Popular Picture Book Based on Elementary Art Textbook 'Sukimachannel' Announces Reprint!
Gakken has reprinted the picture book 'Sukimachannel', based on a 1st-grade art textbook theme. It is being celebrated as an experiential book that encourages creative play, with practical applications growing in educational settings.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 21, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 21, 2026 at 12:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 22, 2026 at 05:14 (16h 42m after Collected)
## Reprint Announced for Picture Book 'Sukimachannel'
Gakken Co., Ltd., a group company of Gakken Holdings, has decided to reprint the picture book 'Sukimachannel' (originally released on February 16, 2026) as of May 7, 2026.
This work was inspired by an art activity found in first-grade elementary school art textbooks. Since its publication, feedback such as 'my child is captivated' and 'they have started exploring every nook and cranny in the house' has led to this reprint, and it is now being actively used in childcare and educational settings.
### An 'Experiential' Book Born from Textbooks
'Sukimachannel' follows a character made of gap-filling tape with pipe-cleaner limbs, interacting with children. By placing self-made 'Sukimachannel' figures into real-world gaps, children can imagine those spaces transforming into rooms or baths, sparking their imagination. The project was supervised by Ikuko Minami, the creator of the original educational theme, and reflects careful research into elementary school settings to build a heartwarming world that resonates with both children and adults.
### Practical Implementation: Raymond Shimotakaido Nursery
The book is fueling creative play in childcare settings. At Raymond Shimotakaido Nursery, children create their own 'Sukimachannel' figures using cardboard and pipe cleaners, imagining scenarios like 'Is this their home?' or 'Could they live here?'. Children develop diverse stories—from creating adventure maps to building ships and planes—often sparked by their own initiative. Educators report that the play expands dynamically from the children's own desires to explore.
### Comment from the Editor (Yuri Tanaka, Gakken Content Strategy Office)
'The greatest charm of Sukimachannel lies in how children transform ordinary gaps into homes or baths through their own imagination. Seeing them nurture these narratives in childcare practice is deeply moving. The production of this book began when I was inspired by my own daughter bringing home her handmade Sukimachannel. With the cooperation of Nichibun (Nihon Bunkyo Shuppan), we carefully reconstructed the individual personalities of these creations into a story.'
### Product Overview
- **Title**: Sukimachannel
- **Original Story**: Ikuko Minami
- **Text**: Kazuko Yamamoto
- **Illustrations**: Yuki Nishimura
- **Cooperation**: Nihon Bunkyo Shuppan Co., Ltd.
- **Price**: 1,650 JPY (including tax)
- **Release Date**: February 16, 2026
- **Page Count**: 32 pages
- **Publisher**: Gakken Co., Ltd.
For more details, please visit the Gakken publishing website.
Gakken Co., Ltd., a group company of Gakken Holdings, has decided to reprint the picture book 'Sukimachannel' (originally released on February 16, 2026) as of May 7, 2026.
This work was inspired by an art activity found in first-grade elementary school art textbooks. Since its publication, feedback such as 'my child is captivated' and 'they have started exploring every nook and cranny in the house' has led to this reprint, and it is now being actively used in childcare and educational settings.
### An 'Experiential' Book Born from Textbooks
'Sukimachannel' follows a character made of gap-filling tape with pipe-cleaner limbs, interacting with children. By placing self-made 'Sukimachannel' figures into real-world gaps, children can imagine those spaces transforming into rooms or baths, sparking their imagination. The project was supervised by Ikuko Minami, the creator of the original educational theme, and reflects careful research into elementary school settings to build a heartwarming world that resonates with both children and adults.
### Practical Implementation: Raymond Shimotakaido Nursery
The book is fueling creative play in childcare settings. At Raymond Shimotakaido Nursery, children create their own 'Sukimachannel' figures using cardboard and pipe cleaners, imagining scenarios like 'Is this their home?' or 'Could they live here?'. Children develop diverse stories—from creating adventure maps to building ships and planes—often sparked by their own initiative. Educators report that the play expands dynamically from the children's own desires to explore.
### Comment from the Editor (Yuri Tanaka, Gakken Content Strategy Office)
'The greatest charm of Sukimachannel lies in how children transform ordinary gaps into homes or baths through their own imagination. Seeing them nurture these narratives in childcare practice is deeply moving. The production of this book began when I was inspired by my own daughter bringing home her handmade Sukimachannel. With the cooperation of Nichibun (Nihon Bunkyo Shuppan), we carefully reconstructed the individual personalities of these creations into a story.'
### Product Overview
- **Title**: Sukimachannel
- **Original Story**: Ikuko Minami
- **Text**: Kazuko Yamamoto
- **Illustrations**: Yuki Nishimura
- **Cooperation**: Nihon Bunkyo Shuppan Co., Ltd.
- **Price**: 1,650 JPY (including tax)
- **Release Date**: February 16, 2026
- **Page Count**: 32 pages
- **Publisher**: Gakken Co., Ltd.
For more details, please visit the Gakken publishing website.
FAQ
『すきまちゃんのすきなすきま』はどのような絵本ですか？
小学校1年生の図画工作教科書の題材をもとにした体験型絵本です。日常の隙間に「すきまちゃん」を置いて遊ぶことで、想像力を膨らませる楽しみ方を提供します。
本作が教育現場で活用されている理由は？
読み聞かせだけでなく、工作や見立て遊び、図工授業の導入など体験と結びついた楽しみ方ができるため、学校や保育現場での実践が広がっています。
保育現場での具体的な活用事例はありますか？
レイモンド下高井戸保育園では、ダンボールやモールで作った「すきまちゃん」を使い、子どもたちが独自に物語を作ったり冒険マップを描いたりする創造的な遊びが展開されています。
絵本の企画のきっかけは何ですか？
娘が学校から持ち帰った「すきまちゃん」に感銘を受けた編集者が、その世界観を絵本にしたいと企画しました。
出版に関する詳細は？
原作は南育子氏、作は山本和子氏、絵はにしむらゆうき氏で、Gakkenから2026年2月16日に発売されました。定価は1,650円（税込）です。