[For Age 4] Must-Read in January! Picture Books to Enjoy Winter
By the time children are four, some can read hiragana and even picture books on their own.
So this time, I’d like to introduce picture books for January that let four-year-olds enjoy the winter season.
We’ve gathered lots of exciting books with real stories—perfect for four-year-olds who are starting to enjoy plot and wonder what will happen next.
You’re sure to find a new favorite.
Whether reading alone or listening to a teacher read aloud, enjoy exploring many picture books!
- [February] Recommended picture books for 4-year-olds: Works that let children feel winter at preschool
- [For 5-year-olds] Picture books recommended for reading in January
- A collection of recommended picture books to read with 4-year-olds that will make the wait for Christmas exciting
- [For 3-Year-Olds] Recommended for January! A Collection of Exciting and Heartwarming Picture Books
- [For 2-year-olds] Recommended picture books to enjoy reading in January
- [March] Recommended for 4-year-olds! Picture books that will make you smile and grin
- [Picture Books] Savor the fun of words: A special feature on recommended onomatopoeia picture books
- For 4-Year-Olds: January Crafts! A Collection of Fun Ideas with Winter and New Year Themes
- [For 1-year-olds] Recommended picture books to read together in January
- [February] A collection of picture books we want to read with the 0-year-old class
- Picture Books to Read with 4-Year-Olds in Winter: Heartwarming Recommended Stories
- Picture Books to Read with 5-Year-Olds: Recommended Titles to Make Winter More Fun
- Picture books to read in winter! Story ideas that will captivate 3-year-olds
[For 4-year-olds] Must-read in January! Picture books to enjoy winter (61–70)
Ride on my sled!
The picture book Full of Kindness and Compassion, “Ride on My Sled!”, is a gentle story that will warm your heart with the interactions between Little Bear, Little Squirrel, Little Fox, and Little Rabbit.
Delighted by the falling snow, they all brainstorm ideas for what to play.
They promise to go sledding, but Little Squirrel doesn’t have a sled.
Little Bear feels embarrassed about the old sled he owns.
This picture book overflows with thoughtfulness and kindness, and after reading it, you might just feel like being kind to someone yourself.
Warm and cozy yuzu bath
It’s said that taking a yuzu bath on the winter solstice drives away bad fortune and invites good luck.
In this picture book, sparked by receiving some yuzu from his grandmother, Akkun opens a little yuzu shop.
When he cheerfully calls out, “It’s the yuzu shop!” various animals come by saying, “Yuzu, please!” This is a book that clearly presents a traditional Japanese custom.
After reading it, children will surely become interested in yuzu baths.
Why not enjoy a fun bath time with your child after story time?
The mountain bathhouse
The picture book “Yama no Ofuroyasan” is set in a mountain bathhouse.
All sorts of animals come to the bath in the mountains—monkeys, wild boars, and… huh? Even a snowman shows up! You can’t help but worry: won’t it melt if it gets in the hot water? So, what will happen to the snowman? The surprising secret of the bath at the end is delightful, and you’ll finish the story with a smile.
It’s a perfect book to read aloud before a cozy winter bath.
Yuki
This is a snow-themed picture book written in gentle, conversational language.
The snow, drawn with shadows against a white background, looks so realistic you can almost feel its texture.
Soft, pure white snow… Is it cold? Will it melt? Children will surely want to touch and find out.
It’s a book that delights the senses and captures the spirit of winter—perfect to add to your winter read-alouds.
Even children who haven’t seen snow yet will be gently introduced to its scenery and feel through these pages.
Snow (A Song Picture Book)
This is a picture book based on the lyrics of the Ministry of Education song “Yuki” (Snow).
In step with the lyrics, a little girl’s eyes sparkle at the sight of snow, and she slides down a snow-covered slide.
She’s experiencing winter with the free-spirited joy of childhood.
So captivated by the snow, she remembers her hat and scarf but forgets her gloves.
A dog later brings them to her—an adorable scene that shows just how absorbed she is in the snow.
It’s a picture book that conveys the charm of snow and the fun of playing in it, so be sure to sing along as you read it with your child.
snow play
On a cold winter morning, when children look out the window and see the snow has piled up, they get excited, don’t they? This picture book lets parents rediscover that sense of excitement and enjoy it together with their children.
The story begins when Little Pig looks out the window in the morning and sees that snow has fallen.
On snowy days, it’s thrilling to think about what kinds of games to play outside.
Snowball fights, sledding, building snowmen—many activities come to mind, but what did Little Pig choose to do? It might be nice to ask children what games they’d like to play when it snows.
The Snow Hare’s Gift
The hero of this story is Pete the snow bunny.
He’s happily playing in the snow with his friends, but it’s so cold that everyone heads home.
Feeling at a loss, Pete suddenly has a great idea—something gentle and heartwarming that shows how much he cares about his friends.
This picture book uses silver foil on every page, so it sparkles as you turn the pages and fills you with excitement.
It’s also perfect for the Christmas season, making it a wonderful gift.