[For 5-year-olds] Picture books recommended for reading in January
By the time children are five, they can enjoy a wide variety of picture books, including those with meaningful messages and those full of humor.
Fantasy picture books are especially popular—stories set in worlds of dreams and adventure, or tales where you meet unknown creatures and can enjoy the feeling of being the main character.
The sense of fantasy that often fades as we grow up is something I hope will always remain in our hearts through picture books.
This time, we’re introducing many picture books perfect for five-year-olds to read in January, so be sure to find some that will make children’s hearts flutter with excitement!
- Picture Books to Read in February [For 5-Year-Olds]
- [For Age 4] Must-Read in January! Picture Books to Enjoy Winter
- [For 5-year-olds] Picture Books to Read in Spring | Let’s Explore Different Worlds with Children
- Picture Books to Read with 5-Year-Olds: Recommended Titles to Make Winter More Fun
- [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: Picture Books Recommended for Enjoying with 5-Year-Olds
- A collection of recommended Christmas picture books that will captivate 5-year-olds!
- [For 1-year-olds] Recommended picture books to read together in January
- Enjoy Autumn Picture Books! A Collection of Ideas to Read with Your 5-Year-Old
- Recommended Picture Books to Read in January for 0-Year-Olds
- Fun January Crafts! A Collection of Ideas You Can Make and Play With for 5-Year-Olds
- [February] Recommended picture books for 4-year-olds: Works that let children feel winter at preschool
[For 5-year-olds] Picture Books to Read in January (21–30)
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.
Orlando the Cat: The Woolen Trousers
Sparked by an unexpected mishap, this story lets you feel the bonds of family.
After accidentally getting doused in kerosene, the father cat loses the fur on the lower half of his body.
The mother cat knits him pants from yarn that match his original pattern, and the children cheer up their downcast dad.
Though it’s a tale about cats, the family’s all-out effort to say, “Let’s figure this out,” conveys a touching sense of familial love.
Today’s world often makes it hard for families to spend time together, with dual-income households and other pressures.
Time to read picture books as a family may be limited, but it would be wonderful to use picture books as a chance to think about family together.
Ready, set—Hakkēyoī! New Year’s Osechi Basho
Sumo has tournaments like the Osaka Basho and the Kyushu Basho, but what on earth is an “Osechi Basho”? In this book, the main characters are osechi dishes, all vying for the coveted center spot on the first tier of the jubako—a quirky, fantastical setup.
The contest’s name plays on sumo’s “XX Basho,” turning it into the “Osechi Basho”! As you read, you can chat about things like how to cook black soybeans, why shrimp are included in osechi, and the origins of kobumaki (kelp rolls)—topics that are sure to spark interest.
The art style is poppy, and the expressions on the black beans in particular are a highlight!
Hedgehog-kun’s Snowman
Here’s the perfect book for a snowy day.
The story goes like this: On a snowy day, a grandmother can’t help worrying about whether the package she ordered will arrive safely.
So little Hedgehog builds a big snowman as a landmark to keep the mail carrier from getting lost, but… It’s the kind of tale that makes you want to keep reading.
The illustrations, painted mainly in soft hues, carry a certain warmth, and the depiction of snow—like little tufts of cotton pressed onto the page—is lovely.
It’s a book that would also make a delightful gift.
The Snow Hare’s Gift
The hero of this story is Pete the snow bunny.
He’s happily playing in the snow with his friends, but it’s so cold that everyone heads home.
Feeling at a loss, Pete suddenly has a great idea—something gentle and heartwarming that shows how much he cares about his friends.
This picture book uses silver foil on every page, so it sparkles as you turn the pages and fills you with excitement.
It’s also perfect for the Christmas season, making it a wonderful gift.
Snow Theater
From works that depict lives blanketed in snow, you can sense a certain warmth.
A boy tears his father’s treasured butterfly field guide in a scuffle with friends.
He straps on skis and dashes into the snowy mountains, where beyond a hollow he’s fallen into lies a theater of snow.
The Snow Queen, snowmen, and white horses perform in dazzling fashion.
Before he knows it, the boy is on stage too, singing along.
It must have been such a wonderful space that he even forgets about the torn field guide.
This is a piece that lets children fully savor a fantastical snowy world.
The scene where the father comes to pick him up is truly heartwarming.