#わかやまけん #こぐまちゃんのどろあそび :9784772100359

**Catchphrase**
"Picture books that capture children's hearts spread throughout the world"
Ken Wakayama (1930-2015) was a Japanese picture book author. He transitioned from graphic design to the world of picture books. His representative work is the "Koguma-chan Picture Book Series." In particular, "Shirokuma-chan no Hotcake" became a bestseller, selling a cumulative total of 2.93 million copies.
Career
Born in Gifu Prefecture, he worked as a graphic designer but was drawn to children's drawings, beginning work at a design office in Gifu City in 1948. In 1954, he moved to Tokyo, and from 1957, he began illustrating for monthly magazines and kamishibai (picture-story shows). In 1965, he met Hidekazu Sato, the founder of Kogumasha, and in 1968, he published his first original picture book, "Kitsuneyama no Yomeiri."
His most famous work is the "Shirokuma-chan Picture Book Series." His works have been critically acclaimed not only in Japan but also overseas, with cumulative sales of 9.54 million copies. In particular, "Shirokuma-chan no Hotcake" became a bestseller, selling 2.93 million copies.
Q: What was he known for?
A: He received the Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award, Japan's most prestigious award, and the internationally renowned Frankfurt International Book Fair award.
Q: What are his famous works?
A: The "Shirokuma-chan Picture Book Series." It has been acclaimed not only in Japan but also overseas, with cumulative sales of 9.54 million copies.
English Summary
**Catchphrase**
"Picture books that capture the hearts of children are spreading around the world"
Ken Wakayama (1930-2015) was a Japanese picture book author. From graphic design to the world of picture books. His most famous work is the "Koguma-chan picture book series." In particular, ``Polar Bear-chan's Hot Keiki'' became a bestseller with a cumulative total of 2.93 million copies sold.
Career
Born in Gifu Prefecture. Although he worked as a graphic designer, he became attracted to children's drawings and started working at a design office in Gifu City in 1948. He also moved to Tokyo in 1954, and from 1957 began drawing illustrations for monthly magazines and picture-story shows. In 1965, he met Hidekazu Sato, the founder of Kogumasha, and in 1968 published his first original picture book, ``Kitsuneyama no Yomeiri.''
His most famous work is the "Polar Bear Picture Book Series". The work has received acclaim not only in Japan but also overseas, with a cumulative total of 9.54 million copies sold. In particular, ``Polar Bear's Hot Birthday'' became a bestseller, selling 2.93 million copies.
Q: What did you do?
Won the Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award, the biggest award in Japan, and the world-famous Frankfurt International Book Exhibition.
Q: What are your famous works?
"Polar Bear Picture Book Series". This has been praised not only in Japan but also overseas, with a cumulative total of 9.54 million copies sold.
Wikipedia:わかやまけん