[March] Recommended for 4-year-olds! Picture books that will make you smile and grin

Mayu and RyuText by Yoko Tomiyasu / Illustrations by Nana Furiya

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I’d like to introduce the picture book Mayu and the Dragon, which lets you feel the change from winter to spring.

The adorable girl Mayu and her tall, strong mother ride on a dragon’s back, fly through the sky, make it rain, and melt the snow.

It’s a story about how they call in the spring.

The dynamic, powerful illustrations will draw children right into the world of the book.

You can experience the changing seasons within its pages.

For four-year-olds, the scenes of flying on a dragon are likely to spark a sense of adventure.

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Cabbage-kunShinta Cho

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Cabbage-kun is a picture book where the back-and-forth between Cabbage-kun and Mr.

Butayama is hilarious.

The content is simply them talking about what happens to animals that eat Cabbage-kun.

For example, if a gorilla eats Cabbage-kun, its torso turns into a cabbage, with its head and limbs sprouting from the cabbage—a very unique look.

Kids will be excited to imagine what the next animal will look like, and when they check the answer, they’re sure to burst out laughing, saying, “What is this?!”

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Ratch and LionMark Veronica

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The Lion and Raci, a Boy: A Tale of Their Bond, “Raci and the Lion.” Raci is afraid of many things—dogs, the dark, and more.

When he is crying after being laughed at by his friends, he meets a lion.

The lion encourages Raci and teaches him many things to help him become strong.

In the end, after Raci grows stronger, the lion disappears, but surely Raci will never forget him.

This picture book shows how having someone you can call a friend can give you courage and make you stronger, and that courage and strength are needed to make dreams come true.

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Doll Festival in the ForestKoide Yasuko

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In March, we celebrate Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day).

Some preschools and kindergartens make hina dolls or hold Hinamatsuri gatherings.

With that in mind, I’d like to introduce the picture book “Mori no Hinamatsuri” (The Forest’s Hinamatsuri).

When we think of hina dolls, we usually picture them sitting gracefully on a tiered stand.

But in this book, they slip out of their box to join the mice’s feast, dancing and singing along.

On their way home, the weather turns bad, and there’s even a mishap where their precious costumes get all muddy! It’s a perfect pick for four-year-olds, offering a fresh and fun way to enjoy Hinamatsuri.

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The Three RobbersTomi Ungerer

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They may seem like a scary trio at first, but you’ll be moved by their heartwarming story in the end—so why not read “The Three Robbers”? At night, the three robbers attack the carriages of the rich and steal their treasures.

Then one day, they meet a certain little girl.

When she asks them what they plan to do with all the treasures they’ve gathered, the three start to think.

They may look creepy, but they end up using the treasure for something truly wonderful.

It’s a picture book that will make your heart race with excitement and draw you right in.

If your child is around four years old, they might even be fascinated by the weapons the trio carries!

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The Granny Who Keeps Saying “But, but…”Yoko Sano

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Grandma, Why Not? is a heartwarming story about an elderly woman and a cat.

The 98-year-old grandmother’s catchphrase is “Well, I’m 98, after all,” and she turns down the cat’s invitation to go fishing.

But after a certain event, she starts to feel like she’s five years old again, and suddenly she can do things she used to say she couldn’t—fishing included.

The conversations between her and the cat are as charming as chats with a grandchild, and children who read it may think, “Maybe I only believe I can’t do it—maybe I actually can,” inspiring them to try something new.

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holeText: Shuntaro Tanikawa / Illustrations: Makoto Wada

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A picture book called “The Hole,” where the boy protagonist digs a hole with all his might.

People look puzzled or curious and ask, “What are you doing?” or say, “Let’s make that hole into ◯◯,” but the boy answers, “I’m digging a hole,” and “This is my hole, so no,” and keeps on digging.

There are things adults can’t understand that children are utterly absorbed in.

I think this picture book is a wonderful work filled with support for children’s free and mysterious curiosity.

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