[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 you feel winter at daycare (31–40)
oden broth
Winter is cold, so it makes you crave something warm, doesn’t it? Speaking of warm foods—what comes to mind? For many people, it’s probably oden.
In this picture book, the pot is imagined as a bath, and one by one, the ingredients for oden hop in.
It even includes hide-and-seek phrases that kids love, making it fun to “cook” oden.
You can also enjoy a quiz—Who’s next?—so try recalling the ingredients and imagining them as you read.
A heartwarming book that will warm both body and soul with a finished pot of steaming hot oden.
Rice-Cake Bath
Set in the cozy hot spring “Poka Poka no Yu,” Omachi’s Bath weaves a uniquely charming tale.
The protagonists are Mo-chan and Chi-chan, a pair of rice cakes.
They want to take a nice, slow bath, but the soy-sauce footbath is packed with sushi folks, and the kinako bath is full of dango dumplings.
Is there a bath where the two can relax? With enticing options like a hot-pot bath and a toaster sauna, delightful tubs keep appearing, making it impossible to stop turning the pages.
A fun picture book that’s perfect for winter.
Mochi pounding
Like the children in this picture book, there may be many kids who think mochi is something you just buy at a store.
That’s exactly why we want them to experience mochi pounding for themselves.
In this book, the process is carefully shown—from preparing the tools, the usu (mortar) and kine (pestle), to putting in the glutinous rice—until the mochi is ready.
The children’s expressions, depicted with a distinctive touch, are so lively that just looking at them makes you feel happy too.
Please enjoy the fun winter event of mochi pounding through this picture book.
Same, Same, Momon-chan
This is a story about Momon-chan teaming up with Goldfish-san and Cactus-san to build a snowman.
The full two-page spreads vividly depict the scenes, conveying just how hard it is to make a big snowball.
You can’t help but want to cheer them on, saying, “Heave-ho, heave-ho!” Children will probably feel as if they’re making the snowman right alongside Momon-chan.
So, what kind of snowman did they end up making? It’s exciting to imagine! It’s a perfect book for winter read-alouds, capturing the joy of playing in the snow.
Go for it! Lululolo: Lots of Snowmen
The twin sisters Lulu and Lolo help shovel the snow that has piled up in the garden.
As they roll the snow, they also make a snowman.
What kind of snowman will Lulu and Lolo create? For adults, shoveling snow can be hard work, but with a little creativity, doing it together with children might lead to new discoveries and fun.
You can enjoy the anime currently airing on NHK Educational TV as an original picture book.
The interactions between Lulu and Lolo are very adorable, too.
It’s a perfect picture book for the cold winter season.
[February] Recommended picture books for 4-year-olds: Works that let you feel winter at daycare (41–50)
Komadako-san and Yukidaruma-san
Komadako, who lives in the countryside, wakes up to find that snow has fallen and decides to make a snowman.
When she finishes a snowman about the same size as herself, she sits next to it for tea time.
To her surprise, the snowman starts having tea with her, too! After that, they play together, take a bath, and spend a delightful time.
It’s like a dream where you can spend the day with a snowman as if you were friends.
Please enjoy this gentle and lovely book during winter read-aloud time.
Sakura and Yuki
Sakura and Yuki is a book depicting the spirits of cherry blossoms and snow who wish to meet “just once more.” Although the two meet and become friends, they find it hard to see each other again, and their longing only grows.
The way they ask a cat and a little bird about one another is endearing and a little bittersweet.
Just looking at the beautiful illustrations, drawn with a delicate touch, invites you to imagine a gentle, warm story.
It’s a picture book to enjoy by looking and listening, filled with stunning snowy scenes and cherry blossoms in full bloom.