Picture book Kireteru wins the Kenbuchi Picture Book Village Grand Prize
Noritake Suzuki's picture book Kireteru (It's Cut Open) has been chosen as the grand prize winner of the 36th Kenbuchi Picture Book Village Awards. I read about it in a Real Sound Book article, and it made me happy enough to want to share it.
What makes this award distinctive is that it is decided by votes from readers who visit the Kenbuchi Picture Book Village in Hokkaido, rather than by a panel of experts. The article describes it as a warm award close to everyday life. This year the winner was chosen from 269 entries.
Kireteru (Poplar Publishing, October 2025) is the second book in the ?! picture book series. A delicious-looking roll cake seems to be cut, yet unexpected things keep happening, which the article describes as a humorous picture book that is fun for children and adults alike. The first book, Tareteru (It's Dripping), has been reprinted several times, and the series has sold more than 160,000 copies in total.
Suzuki was born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, in 1975. After working as a graphic designer, he became a picture book author. He has won the 17th Japan Picture Book Award Reader's Prize for Boku no Toire (My Toilet), the 62nd Shogakukan Children's Publishing Culture Award for Shigotoba Tokyo Skytree (Workplace: Tokyo Skytree), first place at the 15th MOE Picture Book Shop Awards 2022 for Ookii Pinch Zukan (Big Trouble Picture Dictionary), and first place at the 17th MOE Picture Book Shop Awards 2024 for Ookii Pinch Zukan 2.
What I like most is that this award was decided by readers' votes. Books that people of all ages, from small children to adults, pick up and simply find fun have been recognized, so if this one catches your eye, why not look for it at a bookstore or library?
Source: Real Sound Book
What makes this award distinctive is that it is decided by votes from readers who visit the Kenbuchi Picture Book Village in Hokkaido, rather than by a panel of experts. The article describes it as a warm award close to everyday life. This year the winner was chosen from 269 entries.
Kireteru (Poplar Publishing, October 2025) is the second book in the ?! picture book series. A delicious-looking roll cake seems to be cut, yet unexpected things keep happening, which the article describes as a humorous picture book that is fun for children and adults alike. The first book, Tareteru (It's Dripping), has been reprinted several times, and the series has sold more than 160,000 copies in total.
Suzuki was born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, in 1975. After working as a graphic designer, he became a picture book author. He has won the 17th Japan Picture Book Award Reader's Prize for Boku no Toire (My Toilet), the 62nd Shogakukan Children's Publishing Culture Award for Shigotoba Tokyo Skytree (Workplace: Tokyo Skytree), first place at the 15th MOE Picture Book Shop Awards 2022 for Ookii Pinch Zukan (Big Trouble Picture Dictionary), and first place at the 17th MOE Picture Book Shop Awards 2024 for Ookii Pinch Zukan 2.
What I like most is that this award was decided by readers' votes. Books that people of all ages, from small children to adults, pick up and simply find fun have been recognized, so if this one catches your eye, why not look for it at a bookstore or library?
Source: Real Sound Book
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