Are Tigers Yellow or Orange?
In a recent social media post, I questioned whether tigers are yellow or orange as part of my work on a picture book about colors. Surprisingly, most people said ‘orange,’…
Children’s Books
Children are our future. Spark imagination in young minds that create the future of humanity.
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The BOCCHI & POCCHI series
About NORIKO MATSUBARA
I love to spark imagination in young minds, nurture their potential, and connect children with their caregivers through heartwarming stories.
Bocchi and Pocchi : A Tale of Two Socks is my first picture book. The inspiration for the story came from my childhood as I would watch her grandma regularly darning socks and wondering what might happen to them. Bocchi and Pocchi and the Bird and Bocchi and Pocchi’s Big Surprise are the sequels.
When I began creating children’s books, it was simply to make me feel happy. When I was doing my master’s degree in Fine Art, my work focused on issues surrounding nuclear power (see my Nuclear Project). I’m from an area in Japan where a nuclear waste reprocessing plant was being built and its landscapes were rapidly changing. I felt compelled to face the nuclear issues through my art. But this nuclear theme started weighing heavy on my mind and made me feel depressed and powerless. I felt I needed to shift from it and create something lighter and simpler I can feel at peace with. So I began writing and illustrating children’s book – a tale of two socks.
As I was writing this story, I came across an anecdote about Mother Teresa. When she was asked what could be done to achieve world peace, she replied, “Go home and love your family.” That’s such a simple and powerful idea, and it inspired me to share my book with others, hoping to help children and their parents bond together.
Through my books and creative projects, I hope to bring joy to families around the world. As a mother of two children, I believe the power of children’s books. Reading to my children at bedtime helps us unwind and deepen our bond. I hope my books will offer toddlers and young children the experience of kindness and warmth and foster awareness of caring for the world.
I enjoy visiting schools and libraries to read and talk about my picture books and work with children. To learn more about my author visits, click here.
You can also find various children’s activities and teaching resources here.
BLOG
Interview: Destynee Onwochei & Noriko Matsubara
I worked with BBC Children’s for their new Storytime App earlier this year. I illustrated one of their stories called “Olanna’s Super Senses” written by Destynee Onwochei. Prior to the…
Coloured Pencil Illustration Work in Progress
I’m working on my next picture book “Bocchi and Pocchi and Baby Sock.” I just finished this illustration, a chaotic living room where Baby Sock paints everywhere! This illustration took…
Newspaper Article ‘Creator’s Desk’
A Japanese newspaper reporter got in touch with me a while ago and told me about their new column called ‘Creator’s Desk @ Artist’s Workplace.’ This column is aimed at…
Reunion with my Year 1 teacher
Last August, I was giving a talk at Hachinohe Book Center in Japan, promoting my newly published book.When it was time for Q&A, an elderly lady stood up from the…
Behind the Scene – How I came to do what I do
I want to talk about why I do what I do – creating children’s books. Before I started writing and illustrating children’s books, I was doing an art project that focused…
Interview with Children’s Author Pippa Goodhart
I’m curious about how longstanding children’s authors work. How do they get so many ideas? What do they do if they get stuck? Because I have gone through stagnant periods…
Interview with Children’s Author/Illustrator Gillian McClure
I love what I do – working as an artist, children’s book author and illustrator. But I have challenges. How can I find more time to work while raising a…
Lads and Lasses We Love – Noriko Matsubara
This blog first appeared on Digital Sparkles’ blog article on 12th November 2018. You can read it here. ORIGINAL POST Tell us a bit about yourself and what you doHello,…
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