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え：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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With a 
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 hiragana picture book that teaches “A” to “So” with cute illustrations.
＼Reads aloud Japanse text with a robotic voice／
え：ちびこママ
Illustration by Chibiko mama
い：いぬ
dog
え：えほん
picture book
か：かに
crab
く：くり
chestnut
こ：こいのぼり
carp streamer
し：しか
deer
せ：せんべい
rice cracker
おしまい
Note to Readers: About “ひらがな① あ～そ”
This picture book introduces the hiragana letters from “A” to “So” through illustrations inspired by familiar things for children or uniquely Japanese motifs.
Here’s how the text looks when written with kanji or katakana:
- あり：アリ、蟻（ari）
- いぬ：イヌ、犬（inu）
- うし：ウシ、牛（ushi）
- えほん：絵本（ehon）
- おに：オニ、鬼（oni）
- かに：カニ、蟹（kani）
- きく：キク、菊（kiku）
- くり：クリ、栗（kuri）
- けいと：毛糸（keito）
- こいのぼり：鯉のぼり（koinobori） Note 1
- さかな：魚（sakana）
- しか：シカ、鹿（shika）
- すいか：スイカ、西瓜（suika）
- せんべい：煎餅（senbei） Note 2
- そら：空（sora）
Note 1
Koinobori are colorful carp-shaped windsocks traditionally flown in Japan to celebrate Children’s Day on May 5th. The carp is known for its strength in swimming upstream, and koinobori symbolize hopes for children to grow up healthy and strong. Families hang them outside their homes from late April to early May, and the fluttering streamers have become a beloved part of Japan’s springtime scenery.
Note 2
Senbei are traditional Japanese rice crackers, usually crispy and savory. They come in many shapes and flavors, and are often enjoyed with green tea as a casual snack
