Japanese picture books are not only adorable but also full of warmth and cultural charm.
In this post, I’d love to share five of my favorite picture books that my 1-year-old son absolutely loves!
Whether you’re raising your child in Japan or just interested in Japanese culture, I hope these books give you some cozy and joyful ideas to read with your little one.
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1. きんぎょがにげた (The Goldfish Got Away)
This is one of Japan’s most beloved classic baby books—and I used to read it when I was a child, too!
When I read this book with my son, I always ask, “Where did the goldfish go?”
He points at the goldfish on every page with excitement and a huge smile!
The goldfish hides surprisingly well, but he always manages to find it.
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2. おでかけばいばい (Odekake Baibai)
The title means “Going Out – Bye Bye.”
This book has bold, colorful illustrations that really caught my son’s attention—even when he was just a few months old.
I think the bright colors made it easy for him to focus.
Thanks to this book, he even learned to wave and say “bye bye!” Now, he loves waving his hands along while reading.
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3. おいし～い (Oishii / Delicious!)
This sweet book is full of joyful eating scenes and vivid backgrounds.
It shows a baby happily eating delicious-looking food.
Before starting my son’s solid food journey, I used to read this book to get him excited about mealtime.
Now he loves it, and even pretends to chew while we read—so cute!
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4. どんどこももんちゃん (Dondoko Momonchan)
The title roughly means “Momonchan is on the move!”
Momonchan, a cute little character, is running somewhere in a big hurry.
The illustrations are simple, but the repeated rhythm of “Dondoko, dondoko…” (the sound of running) makes it so fun to read aloud.
My son loves the rhythm and gets really focused when we read this one together.
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5. たりないときは (Tarinai Toki wa / When Something Is Missing)
This gentle picture book has been a favorite since my son was around 5 months old.
With its soft pastel colors and simple message, it introduces the idea of what we can do when something is missing or incomplete.
I’m not sure if my son understands the deeper meaning yet, but he enjoys the pictures and rhythm very much.
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Tips: How to Enjoy Japanese Picture Books If You Don’t Speak Japanese
As far as I know, only The Goldfish Got Away has an official English version, but don’t worry! You can still enjoy the others, even without knowing Japanese.
Here are some tips:
• Use a translation app (like ChatGPT) to understand the text.
• Most of these books are written in hiragana, a simple script with only 50 sounds. You can write the pronunciation using masking tape on the pages—it’s a fun DIY way to learn!
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Let’s Share!
What are your favorite picture books in your country?
I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments!
