“Staring Contest” Becomes a Picture Book! Enjoy a New Sensory Read-Aloud Picture Book 'Appuppu-chan' Released on May 13th for Parents and Children
Poplar Publishing Co., Ltd. released 'Appuppu-chan' (written by Taro Ohno) on May 13th. This new interactive picture book allows parents and children to enjoy a staring contest with 'Pu-chan' from Niramekko Star, bringing laughter and fun to families.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 13, 2026 at 12:31 (59 min after Collected)
Poplar Publishing Co., Ltd. released 'Appuppu-chan' (written by Taro Ohno) on Monday, May 13th.
Let's play a staring contest with Pu-chan, who came from Niramekko Star!
Readers can't help but burst into laughter at Pu-chan's unexpected "Pu!" faces!
It's a book filled with excitement, where you think, "I shouldn't laugh... but I can't help it!"
You can't help but laugh at Pu-chan's unexpected "Pu!" faces!
Pu-chan's expressions change with every turn of the page. The book is designed for readers and children to play "Appuppu!" together, making it a great hit at home and in nurseries. It's packed with tricks that keep smiles going with "Pupu-pu!" even after reading.
Author's Message
In my daily life as a parent, I'm always amused by the gap between my children's cuteness and their funny faces. Wanting to express such adorable moments in a picture book, Pu-chan was born. Pu-chan is an alien from Niramekko Star who loves staring contests. He loves making children laugh.
Since I myself have been making funny faces since I was a child, the time has finally come to put it into my work. During the production of the picture book, I practiced making funny faces in front of the mirror and played staring contests with my children, creating it with the feeling that I absolutely wouldn't lose to the children who would read it!
It's okay to laugh... but I hope you read it, laugh, and enjoy it. Those who can win a staring contest with Pu-chan might or might not be able to go on a dream tour to Niramekko Star...
Editor's Voice
Following the success of 'Inai Inai Buu,' which expressed the game of "peek-a-boo" with cars, the project began with the idea of what kind of picture book Mr. Ohno would create if he arranged the game of "Appuppu." Production started about two years ago, and while the setting and format were solidified early on, the biggest challenge was how to make people laugh. We continued trial and error with "funny faces" and "gags." We refined the book while observing the real reactions of children around us, adjusting expressions and tempo. A memorable episode was when a child who was test-reading became so engrossed in the "staring contest showdown" with Pu-chan that they barely looked at the picture book, instead putting all their effort into making their own funny faces.
There was also feedback that siblings continued to play "staring contest" even after finishing the book. We hope that "Pu-chan" can be felt not only during the time spent reading the picture book but also in everyday life after finishing it.
Author Profile
Taro Ohno
Picture book author, illustrator, GIF artist, and creator from Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. His works include the "Akachan Akachan" series (3 volumes published) and 'Doubutsu-san to A-so-bo!' (both from Oizumi Shoten), the "Jinsei Saisho no" series (5 volumes published, KADOKAWA), 'Minna no Onara' (written by Karin Kano, PHP Institute), 'Kaba no Kaban ga Kabababarn' (Tokyo Shoseki), 'Yoshi Yoshi Yoshio-san,' 'Yoshio-san to Yukai na Nakama-tachi Goshigoshi Goshio-san,' and 'Inai Inai Buu' (all from Poplar Publishing), among many others. His peaceful worldview, depicted with a gentle gaze, is captivating. He is a father of two.
Bibliographic Information
Title: 'Appuppu-chan'
Author: Taro Ohno
Price: 1,210 yen (10% tax included)
Release Date: May 13, 2026
Bibliographic page >> https://www.poplar.co.jp/book/search/result/archive/2084031.html
Amazon >> https://amzn.to/4sXgaeb
Representative works include 'Yoshi Yoshi Yoshio-san' and 'Inai Inai Buu'
Title: 'Yoshi Yoshi Yoshio-san'
Price: 1,210 yen (10% tax included)
Release Date: June 12, 2024
Bibliographic page >> https://www.poplar.co.jp/book/search/result/archive/2083084.html
Yoshio-san's job is to "pat pat." If it's Yoshio-san, lost children, quarrels, and lost items are surprisingly resolved!
Title: 'Inai Inai Buu'
Price: 1,210 yen (10% tax included)
Release Date: May 15, 2025
Bibliographic page >> https://www.poplar.co.jp/book/search/result/archive/2084027.html
Let's play "peek-a-boo" with vehicles! Buses..., ambulances..., garbage trucks..., and finally many vehicles...
Let's play a staring contest with Pu-chan, who came from Niramekko Star!
Readers can't help but burst into laughter at Pu-chan's unexpected "Pu!" faces!
It's a book filled with excitement, where you think, "I shouldn't laugh... but I can't help it!"
You can't help but laugh at Pu-chan's unexpected "Pu!" faces!
Pu-chan's expressions change with every turn of the page. The book is designed for readers and children to play "Appuppu!" together, making it a great hit at home and in nurseries. It's packed with tricks that keep smiles going with "Pupu-pu!" even after reading.
Author's Message
In my daily life as a parent, I'm always amused by the gap between my children's cuteness and their funny faces. Wanting to express such adorable moments in a picture book, Pu-chan was born. Pu-chan is an alien from Niramekko Star who loves staring contests. He loves making children laugh.
Since I myself have been making funny faces since I was a child, the time has finally come to put it into my work. During the production of the picture book, I practiced making funny faces in front of the mirror and played staring contests with my children, creating it with the feeling that I absolutely wouldn't lose to the children who would read it!
It's okay to laugh... but I hope you read it, laugh, and enjoy it. Those who can win a staring contest with Pu-chan might or might not be able to go on a dream tour to Niramekko Star...
Editor's Voice
Following the success of 'Inai Inai Buu,' which expressed the game of "peek-a-boo" with cars, the project began with the idea of what kind of picture book Mr. Ohno would create if he arranged the game of "Appuppu." Production started about two years ago, and while the setting and format were solidified early on, the biggest challenge was how to make people laugh. We continued trial and error with "funny faces" and "gags." We refined the book while observing the real reactions of children around us, adjusting expressions and tempo. A memorable episode was when a child who was test-reading became so engrossed in the "staring contest showdown" with Pu-chan that they barely looked at the picture book, instead putting all their effort into making their own funny faces.
There was also feedback that siblings continued to play "staring contest" even after finishing the book. We hope that "Pu-chan" can be felt not only during the time spent reading the picture book but also in everyday life after finishing it.
Author Profile
Taro Ohno
Picture book author, illustrator, GIF artist, and creator from Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. His works include the "Akachan Akachan" series (3 volumes published) and 'Doubutsu-san to A-so-bo!' (both from Oizumi Shoten), the "Jinsei Saisho no" series (5 volumes published, KADOKAWA), 'Minna no Onara' (written by Karin Kano, PHP Institute), 'Kaba no Kaban ga Kabababarn' (Tokyo Shoseki), 'Yoshi Yoshi Yoshio-san,' 'Yoshio-san to Yukai na Nakama-tachi Goshigoshi Goshio-san,' and 'Inai Inai Buu' (all from Poplar Publishing), among many others. His peaceful worldview, depicted with a gentle gaze, is captivating. He is a father of two.
Bibliographic Information
Title: 'Appuppu-chan'
Author: Taro Ohno
Price: 1,210 yen (10% tax included)
Release Date: May 13, 2026
Bibliographic page >> https://www.poplar.co.jp/book/search/result/archive/2084031.html
Amazon >> https://amzn.to/4sXgaeb
Representative works include 'Yoshi Yoshi Yoshio-san' and 'Inai Inai Buu'
Title: 'Yoshi Yoshi Yoshio-san'
Price: 1,210 yen (10% tax included)
Release Date: June 12, 2024
Bibliographic page >> https://www.poplar.co.jp/book/search/result/archive/2083084.html
Yoshio-san's job is to "pat pat." If it's Yoshio-san, lost children, quarrels, and lost items are surprisingly resolved!
Title: 'Inai Inai Buu'
Price: 1,210 yen (10% tax included)
Release Date: May 15, 2025
Bibliographic page >> https://www.poplar.co.jp/book/search/result/archive/2084027.html
Let's play "peek-a-boo" with vehicles! Buses..., ambulances..., garbage trucks..., and finally many vehicles...