents using work vehicles.

How do they transport everything, and who asked the elves to help? It’s a heart-pounding, exciting picture book full of dreams.

Raise the rankinglower

sasashina

Report a problem

A day called today

http://www.amazon.co.jp

This picture book features warm, woodblock-like illustrations and the memorable phrase “so it won’t go out.” On a snowy day, a girl goes outside wearing the sweater and scarf she knitted herself.

She builds a small house out of snow and lights a candle inside.

And like a quiet wish, the words “so it won’t go out” are repeated.

When children read this book, how will they see the candle? What is it that they won’t want to go out? It’s a wonderful book with as many answers as there are readers.

Be sure to ask children what they think.

Raise the rankinglower

sasashina

Report a problem

Books to Read with 4-Year-Olds! A Recommended Picture Book Collection That Will Make You Excited for Christmas (41–50)

sparkling

http://www.amazon.co.jp

This is a work featuring stars that children love.

With each page you turn, stars of all sizes appear.

At first the stars are black and white, but when you turn the page, they suddenly shine in gold! The sparkling stars are so beautiful that just looking at them brightens your heart.

I’m sure this picture book will help children nurture a sense of wonder for what is “pretty” and “beautiful.” Try tilting the book at different angles—the way the room light hits it changes, making it look as if the stars are truly glowing.

Raise the rankinglower

sasashina

Report a problem