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え・ぶん：ちびこママ
Tap the button to open the flip picture book (ehon).
This page doesn’t include English explanations—try reading in Japanese!
On the flip book page, you'll see four buttons to help you move through the book:
- First（さいしょ） – Go to the front cover.
- Back（もどる） – Return to the previous page.
- Next（すすむ） – Turn to the next page.
- Last（さいご） – Skip to the back cover.
The First（さいしょ）, Back（もどる）, and Last（さいご） buttons use arrow icons to show direction. But the Next（すすむ） button is special—it’s a little chick 
! If you're not sure which button to press, just follow the chick.
When you find a star icon with the word “おきにいり” (favorite), just tap 
! That book will be saved to your favorites, so you can find it easily next time from the Favorites page!
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read-aloud button!
It uses your browser’s speech feature.
A robotic voice 
reads Japanese text aloud.
The picture book pages include a small navigation menu to help you explore.
On the flip book and PDF download pages, the buttons are labeled in Japanese only—but don’t worry, they’re easy to use. Just try tapping them!
- This picture book is original content by AKAEHO. The copyright of the picture book belongs to AKAEHO and the assigned illustrators.
- The PDF picture book is available for free download for use only in homes, small non-profit groups, and childcare facilities.
- Unauthorized reproduction and secondary use of the picture book and illustrations are strictly prohibited. Some of the illustrations are available for paid purchase. If you wish to use the illustrations for commercial purposes, please purchase them through the paid sites
-> Guide to Illustration Sales - Some of the picture book’s illustrations are distributed in black and white versions on our sister site, “Chibisozai.” They may be used for non-commercial purposes.
A very simple story: a black cat appears, and then quietly goes away.
＼Reads aloud Japanse text with a robotic voice／
え・ぶん：ちびこママ
Created by Chibiko mama
あらわれた。
appeared.
こちらの
ようすを
うかがっている。
is watching
our movements
carefully.
そっぽを
むかれた。
turned away
from me.
にげていった。
ran away.
さようなら。
Black Cat.
おしまい
Note to Readers: About “くろねこ”
This picture book tells a very simple story. A black cat appears, watches for a moment, then turns away. Finally, the cat runs off — leaving only a quiet goodbye.
Here’s how the text looks when written with kanji or katakana:
くろねこ/が あらわれた。：黒猫/が 現れた。（Kuroneko/ga arawareta.）
くろねこ/は、：黒猫/は、（Kuroneko/wa,）
こちら/の ようす/を：こちら/の 様子/を（kochira/no yousu/wo）
うかがって/いる。：窺って/いる。（ukagatte/iru.） Note 1
Note 1 In Japanese, the verb “ukagau” (うかがう) can also be written with the kanji “窺う”, but it is rarely written that way in everyday use. The phrase “yousu wo ukagau” (様子をうかがう) means “to watch or observe someone’s situation,” while “yousu wo ukagatte iru” (様子をうかがっている) emphasizes the ongoing action — “is watching carefully right now.” This nuance highlights the difference between simply describing the act and portraying it as something currently happening.
くろねこ/に、：黒猫/に、（Kuroneko/ni,）
そっぽ/を むかれた。：そっぽ/を 向かれた。（soppo/wo mukareta.） Note 2
Note 2 In Japanese, the phrase “soppo o muku” (そっぽを向く) means “to turn away” or “to look in another direction.” It often suggests ignoring someone or showing disinterest, rather than simply changing one’s gaze.
くろねこ/は、：黒猫/は、（Kuroneko/wa,）
にげて/いった。：逃げて/行った。（nigete/itta.）
くろねこ/さん、：黒猫/さん、（Kuroneko/san,）
さようなら。：（sayounara.）
