Picture Books to Read in Winter: A Collection of Story Ideas That Resonate with Elementary School Children
With the arrival of winter, you may find yourself wanting to discover wonderful picture books to enjoy with your children.
Here are winter-themed picture books that will resonate with elementary schoolers—the crisp winter air, the sparkle of snowflakes, and the warmth of family togetherness.
From richly illustrated scenes to stories that kindle a spirit of adventure, the cold season holds the promise of unforgettable reads.
How about spending a special moment immersed in these stories together with your child?
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Picture Books to Read in Winter: A Collection of Story Ideas That Resonate with Elementary School Children (11–20)
Zoni for the Twelve Zodiac Animals
The Zodiac Animals’ New Year’s Soup is a holiday picture book we hope you’ll read at New Year’s.
On New Year’s morning, the twelve zodiac animals gather to say, “Happy New Year!” Then they pay their first shrine visit of the year, enjoy traditional games like battledore and kite flying, and eat ozōni (New Year’s soup).
With this one book, you can understand what the New Year holiday is all about.
It features many scenes children may have experienced, and it will also spark curiosity about things they don’t yet know.
We invite you to experience Japan’s traditions and culture through this picture book.
Christmas on December 26
“Christmas on December 26” is a story that takes place after Christmas.
A girl who received a dog from Santa sets out to find him so she can say thank you.
She must have been overjoyed to want to search for someone just to say “thank you”… It’s a work whose pure-hearted childlike sentiment will move adults as well.
Precisely because getting presents at Christmas has become so commonplace today, I hope children will never forget this sense of gratitude.
13 Santas
If you want to choose a Christmas picture book with impact, how about “The 13 Santas”? The characters are 13 mischievous Santas…
or are they? They don’t wear red suits like the Santa we all know; instead, they lick frying pans, bang doors, and do all sorts of quirky things.
They look different from the widely recognized image, but they’re full of personality and really fun.
Set in Iceland, the story also offers a glimpse into people’s everyday lives there.
Enjoy each unique character and be sure to read it together as a parent and child.
Before the morning comes
It seems that the mother in this story has to go to work after the children have fallen asleep.
Her job is a pilot… Even though it can’t be helped because it’s her work, she must be worried about her kids.
Perhaps that’s why, in this picture book, someone wishes to “change the world before morning.” Is it because heavy snowfall can cancel flights? Is it the mother’s wish, the children’s wish… or perhaps both? This is a wintertime picture book I recommend, one you’ll want to read carefully and savor.
Somewhere in this town
This Town, Somewhere is a story about a boy searching for his lost cat.
It’s a bittersweet tale, yet when you finish reading, you’re left with a sense of satisfaction, much like after watching a good film.
The illustrations—of the cityscape the boy watches from the bus, the wintry snowy scenes—carry a certain poignancy, as if reflecting the boy’s inner world.
Many readers may find themselves closing their eyes, moved by the lingering resonance of the sad yet warm ending, thinking, “So that’s what it was.” It might be a work that touches the heart all the more precisely because you’re an adult.
Merry Christmas
Many children write letters to Santa at Christmas, don’t they? The siblings in this story, Yoshi and Na-chan, also wrote to Santa every year and set out some juice for him.
But then their mother suggests that, instead of juice, they should leave alcohol on Christmas.
It seems she’s planning to keep all the presents in the world for herself.
However, Yoshi doesn’t want everyone to end up feeling sad, so he…? This gentle, Christmas-themed tale depicts children’s growth.
Please pick it up and give it a read.
Picture Books to Read in Winter! A Collection of Story Ideas That Resonate with Elementary School Children (21–30)
Fir Tree’s Wish
Fir trees have those distinctive jagged needles, don’t they? The fir tree in this picture book absolutely hates its own leaves and longs for the soft, rounded leaves of others.
So it asks a fairy to change the shape of its leaves.
The fir tree is delighted—but once its leaves have changed, new problems it had never imagined begin to appear…
It’s an intriguing setup, with the fir tree—often the star of Christmas—struggling with self-doubt, and it makes you want to know what happens next.
Will the fir tree learn to like the way it looks, different from those around it, and find confidence in itself?