[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)
The voice of snow
Snow seems to have a way of absorbing sound, and people say that the silence of a snowy country’s night is a feeling only those who live there can truly understand.
Can you imagine a world where every sound is swallowed up? This is a book that portrays only the world of snow and the sounds snow makes—one I especially hope people living in areas with little snowfall will pick up.
The page that expresses the sound of stepping on snow as “kusususu!” is fantastic.
It also sounds fun to talk with your child about the title and ask, “I wonder what the voice of snow is?”
Gifts from the Snowy Forest
This exquisitely beautiful book by Dutch artist Linde Faas, depicting a Nordic world of snow, irresistibly calls to mind Disney’s hit film Frozen.
Sophie, the protagonist, is left alone at Christmas because her father is busy with work.
Lost in a snowy realm, she meets a gentle moose and steps into a mysterious world…
The vast, wintry otherworld feels both wondrous and strangely nostalgic.
It’s a highly recommended work that adults can enjoy just as much as children.
[5-year-olds] Picture Books to Read in January (31–40)
My cloak has a hood.
“My cloak has a hood”—the rhythm makes you want to read it in a lilting 5-7 cadence.
The little bear girl who appears in the story wears a bright red cloak trimmed with fluffy fur along the edges.
On sad days and happy days alike, she always keeps this cloak on.
If you love wearing cute cloaks instead of coats in winter, this is a must-read.
The bear’s expressive face is utterly charming, and you’ll truly want to read it again and again.
What kind of clothes does your child love most? Just like the bear in this story, favorite outfits are the ones you want to wear over and over.
Princess Snow and the Unicorn
Princesses and unicorns are popular with five-year-olds, aren’t they? Just having a princess and a unicorn on a picture book cover is enough to get kids excited.
The sparkling snow globe pictured alongside them lets you feel the winter atmosphere.
It’s a story about Snow, a lonely princess who wishes for friends and sets off on an adventure into a magical world.
Along the way, she meets not only a unicorn but also a snowman and maidens of ice.
The heart-fluttering tale and the book’s illustrations are sure to delight children.
Pore Pore in the Snow
Although it’s become harder recently due to the mild winters, there are still regions where you can play in the snow when winter comes.
Some children get super excited about winter-only activities like making snowmen and having snowball fights, don’t they? And if you could also observe the aurora, which can be seen in winter, the kids would probably get even more excited.
These scenes are depicted through Yagi-kun, Harinezumi-kun, and Zou-kun.
You can also feel the beauty of the snowy landscapes and the aurora spreading across the sky.
Among the children who read the picture book together, some might even become interested in the aurora.
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.
Six Frogs and a Chilly Night
There are times when you want to sleep but just can’t, right? Kids are full of energy too, and sometimes they just can’t fall asleep even at night.
In this picture book, you’ll meet some frogs who took it so easy that they forgot to hibernate.
You’d think they’d hate the cold, but when they saw snow for the first time, they were thrilled and started playing in it.
Children are sure to be captivated by the adorable frogs and the heartwarming story.
And if they copy the frogs and play in the snow, they might sleep soundly at night.
