Don't Blame for 'Can't Do': A New Life Support Picture Book for Children with Developmental Characteristics, Offering Encouragement and Empathy
Oizumi Shoten Co., Ltd. released 'Seikatsu Ouen Ehon' (Life Support Picture Book) on May 11, 2026, a new picture book designed to support children with developmental characteristics. It focuses on encouraging children's understanding and ability to learn daily life rules in small steps, rather than blaming them for what they cannot do.
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- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 17:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 08:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 11, 2026 at 09:03 (31 min after Collected)
Oizumi Shoten Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President: Shinya Suzuki, Minato-ku, Tokyo) released 'Seikatsu Ouen Ehon' (Life Support Picture Book for Children with Developmental Characteristics), supervised by Sonoko Chigasaki, planned and illustrated by Mizumaru Kawahara, and written by Chieko Hemmi, on May 11, 2026.
'Seikatsu Ouen Ehon' book cover / Illustration: Mizumaru Kawahara
Supporting 'They can do it if they understand,' not 'They can't do it'
The book clearly conveys rules and routines in daily life, such as greetings, meals, hygiene, excretion, and changing clothes, in small, easy-to-understand steps with illustrations.
Instead of forcing children with phrases like 'Let's do this' or 'Try hard!', the book prioritizes creating an environment where children can approach tasks with peace of mind. Parents, kindergarten/nursery school teachers, and special needs classroom teachers are encouraged to read it with children, starting from pages of interest.
The book also includes methods for calming down when children have difficulty switching gears or become overwhelmed. It's okay if they can't do it at first! It's wonderful if they can gradually learn.
Don't blame them for what they can't do. Don't compare them to other children.
This book is designed to empathize with children's feelings, accepting them as they are and supporting their 'ability to do.'
From the Publisher:
This picture book was born from the earnest voices of parents raising children with developmental characteristics.
'General etiquette picture books don't convey things well.'
Responding to such voices, we wanted to create a picture book that empathizes with children with developmental characteristics. We hoped that a gentle format like a picture book would naturally reach children—that was our intention in its creation.
The term 'slow development children' is not meant to define or label a child's characteristics.
The word 'slow' also does not mean 'unable' or 'inferior,' but rather is used as a soft expression to convey that each child grows at their own pace, and that their way of feeling and understanding progresses differently.
We hope this picture book can be a supportive presence, even if just a little, for families who are struggling or feeling lost in their daily lives with their children.
◾️Series 2, 'Gakko Ouen Ehon' (School Support Picture Book), is scheduled for release around September 2026, and Series 3, 'Kimochi Ouen Ehon' (Emotion Support Picture Book), around winter 2026.
Supervisor: Sonoko Chigasaki
Japanese Society of Pediatrics certified specialist, child psychiatrist.
After graduating from Chiba University School of Medicine, she engaged in clinical practice at the Department of Pediatrics, National Center for Child Health and Development, and the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center. She obtained a Master of Public Health from Hong Kong University. She was involved in clinical research at the National University Hospital Singapore and in maternal and child health/child development medical policies at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Currently, she is the Deputy Director of the Child Think Tank at the National Center for Child Health and Development and a physician in the Department of Mental Health. She is also the representative of Peds3 Inc., which works on digital support for pediatric medicine. Mother of three children.
Planning and Illustration: Mizumaru Kawahara
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1991. Active mainly in magazine and book illustrations. Picture books she has illustrated include 'Daiji Daiji Doko da?' (Oizumi Shoten), 'Fuwafuwa to Chiku Chiku,' 'Kotoba Iikae Ehon,' 'Warui Hito tte, Donna Hito? Hajimete no Bohan Ehon' (Nippon Tosho Center), 'Kimi no Kokoro wo Tsuyoku Suru Ehon,' and 'Kimi no Ii Tokoro ga Mitsukaru Ehon' (both from Shufu no Tomo Co., Ltd.).
●Book Information
Publisher: Oizumi Shoten Co., Ltd.
Title: 'Seikatsu Ouen Ehon' for Children with Developmental Characteristics
Supervisor: Sonoko Chigasaki / Planning and Illustration: Mizumaru Kawahara / Text: Chieko Hemmi
Release Date: May 11, 2026
[Format] 200 x 200mm (vertical x horizontal)
[Pages] 72 pages
[List Price] 1,900 yen (excluding tax)
[ISBN] 978-4-278-08728-4
[URL] http://oizumishoten.co.jp/
●Purchase here
[Amazon] https://amzn.asia/d/06rBSF4Z
[Rakuten Books] https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/18478469/?l-id=search-all-non-again
'Seikatsu Ouen Ehon' book cover / Illustration: Mizumaru Kawahara
Supporting 'They can do it if they understand,' not 'They can't do it'
The book clearly conveys rules and routines in daily life, such as greetings, meals, hygiene, excretion, and changing clothes, in small, easy-to-understand steps with illustrations.
Instead of forcing children with phrases like 'Let's do this' or 'Try hard!', the book prioritizes creating an environment where children can approach tasks with peace of mind. Parents, kindergarten/nursery school teachers, and special needs classroom teachers are encouraged to read it with children, starting from pages of interest.
The book also includes methods for calming down when children have difficulty switching gears or become overwhelmed. It's okay if they can't do it at first! It's wonderful if they can gradually learn.
Don't blame them for what they can't do. Don't compare them to other children.
This book is designed to empathize with children's feelings, accepting them as they are and supporting their 'ability to do.'
From the Publisher:
This picture book was born from the earnest voices of parents raising children with developmental characteristics.
'General etiquette picture books don't convey things well.'
Responding to such voices, we wanted to create a picture book that empathizes with children with developmental characteristics. We hoped that a gentle format like a picture book would naturally reach children—that was our intention in its creation.
The term 'slow development children' is not meant to define or label a child's characteristics.
The word 'slow' also does not mean 'unable' or 'inferior,' but rather is used as a soft expression to convey that each child grows at their own pace, and that their way of feeling and understanding progresses differently.
We hope this picture book can be a supportive presence, even if just a little, for families who are struggling or feeling lost in their daily lives with their children.
◾️Series 2, 'Gakko Ouen Ehon' (School Support Picture Book), is scheduled for release around September 2026, and Series 3, 'Kimochi Ouen Ehon' (Emotion Support Picture Book), around winter 2026.
Supervisor: Sonoko Chigasaki
Japanese Society of Pediatrics certified specialist, child psychiatrist.
After graduating from Chiba University School of Medicine, she engaged in clinical practice at the Department of Pediatrics, National Center for Child Health and Development, and the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center. She obtained a Master of Public Health from Hong Kong University. She was involved in clinical research at the National University Hospital Singapore and in maternal and child health/child development medical policies at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Currently, she is the Deputy Director of the Child Think Tank at the National Center for Child Health and Development and a physician in the Department of Mental Health. She is also the representative of Peds3 Inc., which works on digital support for pediatric medicine. Mother of three children.
Planning and Illustration: Mizumaru Kawahara
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1991. Active mainly in magazine and book illustrations. Picture books she has illustrated include 'Daiji Daiji Doko da?' (Oizumi Shoten), 'Fuwafuwa to Chiku Chiku,' 'Kotoba Iikae Ehon,' 'Warui Hito tte, Donna Hito? Hajimete no Bohan Ehon' (Nippon Tosho Center), 'Kimi no Kokoro wo Tsuyoku Suru Ehon,' and 'Kimi no Ii Tokoro ga Mitsukaru Ehon' (both from Shufu no Tomo Co., Ltd.).
●Book Information
Publisher: Oizumi Shoten Co., Ltd.
Title: 'Seikatsu Ouen Ehon' for Children with Developmental Characteristics
Supervisor: Sonoko Chigasaki / Planning and Illustration: Mizumaru Kawahara / Text: Chieko Hemmi
Release Date: May 11, 2026
[Format] 200 x 200mm (vertical x horizontal)
[Pages] 72 pages
[List Price] 1,900 yen (excluding tax)
[ISBN] 978-4-278-08728-4
[URL] http://oizumishoten.co.jp/
●Purchase here
[Amazon] https://amzn.asia/d/06rBSF4Z
[Rakuten Books] https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/18478469/?l-id=search-all-non-again