[For Age 4] Must-Read in January! Picture Books to Enjoy Winter

My futon

amzn.asia

Even adults have days in the cold winter when they don’t want to get out of bed, right? Here’s a recommended picture book for fun-loving four-year-olds that’s full of all kinds of quilts and duvets.

It’s the story of a boy who chases a black-faced sheep to get the fluffiness back in his blanket.

You’ll meet delightful bedding like the “walking futon,” the “water futon,” and the “chair futon,” and there’s also the fun of spotting the hidden sheep on each page.

How about talking with your child as you read about what kind of futon they’d like? Be sure to read it together with your kids this winter.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kepiko

Report a problem

Snowy days are so, so hot.

amzn.asia

Feel the fun of playing in the snow! Here’s a picture book recommended for four-year-olds.

On a cold winter day, snow falls in the forest.

The young squirrels are overjoyed and invite their father to go sledding.

At first, their father and mother are reluctant to go outside because of the cold, but as they play together with the little squirrels, they end up having just as much fun as the children before they know it.

Watching the little squirrels and their parents will warm readers’ hearts too.

Be sure to read it with your children on a chilly winter day.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kepiko

Report a problem

New Year’s party—how festive, how joyful!

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Some families prepare osechi for New Year’s.

The picture book also introduces recipes for the osechi dishes shown on the cover.

Making the first feast of the year together with your child could become a fond memory.

By the time children are five, some kindergartens and nursery schools may offer cooking activities that they can enjoy.

Some kids might already be interested in cooking.

New Year’s dishes are often not the kind you see on the everyday table.

It could be fun to make them while talking with your family about why we eat them specifically for the New Year.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

New Year’s with osechi (traditional New Year’s cuisine)

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Let me introduce you to the picture book Osechi no Oshōgatsu, which conveys the warmth of a cloth book.

As the title suggests, it’s a volume themed around the New Year’s feast, osechi.

Astonishingly, the stacked food box (jubako) turns into a car and drives along the road, picking up the dishes it encounters—like black soybeans and kelp rolls—along the way.

The dishes themselves clearly explain their meanings, too.

Since everything is crafted with needlework rather than illustrated, it offers the luxurious feel of holding a cloth picture book.

The dishes even have little faces, making them absolutely adorable.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem

Pumpkin Soup Bath

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Here’s a humor-filled picture book by Keiko Shibata, famous for the “Bread Thief” and “Polar Bear Picture Book” series.

Even the title—“Pumpkin Soup Bath”—makes you want to read it, doesn’t it? The story follows a trio of best friends—a bear, an alpaca, and a cat—who are walking through the forest with hungry tummies when they stumble upon a pumpkin bath.

There’s a sign saying you may get in but absolutely must not drink it… Still… Well, enjoy the punchline with your child and have a good laugh! It’s a curious picture book that makes you feel all warm and cozy as you read.

Kitten and Coat

http://www.amazon.co.jp

Long ago, coats tended to be seen as something only adults wore, but these days students—and of course even little children—can throw them on with ease.

Here is a lovely story with a coat as its theme.

Time passes without the child ever wearing the coat their mother bought for them, and then one day they suddenly remember it… This heartwarming tale, which adults can enjoy as well, won the Grand Prize at the 5th Picture Book Publishing Awards.

It’s a charming story about a coat and a cat—one you’ll want to read while snuggled up in a warm blanket.

Kontoma Yumi-chan

http://www.amazon.co.jp

This is a story about Kon, a fox, and a human girl named Mayumi becoming friends.

While Mayumi is roasting mochi inside a snow hut (kamakura), Kon arrives.

He gives a little cough—“kon!”—to announce his presence.

The two quickly become close and promise to meet again the next day.

But the following day, no matter how long Kon waits, Mayumi doesn’t appear…

Centered on friendship and consideration for one another, this work conveys messages we want to share with children, told through a warm narrative and beautiful illustrations.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem