March marks the close of the school year.
For five-year-olds, it’s the season when they graduate from kindergarten.
As they look back on their time at the preschool, they’re surely creating memories with their dear friends.
In this month of March, why not use picture books to reflect on friendships and think about seasonal events?
We’ve gathered picture books that are perfect for five-year-olds who spend fulfilling days—arguing, crying, and laughing.
Let each child feel in their own way, and let’s all immerse ourselves in the world of picture books together.
- [For 5-year-olds] Picture Books to Read in Spring | Let’s Explore Different Worlds with Children
- Picture Books to Read in February [For 5-Year-Olds]
- [For 3-Year-Olds] Recommended Picture Books for Spring | Exciting and Thrilling Reads
- [For 3-year-olds] Recommended Picture Books to Read in March
- [For 4-Year-Olds] Recommended Spring Picture Books | Engaging with the World and Friends
- [February] Recommended picture books for 4-year-olds: Works that let children feel winter at preschool
- [Picture Books] Savor the fun of words: A special feature on recommended onomatopoeia picture books
- [March] Recommended for 4-year-olds! Picture books that will make you smile and grin
- [For 5-year-olds] Picture books recommended for reading in January
- [For 2-year-olds] Let's read together! Recommended picture books for March
- Picture Books to Read with 5-Year-Olds: Recommended Titles to Make Winter More Fun
- Enjoy Autumn Picture Books! A Collection of Ideas to Read with Your 5-Year-Old
- [For 1-year-olds] Perfect for March! A special selection of picture books recommended for 1-year-olds
[March] Picture Books We Want to Enjoy with 5-Year-Olds! Recommended Picks for March (1–10)
What color is your current feeling?Egashira Michiko
This picture book has been highly praised by childcare workers, school teachers, school counselors, and others who work directly with children as a “book that draws out children’s feelings.” For children, it’s difficult to understand or put into words the invisible feelings and states of their hearts.
This book gently asks questions and stays close to children’s hearts, giving them a chance to notice their own feelings.
The soft watercolor hues and gentle touch of the illustrations are soothing as well.
Please read it together with children who will meet many people and encounter many feelings as they grow.
We Are FriendsArnold Lobel
The first book in Arnold Lobel’s “Frog and Toad” series, Frog and Toad Are Friends, contains five stories, one of which is called “Spring.” Toad is thrilled that spring has arrived and goes to visit Frog’s house.
But Frog still seems sleepy and won’t get up easily.
Wanting to play together, Toad comes up with ways to wake Frog.
Their playful back-and-forth will make you chuckle and draw you right into the story.
It’s a perfect read for March, when you can feel the arrival of spring.
Lord First GraderText and illustrations by Hideko Nagano and Kayoko Honda
The lord who became famous in “Lord Santa” is now a first grader! What kind of first grader will this free-spirited lord be? When March comes around, five-year-olds are in a flutter with graduation ceremonies and preparations for entrance ceremonies—it’s a restless time.
Some children are excited about elementary school, while others feel anxious.
The bright and humorous lord will not only lift the spirits of such children, but also give them the courage to look forward to starting school.
friendText by Shigenori Kusunoki / Illustrations by Meg Yoshimura
It takes a lot of courage to become friends with someone you’ve just met, doesn’t it? In “Tomodachi” (Friends), the story follows a girl who moves to a new place and meets a boy living next door.
Even when she greets him, he doesn’t respond, and he makes unfamiliar gestures… Is he a strange kid? she wonders.
It turns out the boy is deaf.
Realizing that the gestures he was making are sign language, the girl begins to connect with him through signing.
This is a book that makes you reflect on how we relate to friends and the importance of respecting others.
When I become a first graderText by Michio Mado / Illustrations by Fuyo Kabeya
Many of you are probably familiar with “Ichinensei ni Nattara” as a song.
This picture book sets illustrations to its lyrics.
Since the song has verses one through three, even people who know the tune might find lyrics they haven’t heard before.
It expresses the anticipation and excitement of becoming a first grader: what you want to do, what kind of friends you’ll have.
It’s a perfect book for children to let their imaginations expand, and it will evoke a sense of nostalgia in adults as well.
Highly recommended for read-alouds during graduation season from kindergarten.
Little Black SamboText by Helen Bannerman / Illustrations by Frank Dobias
The book Little Black Sambo, which many in the parent generation grew up with, has been reissued.
It had been judged to contain discriminatory content.
However, when you revisit the story, you can understand why children at the time were so drawn to it.
It’s a work that supports children’s imaginations and their ability to expand their ideas.
The scene where the tigers spin around and turn into butter is famous and has been passed down, but children today may come away with a different impression.
It’s a book you’ll want to discuss with children after reading it aloud.
Who do you mean by ‘friend’?Text: Nariko Iwase / Illustrations: Miho Nakazawa
Relationships with friends are an important matter for children.
Especially for five-year-olds, friendships can get complicated—they may have a special best friend or fall out with someone.
“Who Is a Friend?” is a picture book that gently stays close to children’s delicate feelings.
One day, Mouse goes to visit his friend Marten.
There he finds a note saying that Marten has gone to play at a friend’s house.
Mouse thinks it means his own house, but apparently it isn’t.
It’s a heart-tugging turn of events, but it will surely prompt readers to think anew about what friendship means.