[February] Recommended picture books for 4-year-olds: Works that let children feel winter at preschool
There are many occasions where we read books to children, such as storytime sessions held indoors at preschools.
Some of you may be wondering which picture books to read in February.
In this article, we’ve put together a selection of picture books that are perfect for February and recommended for four-year-olds.
We’ll introduce works that let children feel the chill of winter, as well as ones themed around events like Setsubun and Valentine’s Day.
How about reading picture books with stories that warm the cold winter for the children?
- Picture Books to Read in February [For 5-Year-Olds]
- [March] Recommended for 4-year-olds! Picture books that will make you smile and grin
- [February] Picture books for 3-year-olds with themes of Setsubun and winter
- [February] Recommended picture books for 2-year-olds: Books that evoke winter and Setsubun
- [For Age 4] Must-Read in January! Picture Books to Enjoy Winter
- [For 4-year-olds] Enjoy February! A Collection of Craft Ideas
- [Picture Books] Savor the fun of words: A special feature on recommended onomatopoeia picture books
- March: Picture Books Recommended for Enjoying with 5-Year-Olds
- [February] A collection of picture books we want to read with the 0-year-old class
- [For 1-year-olds] Recommended picture books to read together in January
- For older kindergarteners: Let’s make it! A collection of recommended origami ideas for February
- [For 4-Year-Olds] Recommended Spring Picture Books | Engaging with the World and Friends
- [For 3-Year-Olds] Recommended for January! A Collection of Exciting and Heartwarming Picture Books
[February] Recommended picture books for 4-year-olds: Works that let children feel winter at daycare (1–10)
glovesText: Ukrainian folktale / Illustrations: Yevgeny M. Rachev
The long-selling picture book The Mitten has been loved across generations.
In this story, a grandfather drops a mitten in the winter forest, and animals like a mouse, a frog, and a rabbit move in, making the mitten grow bigger and bigger.
Children and adults alike will be on the edge of their seats wondering what will happen next, with their imaginations soaring! The illustrations feel realistic yet warm, drawing you even deeper into the world of the tale.
Enjoy this story with children during the cold winter season, and let it warm both your hearts and bodies!
A Kind FriendWritten by: Fang Yiqun / Illustrations by: Tomoyoshi Murayama
The classic picture book “Kindhearted Friends,” cherished across generations.
In a cold winter with little food, the animals think of one another, and the food makes its rounds from one to the next.
It’s said the story was inspired by an event the author heard about from the time of the Korean War.
The beautiful illustrations, which capture the wintry feel of snowy days, add a special touch to the tale.
It’s a perfect picture book for teaching four-year-olds about kindness and empathy, so be sure to read it aloud to children and let them savor its world!
There’s a demon in my belly.Written by Takako Ozawa / Illustrated by Tatsuma Nishimura
A book to read around Setsubun in February: “There’s an Oni in My Tummy.” It’s said that there’s an ogre inside your tummy with the same personality as its owner! Whether gluttonous or clingy, children will use their imaginations to wonder what kind of oni might be in their own bellies.
And if there’s a naughty oni, thinking “Let’s drive it out by throwing beans on Setsubun” can also help them understand the holiday.
If your nursery or kindergarten is planning a bean-throwing activity, it would be great to gather the children and read this story to them beforehand!
[February] Recommended picture books for 4-year-olds: Works that let you feel winter at daycare (11–20)
Daiku and OnirokuRetold by: Nao Matsui / Illustrated by: Suekichi Akaba
The picture book “Daiku to Oniroku” depicts the exchanges between a carpenter building a bridge over a river and a demon who emerges from the water.
First published in 1967, it’s a well-loved Japanese folktale centered on guessing a name.
From its Japanese-style illustrations and a story featuring an oni (demon), it naturally evokes the atmosphere of February events.
Though there’s a sense of tension, children may find themselves laughing at the humorous back-and-forth between the two.
The ever-changing expressions of the demon and the warm artwork add to its charm.
It’s a perfect picture book for February, when Setsubun events are held.
fluffy futonKazuko G. Stone
This is Fluffy Futon, set in Willow Village where the insects live.
Winter arrives, the cold is harsh, and they set out to look for a warm futon.
Normally, insects are most active in summer, but in this story they work together to find a futon so they can endure the winter—it’s a soothing tale.
Children can learn from the book how important it is to cooperate with friends.
Will the insects find a futon and make it through the winter safely? Willow Village is a series covering spring, summer, autumn, and winter, so you can also enjoy different stories set in other seasons!
Kitten ChocolateWritten by B. K. Wilson / Illustrated by Reiko Ooyashiro
In “Kitten’s Chocolate,” a girl who bought kitten-shaped chocolates for her younger brother’s birthday can’t sleep because she keeps thinking about the chocolates.
She eventually starts reaching for the chocolates that were meant to be a present.
It’s a heartwarming book with a story children can relate to.
What will happen to the girl who can’t resist the delicious-looking chocolates? It’s a book that makes you eager to see what happens next.
Kids are sure to read it with excitement!
Sniff, sniffing the flowers.Text: Ruth Krauss / Illustrations: Marc Simont
In the wintry forest, the animals should be hibernating, but the story begins with them suddenly waking up—Hana wo Kunkun.
Although it’s a monochrome picture book, there’s a single spot of color that conveys both the chill of winter and the warmth of spring’s arrival.
Playing in the snow is fun, but many children eagerly await spring, don’t they? Since many animals appear in the story, kids who love animals may want to read it again and again.
Be sure to read it together during the season of melting snow.