Written by a Professional Haiku Poet, the Children's Story 'I'll Find Your Worries: The Word Doctor' is Full of Hints for Daily Communication, Also Useful for Adults

Poplar Publishing Co., Ltd. released "I'll Find Your Worries: The Word Doctor" (written by Katsuhiro Takayanagi / illustrated by kigimura) on June 10, 2026. This is the author's second work, following his first novel which won the Shogakukan Children's Publishing Culture Award.
This is a story about a mysterious doctor who prescribes items to help children who have trouble with communication, such as "I want to say it but I can't" or "For some reason, people drift away from me." It is suitable for upper elementary school students and above, and is an ideal book for summer vacation essays this year.

* The character "高" in the author's name is "hashigo-daka" (a variant of the kanji for 'high').

Difficulties such as "I want to say it but can't"

Dr. Torii, who appears in this work, is usually a regular doctor. He moonlights as a "Word Doctor" and finds the emotional wounds of children.
In the first story, Satomi, who visits the hospital with a cold, receives an extra examination from the peculiar doctor, Dr. Torii, and is diagnosed with "Word Clump Disease."

Satomi is initially skeptical but then realizes it makes sense.

Recently, she couldn't bring herself to tell her best friend, who always imitates her belongings, to "stop," and the words she swallowed are stuck in her chest.

When Satomi sees the words that appear on the medical chart the next morning, which Dr. Torii gave her saying, "Words that will cure this illness will float up in the prescription section," she is startled. They are things Satomi thought but could never say...

Isn't there something everyone has held back, not wanting to damage their relationship with others? But if you just endure it, it only makes you miserable.

This book depicts the word and communication problems that children often face.

Satomi reads the straightforward words that appear one after another on the chart and confronts her own feelings, thinking, "Perhaps this is what I truly feel."

Then, she considers how to convey her thoughts without hurting the other person, carefully thinking and writing them down. Writing is presented as one solution, and various communication points are shown in the process of creating these writings.

A story where you can learn easy ways to use words that anyone can practice.

Other characters include a child who is always subjected to harsh words from their older brother, suffering from "Word Overgrowth Disease"; a child who stops the mood of the moment with unconscious conversational habits, afflicted with "Word Twist Disease"; and a child who is ostracized after their words on social media are misunderstood and spread throughout the class, suffering from "Word Despair Disease."

Especially, the habit of responding to others' words with "but..." in the case of "Word Twist Disease" might resonate with many people.

Dr. Torii, the Word Doctor, prescribes various mysterious medicines and items, but the result is knowledge about using words gently that anyone can practice on their own.

In an era where words often cause trouble and disconnect, this is a book many children should read.

Second work by a haiku poet author who won the "Shogakukan Children's Publishing Culture Award" for her first novel.

Katsuhiro Takayanagi, the author, is a rising young haiku poet and author who has served as a judge for various haiku contests. He spins stories with a keen and gentle sensibility towards words.
His first novel, "Words from the Sky Fall Down ~Haiku Gathering in the Nurse's Office~," won the Shogakukan Children's Publishing Culture Award, and this is his second work.

Synopsis

Dr. Torii, the all-purpose doctor, is a physician who treats children's word and communication problems. Satomi, diagnosed with "Word Clump Disease," receives a mysterious prescription that reveals the words she couldn't say... This is a gentle story about children who are hurt by harsh words during games or feel distanced from their friends, and how they overcome their "word illnesses" with medicine prescribed by Dr. Torii.

'The Word Doctor' Title Page 'The Word Doctor' Table of Contents

'The Word Doctor' "It's Word Clump Disease. Here you go." 'The Word Doctor' "Hey... are you really Toru?"

'The Word Doctor' Obi (book band)

Author Profile

Written by Katsuhiro Takayanagi

Born in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, in 1980. Completed the Doctoral Program (Master's Course) at Waseda University Graduate School of Education. Specializes in Matsuo Basho's haiku. Editor-in-Chief of the haiku association "Taka." Judge for Yomiuri Shimbun's "KODOMO Haiku." Previously served as a judge for NHK's "NHK Haiku" on E-tele and the National High School Haiku Championship (Haiku Koshien).

* The character "高" in the author's name is "hashigo-daka."

Illustrated by kigimura

Illustrator. Born in 1980. Resides in Kanagawa Prefecture. Graduated from the Illustration Department of Aoyama Juku Illustration School (23rd term) in 2022. Creates illustrations with a focus on form and color. Works primarily on book cover illustrations and in-book illustrations, and also produces and exhibits personal works.

Bibliographic Information

Title: "I'll Find Your Worries: The Word Doctor"

Author: Katsuhiro Takayanagi (Author) / kigimura (Illustrator)

Release Date: June 2026
ISBN: 978-4-591-19004-3

Format: B6 Hardcover, 192 pages

Price: 1,650 yen (10% tax included)

Bibliographic Information >> https://www.poplar.co.jp/book/search/result/archive/4056062.html

Amazon >> https://amzn.asia/d/0jdbb1zs