[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-reads for January! Picture books to enjoy winter (51–60)
Chiikuma-chan and Shimakuma-chan
The picture book Chiikuma-chan and Shimakuma-chan, filled with the wintry atmosphere of its snowy illustrations, is perfect for the cold season.
The best friends—Chiikuma-chan, a little polar bear, and Shimakuma-chan, a striped stuffed bear—are always together.
They ride a red sled to play in the snow, climb snowy hills, and build snowmen.
A warm drink enjoyed out in the cold might taste especially delicious.
Chiikuma-chan and Shimakuma-chan is a heartwarming read that will leave you feeling cozy and happy—please enjoy it together with your child.
The tiny, tiny land of ice
The picture book “The Tiny, Tiny Land of Ice,” with illustrations that make you feel gentle just by looking at them, is set in a frozen land.
One day, out-of-season snow fell on the hat-shaped house where Poko Poko lives.
Why did it snow even though the day was warm? What exactly is the silver ice cloud? With every page you turn, your excitement grows at the charming little items and cozy homes.
Wrapped in colorful, tender illustrations, it’s a delightful story.
gloves
It’s a story about various animals crawling into a mitten that was lying in the snow.
A mouse, a frog, a rabbit, a fox… At first the mitten has plenty of room, but it gets tighter and tighter as more animals squeeze in.
Just when there seems to be no space left, along comes a bear.
The animals say there’s no more room, but the bear really wants to get in.
What will they do? The mitten, packed full, looks nice and warm, but a bit cramped.
Still, it makes you want to climb in with them, doesn’t it?
To-kun Truck: Vroom-Vroom on a Snowy Day
This is a charming picture book about a little boy named Tokkun playing in the snow with his toy truck.
He heads into the forest, loads snow onto the truck, and pulls it along…
but the truck won’t move very well.
Then the forest animals come to help.
They push the truck, shovel snow to clear a path, and work together with Tokkun to build a road.
There are many ways to play in the snow—like making snowmen or having snowball fights—but this kind of free play is a lot of fun too.
Reading this book warms the heart and sparks interest in snowy adventures.
[For 4-year-olds] Must-read in January! Picture books to enjoy winter (61–70)
brown bear
From autumn to winter…
and then spring.
This is the story of a brown bear mother and her cub, told alongside the changing seasons.
In autumn, brown bears eat plenty of nuts and fruit; when winter comes, they spend their time in a den—and that’s when new life is born.
What might the cub feel as it bursts from the dark den into the warm, vivid world of spring? The illustrations, rendered mainly in black, are a bit distinctive, yet they also convey a certain warmth.
Bears are popular animals among children, so I hope this picture book offers a glimpse into a bear’s life.
Nemu in winter hibernation
Nem, a hardworking boy, has come to live on his own at Ippo House.
The season of harsh winter hibernation is just around the corner.
Besides Nem, there are other residents at Ippo House: Pao, who lives in a room filled with books; Mio, who loves painting and singing; and Hiira, who is the same age as Nem.
The four of them interact as they prepare for winter.
This heartwarming book tenderly watches over Nem, leaving you with a cozy feeling.
Someday, children too will strike out on their own like this and broaden their worlds, won’t they? A work that gently spreads through the hearts of adults as well—tinged with a little loneliness and a little joy.
to make a winter coat
A cold winter has arrived.
Saki-chan wants to go play outside, but she doesn’t have a coat to wear.
Then her mother lets her wear her own red coat.
However, since it was too big, they decide to tailor it…
Watching her mother’s coat transform into a lovely coat just the way Saki-chan likes it feels like magic and fills you with excitement.
This is a book that nurtures a sense of valuing things and an interest in making things.
Feel the season of winter as you enjoy this warm story.