A collection of recommended Christmas picture books that will captivate 5-year-olds!

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

As Christmas approaches, 5-year-olds can find even more joy in the world of picture books.

Some children believe in Santa Claus, while others are just beginning to have a few questions—meeting picture books that can embrace each child’s feelings is important.

Here, we introduce picture books with warm illustrations and heartwarming stories that bring the dreams and hopes of Christmas to life.

Create special memories with books that capture children’s excitement as they wait for presents and convey Santa Claus’s gentle spirit!

A collection of recommended Christmas picture books that 5-year-olds will love! (41–50)

Piyo-chan and Merry Christmas

http://www.amazon.co.jp

The story features Piyo-chan the chick.

It’s about Piyo-chan trying to place a wreath on the very top of the Christmas tree for Santa.

The book’s hallmark—and its biggest highlight—is the pop-up mechanism on the climax page! It’s easy to assemble, so you’ll feel like you’re decorating the tree right alongside Piyo-chan.

The horse’s neck extends, the owl’s wings flap—there’s more than one moving feature, so be sure to try them out and have fun.

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A collection of recommended Christmas picture books that will captivate 5-year-olds (51–60)

Transforming Present

http://www.amazon.co.jp

The picture book “Henshin Present” (Transforming Present) tells the story of Santa delivering wonderful gifts.

In the tale, Santa visits children who are troubled or facing problems, and his presents neatly solve them.

Each child has a name, and by calling that name over and over, it transforms into a present.

It’s a fun picture book where you can guess what the present will be from the situation in the illustration and the child’s name.

We’d love for children to think about whether their own names might be able to transform into presents, too.

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Mary-chan’s Christmas

http://www.amazon.co.jp

The story features Mary-chan and Patapon the sheep.

Mary-chan tells Patapon about the Christmas she’s looking forward to.

One of the stories is about Santa putting presents in wooden shoes, and when Patapon hears this, he becomes sad, thinking he won’t receive any gifts.

Mary-chan doesn’t seem to notice Patapon’s feelings and talks only about her own presents.

It’s a work that depicts the pure feelings children have toward Christmas—joy and sadness.

There’s a heartwarming episode at the end, too.

Enjoy reading it along with the adorable illustrations.

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Christmas is coming soon.

http://www.amazon.co.jp

The picture book “Christmas Is Coming Soon,” the one you want to read as the holiday approaches, is a charming book filled with delightful illustrations and story.

It’s like an advent calendar in book form, conveying the excitement of getting ready for Christmas day by day.

You can feel the anticipation as the animals make a wreath, write a letter to Santa, and eagerly wait together for Christmas.

After reading, it might be nice to write a letter together about what you’d like to ask Santa for.

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mayumi

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The Jolly Mailman’s Christmas

http://www.amazon.co.jp

On Christmas Day, the mail carrier sets out on a journey to deliver letters to friends in the world of fairy tales.

Familiar characters like the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and the Wolf make an appearance! And amazingly, this picture book comes with lifelike envelopes, letters, cards, and a mini picture book, so with every page you turn, it really feels like you’re receiving a present.

It’s packed with exciting “open the letter” surprises.

The bright, lively illustrations are drawn with fine detail, offering new discoveries every time you look.

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Nanaka

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Snow of Dreams

http://www.amazon.co.jp

If you’re looking for a pop-up Christmas book, how about Dream Snow? It’s a work by Eric Carle, known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and the story features an old man and some animals.

The old man wakes from a dream in which everything is covered in beautiful snow.

When he looks outside, real snow is falling, which makes him remember something; he hurriedly gets dressed.

What did he remember, and what is he about to do…? There are two pop-up mechanisms: one on the page with the animals, and the second on the last page, where you can hear the sound of bells.

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