ぐりとぐら

About the book

ぐりとぐら was written by 中川李枝子 (Nakagawa Rieko) and illustrated by 大村百合子 (Ōmura Yuriko), and published in book form by Fukuinkan Shoten (福音館書店) in January 1967 in its こどものとも傑作集 line, after first appearing in the publisher's monthly picture-book magazine. The illustrator is credited under her maiden name; she later worked as 山脇百合子 (Yamawaki Yuriko). It is a landscape-format book of about 28 pages.

The story and what makes it special

Guri and Gura are two field mice who love nothing more than cooking and eating. Out in the forest they come across an unusually large egg and work out what to do with it, ending up sharing the result with the forest animals. It is a warm story with a sing-song refrain that children pick up easily.

Recommended age

Publisher states

読んであげるなら 3才から

NIPIKO Books suggests

3–6 yrs

Publisher's label (福音館書店): 「読んであげるなら 3才から」 (to read aloud, from age 3), and for independent reading from the early primary years. NIPIKO Books's suggestion: best from about 3 to 6; two-year-olds may enjoy the pictures and refrain but may not follow the whole story yet.

Reading-together ideas

• Sing the refrain rather than just reading it, and invite your child to join in next time.
• When the forest animals gather, name and count them together.
• Afterwards, make a simple snack together and talk about who you would like to share it with.