[Reviews Pouring In!!] Recommended by bookstore staff, educators, and librarians! The new sensation mystery picture book 'Detective Ivy the Bear: Find the Missing Legendary Flower!' is finally on sale
Magazine House has released 'Detective Ivy the Bear: Find the Missing Legendary Flower!', an international best-selling educational mystery picture book from the UK, now available in Japan. Aimed at elementary school students, this full-color, high-quality story blends mystery, games, and science learning, garnering praise from parents and professionals alike for its interactive and educational value.
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- 📰 Published: March 28, 2026 at 00:23
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Magazine House Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Shuichi Tetsu) released 'Detective Ivy the Bear: Find the Missing Legendary Flower!' (Written by Kristyna Litten, Translated by Mayumi Maeda) nationwide in bookstores and online stores on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
This international best-selling educational picture book, which originated in the UK and has been translated in 23 countries, has finally arrived in Japan. It is a high-quality, full-color mystery-solving learning story for elementary school students, created by the mastermind behind 'Maps,' a global mega-best-seller with over 3 million copies sold (the Japanese edition was published by Tokuma Shoten in 2014).
The author, Kristyna Litten, is active as a children's literature author and has attracted attention for her work in character design for TV commercials and illustrations for Gucci's children's clothing catalogs.
[Content of the Book]
Did someone steal the legendary flower that blooms only once every 100 years!?
Detective Ivy the Bear sets out to solve the case. Before the legendary flower is lost forever, can Ivy find the culprit? Readers follow the mystery alongside Ivy in this new type of reading experience that combines mystery, play, and science education.
This work is scheduled for translation in the UK and USA, as well as in Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, and Turkish.
[Reviews are pouring in from parents, educators, and more!]
'It was exciting and fun! There were not just mysteries, but trivia and mazes too, so I finished it in no time! I didn't know about the bees' signals, so I learned something new!' (10-year-old boy)
'I felt excited with Ivy, wondering who the culprit was. Solving the mazes and puzzles made me feel like I was inside the story, which was fun.' (6-year-old boy)
'I read it with my 6-year-old daughter, and she was hooked on the pages with mazes and the task of finding the same bee as the example. It was wonderful to enjoy it together as parent and child, calling out "Mom! I found this!" and "Next is this way!" Plus, with its cute illustrations in full color on every page, she never got bored until the very end. I think it's a perfect book for intellectual development as it seems to foster critical thinking while reading.' (Mother of a 6-year-old girl)
'Beautiful illustrations, unique characters, finding the culprit, mazes, quizzes, and learning about biology. A wonderfully luxurious book.' (Representative, Kinokuniya Bookstore, Sagami Women's University Book Center)
'A tasteful full-color book. Even the small items placed casually show great attention to detail. I started reading it lightly as a mystery comic picture book for children, but I was surprised at how authentic it was. It's delightful that you can challenge yourself with mazes and thinking problems on pages marked with a "magnifying glass icon," with the difficulty increasing little by little. Furthermore, easy-to-understand explanations of pollination, honeybees, and their dance are subtly woven in, utilizing the illustrations. The structure allows knowledge to increase naturally while enjoying the story. It is packed with cuteness, authentic reasoning, learning, and adventure. It's a book that makes you want to read about Ivy's next case.' (Educator)
'It's not just a detective story; it's a book that also serves as science study. My granddaughter Ivy plays a major role. She advances steadily with reasoning that rivals her grandfather's! However, I also like that the grandfather tells her it's important to rest slowly too.' (Elementary school librarian)
[Author Profiles]
Author: Kristyna Litten
A children's literature author and illustrator. She grew up surrounded by Eastern European picture books. Shortly after graduating from Edinburgh College of Art, she published her first picture book, 'Chickens Cannot See in the Dark.' She has since released 'The Stars of Ori,' and the non-fiction picture book 'Around the World in 80 Dogs' (neither has been translated into Japanese). She has also worked on character design for TV commercials and illustrations for Gucci's children's clothing catalogs. Beyond digital illustration, she explores a wide range of expression including unique typography, textiles, and ceramics. She currently lives in a beautiful village in Yorkshire.
Translator: Mayumi Maeda
Works as a picture book author while also taking on translation work. Graduated from Kobe College, Department of English Literature. Author of many books including 'Ruby the Honeybee' (Alice-kan), 'Picture Book Heart Sutra' (Shunjusha), and 'Math Walk' (Asunaro Shobo). Her translations include 'Words Without Translation' (Sogensha) and 'I Love You to the Moon and Back' (PIE International).
[Bibliographic Information]
Title: Detective Ivy the Bear: Find the Missing Legendary Flower!
Author: Written by Kristyna Litten, Translated by Mayumi Maeda
Release Date: March 26, 2026
Price: 1,430 yen (tax included)
Specifications: Hardcover, 80 pages
ISBN: 978-4-8387-3376-7
Publisher: Magazine House Co., Ltd.
URL: https://magazineworld.jp/books/paper/3376
This international best-selling educational picture book, which originated in the UK and has been translated in 23 countries, has finally arrived in Japan. It is a high-quality, full-color mystery-solving learning story for elementary school students, created by the mastermind behind 'Maps,' a global mega-best-seller with over 3 million copies sold (the Japanese edition was published by Tokuma Shoten in 2014).
The author, Kristyna Litten, is active as a children's literature author and has attracted attention for her work in character design for TV commercials and illustrations for Gucci's children's clothing catalogs.
[Content of the Book]
Did someone steal the legendary flower that blooms only once every 100 years!?
Detective Ivy the Bear sets out to solve the case. Before the legendary flower is lost forever, can Ivy find the culprit? Readers follow the mystery alongside Ivy in this new type of reading experience that combines mystery, play, and science education.
This work is scheduled for translation in the UK and USA, as well as in Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, and Turkish.
[Reviews are pouring in from parents, educators, and more!]
'It was exciting and fun! There were not just mysteries, but trivia and mazes too, so I finished it in no time! I didn't know about the bees' signals, so I learned something new!' (10-year-old boy)
'I felt excited with Ivy, wondering who the culprit was. Solving the mazes and puzzles made me feel like I was inside the story, which was fun.' (6-year-old boy)
'I read it with my 6-year-old daughter, and she was hooked on the pages with mazes and the task of finding the same bee as the example. It was wonderful to enjoy it together as parent and child, calling out "Mom! I found this!" and "Next is this way!" Plus, with its cute illustrations in full color on every page, she never got bored until the very end. I think it's a perfect book for intellectual development as it seems to foster critical thinking while reading.' (Mother of a 6-year-old girl)
'Beautiful illustrations, unique characters, finding the culprit, mazes, quizzes, and learning about biology. A wonderfully luxurious book.' (Representative, Kinokuniya Bookstore, Sagami Women's University Book Center)
'A tasteful full-color book. Even the small items placed casually show great attention to detail. I started reading it lightly as a mystery comic picture book for children, but I was surprised at how authentic it was. It's delightful that you can challenge yourself with mazes and thinking problems on pages marked with a "magnifying glass icon," with the difficulty increasing little by little. Furthermore, easy-to-understand explanations of pollination, honeybees, and their dance are subtly woven in, utilizing the illustrations. The structure allows knowledge to increase naturally while enjoying the story. It is packed with cuteness, authentic reasoning, learning, and adventure. It's a book that makes you want to read about Ivy's next case.' (Educator)
'It's not just a detective story; it's a book that also serves as science study. My granddaughter Ivy plays a major role. She advances steadily with reasoning that rivals her grandfather's! However, I also like that the grandfather tells her it's important to rest slowly too.' (Elementary school librarian)
[Author Profiles]
Author: Kristyna Litten
A children's literature author and illustrator. She grew up surrounded by Eastern European picture books. Shortly after graduating from Edinburgh College of Art, she published her first picture book, 'Chickens Cannot See in the Dark.' She has since released 'The Stars of Ori,' and the non-fiction picture book 'Around the World in 80 Dogs' (neither has been translated into Japanese). She has also worked on character design for TV commercials and illustrations for Gucci's children's clothing catalogs. Beyond digital illustration, she explores a wide range of expression including unique typography, textiles, and ceramics. She currently lives in a beautiful village in Yorkshire.
Translator: Mayumi Maeda
Works as a picture book author while also taking on translation work. Graduated from Kobe College, Department of English Literature. Author of many books including 'Ruby the Honeybee' (Alice-kan), 'Picture Book Heart Sutra' (Shunjusha), and 'Math Walk' (Asunaro Shobo). Her translations include 'Words Without Translation' (Sogensha) and 'I Love You to the Moon and Back' (PIE International).
[Bibliographic Information]
Title: Detective Ivy the Bear: Find the Missing Legendary Flower!
Author: Written by Kristyna Litten, Translated by Mayumi Maeda
Release Date: March 26, 2026
Price: 1,430 yen (tax included)
Specifications: Hardcover, 80 pages
ISBN: 978-4-8387-3376-7
Publisher: Magazine House Co., Ltd.
URL: https://magazineworld.jp/books/paper/3376