Picture Books to Read in February [For 5-Year-Olds]
When you think of events in February, what comes to mind?
Perhaps Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, or if it’s a holiday, National Foundation Day.
Some of you might picture the cold or snowy landscapes before any specific events.
This time, we’d like to introduce picture books about February that are perfect for five-year-olds.
We’ve selected a wide range—from sweet, charming stories to titles that even adults can learn from!
Be sure to read to the end!
- [February] Recommended picture books for 4-year-olds: Works that let children feel winter at preschool
- [February] Picture books for 3-year-olds with themes of Setsubun and winter
- March: Picture Books Recommended for Enjoying with 5-Year-Olds
- [For 5-year-olds] Picture Books to Read in Spring | Let’s Explore Different Worlds with Children
- [Picture Books] Savor the fun of words: A special feature on recommended onomatopoeia picture books
- [February] Recommended picture books for 2-year-olds: Books that evoke winter and Setsubun
- [For 2-year-olds] Let's read together! Recommended picture books for March
- [For preschoolers] A collection of origami ideas to enjoy February, including Setsubun and Valentine’s Day
- [Quiz] A Collection of Quizzes You Can Use in February Childcare
- [February] A collection of picture books we want to read with the 0-year-old class
- For older kindergarteners: Let’s make it! A collection of recommended origami ideas for February
- [For 2-year-olds] Recommended picture books to enjoy reading in January
- [For 5-year-olds] Picture books recommended for reading in January
[For 5-year-olds] A roundup of picture books to read in February (11–20)
Caesar-kun and the CalendarText: Shunichi Ikegami / Illustrations: Yoshimi Sekiguchi
In February, page-a-day calendars and regular calendars still feel brand-new, don’t they? A calendar with many pages left somehow seems full of hope and feels sturdy and reassuring.
But when do you think the calendar took on its current form? I vaguely remember learning about the solar and lunar calendars back in school…
Calendars actually hide all kinds of drama—like the prickliness and whims of Roman emperors, or a tender love story with a princess living in Egypt.
This book is packed with tales you’ll want to share with someone, like why February alone is short and the secret behind months with 30 and 31 days!
Elephant’s Big Snowy Walk
With their long noses and necks, elephants and giraffes might be the animals that first capture children’s interest.
The picture book series Elephant’s Walk, starring such an elephant, has been loved for over 50 years, and this is its fifth installment.
It’s a heartwarming thought: mothers who grew up reading Elephant’s Walk now reading this book aloud to their own children.
As always, the cheerful elephant sets off on a stroll, eager to show his friends the heavy snow piled on his back… With its simple, delightful repetition, this is a book you’ll want to read again and again.
Moonlit Night Ice Hockey
Set in Canada in December, when even the forest ponds freeze over.
Even in the intense cold with days of minus 20 degrees, the boys still find something to enjoy: on nights with a full moon, they play ice hockey on the beaver pond in the frozen forest.
On the way to the pond, they run into mishaps like getting buried in snow, but even that seems to be just another part of a fun adventure.
Someday, not only the ice hockey they enjoyed with friends, but also those adventurous moments will turn into fond memories.
It’s the kind of picture book that makes you hope the children who read it will create wonderful memories of playing their hearts out.
Tomin Hotel Gussuri Dozo
When the severity of the cold increases in winter, some animals go into hibernation, don’t they? This is a story about three rabbits who welcome hibernating animals at Hotel Good-Sleep-Doze deep in the forest.
Sometimes the winter chill is so intense that it’s hard to get by without a heater.
But the animals living in nature seem able to sleep soundly and greet the spring with peace of mind at Hotel Good-Sleep-Doze.
Although it’s a winter tale, the hotel is depicted in a way that conveys warmth.
It’s a unique work that shines a spotlight on hibernation—something humans don’t do.
It may also give children a chance to learn about hibernation through a picture book.
Beloved Valentine’s Day in the Yokai Village
Valentine’s Day has become firmly established in Japan.
Here’s a curious picture book that combines Valentine’s Day with yokai (Japanese spirits).
As Valentine’s Day approaches, the boy yokai are all fidgety, and the girls seem to be having fun with something, too.
But after the yokai eat chocolates handed out by a certain teacher, the next day turns into a big commotion… The modern, anime-style illustrations are sure to appeal to kids.
Even truly scary yokai like the one-eyed boy and the ohaguro-bettari look adorable here.
It’s a safe pick even for children who don’t usually show interest in books!
The Secret Room of Wild Rose Village
If there were a secret room in your house that you’d never entered before, some children would surely be thrilled, wouldn’t they? This is a picture book that sparks that very curiosity.
It also features wonderful illustrations that heighten the excitement.
You can sense the book’s world through the artwork, and some people even buy the book for the illustrations alone.
The festival where the little mice celebrate winter in their rural life is depicted with great care.
Experience curiosity and the beautiful lives of the mice as you read this picture book.
[For Age 5] Picture Books to Read in February (21–30)
Same, Same, Momon-chan
This is a story about Momon-chan teaming up with Goldfish-san and Cactus-san to build a snowman.
The full two-page spreads vividly depict the scenes, conveying just how hard it is to make a big snowball.
You can’t help but want to cheer them on, saying, “Heave-ho, heave-ho!” Children will probably feel as if they’re making the snowman right alongside Momon-chan.
So, what kind of snowman did they end up making? It’s exciting to imagine! It’s a perfect book for winter read-alouds, capturing the joy of playing in the snow.
