Abstract

"Watch out for oversleeping. Anyway, nothing starts unless you wake up, so let's be careful about oversleeping."

Starting with such a morning scene, this picture book is a unique work by Taro Gomi that depicts the "cautions" hidden in daily life with his signature humor and cynicism.

"To pay attention is to live." Starting from this deep insight, the book picks up various "warnings" one by one throughout the flow of a day, from morning to night. Yet, the portrayal is neither serious nor preachy. Rather, it has a lightness that makes you chuckle. In an era of information overload and excessive rules, Taro Gomi poses the question: "What does it actually mean to be careful?"

Every page features a free-spirited and expressive girl. Sometimes serious, sometimes laid-back, and occasionally a bit sarcastic. Her gestures and expressions reflect the reader's heart like a mirror. The art and words resonate in perfect harmony, revealing a different kind of "caution" every time you read it.

Originally drawn for the author's own child, this book is a small proposal for us to relax our shoulders and rethink "caution" in a fun way in today's stressful society. Bright and lighthearted, yet somewhere satirical—that is the quintessential Taro Gomi style. This is a book that makes both children and adults laugh and gently reflect on their own lives.

Author’s Information

Picture book author and illustrator. Born in Tokyo in 1945. Graduated from Kuwasawa Design School. He is a highly prolific creator with over 400 published works, including internationally beloved classics such as Kingyo ga Nigeta (Where's the Fish?), Minna Unchi (Everyone Poops), and Saru Rururu. His books are cherished globally and have been translated and published in more than 20 countries.

He is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including:
The Sankei Children's Book Award for Kakushita no Daare (Who Hid It?) and Tabeta no Daare (Who Ate It?)
The Bologna Children's Book Fair Graphic Prize for Koushi no Haru (Spring is Here)
The Japan Picture Book Award Grand Prize for Boku wa Fune (I am a Boat)
The Robou no Ishi Literary Award for his essay Tokidoki no Shonen (Sometimes a Boy)