[Poplar Co., Ltd.] Over 3 million copies sold at an unprecedented speed! Baby and toddler picture book “What is this? “Katanuki Picture Book Series”
*Poplar Co., Ltd.*
Press release: September 12, 2024
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Cumulative sales exceeded 3 million copies at an unprecedented speed! Baby and toddler picture book “What is this? “Katanuki Picture Book Series”
Poplar Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce * “What is this? Katanuki picture book” * (written and illustrated)
We are pleased to announce that the Kouji Ishikawa) series has sold over 3 million copies, which is unprecedented for a children’s book.
This series has been on sale since 2006, and has now published a total of 16 books, starting with “Hide and Seek with Various Animals” and “Hide and Seek with Various Vehicles”, all of which are popular as standard picture books for babies and toddlers. The latest publication is “Hide and Seek in Various Shapes” published in July 2024. It is made with a focus on beautiful colors and simple shapes, and when you turn the pages of various shapes, hidden animals and vehicles will appear one after another, making it a popular first book series.
Over 3 million copies sold at an unprecedented speed
In 2022, the first book in the series, “Hide and Seek with Various Animals,” sold over 1 million copies, and we have joined the “Million Book” (published by Tohan agency), which only lists picture books that have sold over 1 million copies in Japan. I did. “Million Book” currently introduces 135 books, of which only 10 were published after 2005. The series sold over 1 million copies at an unprecedented speed for a children’s book, and now the series has sold over 3 million copies, which shows how popular the series is.
Author Koji Ishikawa’s thoughts
This series was created after 7 years of trial and error, based on the author Koji Ishikawa’s desire to create picture books that allow people to experience the moment when shapes are born from bright colors. -This is a picture book that took 5 years to complete. * *We look forward to interviewing the author **
■Author profile: Kouji Ishikawa
Born in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture in 1963. Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Visual Communication Design. After working as an illustrator and a paper dog author, he became a picture book author after being selected for the Bologna International Picture Book Exhibition. “Animal Hide and Seek” is a million-seller. Won the Sekibunkan Group Picture Book Award for “Omen Desu.” Won the Japan Book Publishers Association Chairman’s Award in the Bookbinding Contest for “Egg Book.”
Won the Kenbuchi Picture Book Village Award and the Bibakarasu Award for “Big Book Omen Desu 3.”
“Katanuki picture book” continues to be loved by readers
If you ask your child, “What is this?” and turn the pages of the katanuki, you will find the answer and stimulate your child’s imagination. In addition, there are more ways to play catch-up with your child, and you can not only improve your Japanese vocabulary, but also have English notation, so you can enjoy it for a long time depending on your child’s growth stage.
The graphic and beautiful design is easy for young children to recognize, and we often hear that children enjoy flipping through the pages on their own.
We have received many letters from readers, so please keep an eye out for this series, which will continue to be a standard among baby and toddler picture books.
■Reader’s voice
“The illustrations and colors were easy to understand, and the plot was fun for the kids.It was perfect for my older child to read to my younger child.It was also good for learning as it included English that I was just beginning to learn. ” (40 year old mom)
0 year old)
“I also have Hide and Seek with Fruits, and both of these are my son’s favorite picture books. He can’t speak the language yet, but he learned his name through this book, and I’m looking forward to being able to say it someday. I would like to buy the book as well.” (29-year-old mother)
1 year old)