Picture books to read at Christmas! A collection of picture book ideas that will move adults, too.

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.
Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”

On Christmas night, many of us want to spend a special time with our children.

Christmas trees and presents are wonderful, but curling up in a warm room, opening a picture book, and immersing yourselves in a world of stories creates memories that will stay in your hearts for years to come.

In this article, we introduce picture books that are perfect for Christmas.

We’ve gathered titles filled with heartwarming stories and beautiful illustrations, as well as books with delightful twists that will bring out smiles—great for both read-aloud time and independent reading.

This Christmas, gather around a picture book with someone you love and savor an irreplaceable moment together!

Picture Books to Read at Christmas! A Collection of Picture Book Ideas That Touch Adults Too (41–50)

Merry Christmas

amzn.asia

Spending Christmas reading picture books and talking with your children is a lovely idea! Among picture books perfect for the season, let me introduce “Merry Christmas.” This work answers children’s simple question: “Why do we celebrate Christmas?” It gently conveys, with cute illustrations and a warm tone, that Christmas is a joyful, special day because it’s the day Jesus was born.

With few words, it’s great for young children to enjoy the pictures as they read.

It can also be a chance for adults to learn the true meaning of Christmas.

It makes a perfect Christmas gift, so be sure to check it out!

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miyabi

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Thank you, Santa.

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Before Christmas, letters arrive for Santa with messages of thanks and lists of wished-for presents.

Among them is a boy’s request for a bear who will be his friend.

To grant this wish, Santa teaches a teddy bear how to speak.

This story portrays the bear, who has learned to talk and spent time with Santa, up until the moment he meets the boy.

The scenes of parting from Santa, with whom the bear has shared his days, and of meeting the boy convey a touching sense of poignancy.

A distinctive feature of this work is that the images are rendered in embroidery; the uniquely soft quality of the pictures seems to accentuate the warmth of the story.

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kappamaki

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Letter to Santa

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This video features a second-grade girl who loves the picture book “Santa’s Letter” reading it aloud.

It’s a lift-the-flap style book with extras like maps, a shopping list, and letters in envelopes, and part of the charm is seeing her actually touch and enjoy them.

You can also enjoy the cute animals that kids love, like bears and squirrels.

Above all, you can hear how hard she’s trying to read, which helps children watching the video feel a sense of closeness and connection.

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hiyori

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Santa’s Magic Spell

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When we think of Christmas presents, many of us imagine receiving something we’ve been wanting.

However, at the beginning of this work, what arrives for Christmas is a bunch of disliked vegetables and a slip of paper with a magic spell from Santa.

When you chant the spell to the vegetables, they transform into fun shapes, and you start to feel more friendly toward them.

It’s a cut-paper-themed work that lets you enjoy the process of shapes changing.

The spell uses simple, approachable words, so saying it out loud may make the experience even more enjoyable.

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kappamaki

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Santa Claus and the Elves

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This is a story set in a certain village at the foot of a mountain in Finland.

It depicts the lives of Santa Claus, his wife, and the elves who help prepare the presents to be delivered to children.

It clearly shows how the vast number of gifts that reach children around the world are made ready, and what feelings are poured into those gifts.

The beautiful scenery of the village and the lively, bustling preparations come through in the dynamic, dazzling illustrations—one of the work’s greatest charms.

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kappamaki

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