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 (51–60)

Find the Christmas decorations

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Let’s go look for decorations for the tree with Mr.

Polar Bear! Hidden throughout the picture-book illustrations are all sorts of ornaments.

As you read the story, lift the flaps and discover the decorations together with Mr.

Polar Bear.

This delightful book, with a Christmas theme children love, draws readers right into the story.

Finding decorations yourself and turning them into a beautiful Christmas tree is sure to bring joy.

Why not read it together as a family before you decorate your tree at home?

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I hope it snows on Christmas.

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This work portrays a delightful time that comes to Lucie and Ulysse, siblings who long for snow.

Wishing for a white Christmas, the two receive a snow globe from their grandmother.

One sleepless night, they give the snow globe a shake—and their room transforms into a snowy landscape.

Naturally, they’re overjoyed! They go sledding down the stairs and start a snowball fight in the living room.

Of course, it’s a dream, but it’s a heart-thrilling picture book brimming with children’s joyful imagination.

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sasashina

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Christmas Hide-and-Seek

http://www.amazon.co.jp

If you’re looking for a Christmas picture book with pop-up-style tricks, how about “Christmas Hide-and-Seek”? It’s a die-cut interactive book that even babies and toddlers can enjoy—with quiz elements, too! On the left page you’ll find colors, patterns, and decorations, and when you layer the next die-cut page over it, they transform into a snowman or a Christmas tree.

If the pictures alone aren’t enough, there are hints written in, so reading them aloud might help the children catch on.

Have fun feeling the Christmas spirit as you play!

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sasashina

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Christmas is exciting

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Let me introduce a perfect pop-up picture book for Christmas: “Christmas Is So Exciting.” The story features a pair of bear siblings who can’t wait for their presents.

Santa delivers gifts to children who have been good all year… That single line might make many kids’ hearts skip a beat, just like the bear siblings.

Lift the flaps and presents appear—it’s a wonderful picture book that even little ones can easily enjoy.

It would be lovely to ask, “Have you been good?” and hear a cheerful, “Yeees!” in return.

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Books to Read with 4-Year-Olds! A Collection of Recommended Picture Books That Will Make You Excited for Christmas (61–70)

Exciting Santa Day at Christmas

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Remi, a young girl eagerly awaiting Christmas, writes a letter to Santa every day.

As if her wish has been granted, Bell the Tonttu—one of Santa’s little helpers—comes to visit her.

Getting to help Santa is such a special surprise, isn’t it? Children who read this picture book will surely feel the same flutter of excitement and anticipation as Remi.

At the end of the book, there are fun facts about Santa Claus and an introduction to Christmas dishes enjoyed around the world.

Savor the spirit of Christmas with this one delightful volume.

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sasashina

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Santa’s Magic Spell

http://www.amazon.co.jp

At Christmas, presents arrive from Santa, right? In this picture book, Ken-chan also gets a present, but when he opens the box, it’s filled with nothing but vegetables he hates.

However, there’s a secret to these veggies.

When you chant the magic words, “One-two Santa!” you hear snip-snip, snap—and amazingly, a green pepper turns into the shape of a Christmas tree! It’s a delightful picture book where you can have fun guessing what the colorful vegetables will become next.

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sasashina

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The Day Santa Claus Was Born

http://www.amazon.co.jp

“Where does Santa live?” “How can he fly?” This picture book is like an encyclopedia of Santa’s secrets that answers all of children’s “why?” and “how?” questions.

It shows the toy factory, the mechanics of the flying sleigh, the reindeers’ training, and how Santa remembers children all over the world.

With every page you turn, a humorous “world of Santa” unfolds! It delivers a warm message that Santa brings dreams not only with magic, but through effort and ingenuity.

A book that nurtures a child’s power to believe.

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Nanaka

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