Editorial review

もりの100かいだてのいえ

Name: もりの100かいだてのいえ
ISBN: 9784033501109

いわいとしお／偕成社

A forest tree house of 100 floors, and a concert at the top

The fifth 100かいだてのいえ book sets the 100-storey house inside a giant forest tree, home to animals, insects and birds who each have their own instrument. A detailed, vertical-format picture book with a music theme.

Publisher states: 3歳から
NIPIKO Books suggests: 3–8 yrs

Series: 100かいだてのいえ · Book 5 →

About the book

もりの100かいだてのいえ (roughly 'The 100-Storey House in the Forest') is the fifth book in いわいとしお's series, published by Kaiseisha in 2021. Oto, a girl who lives near the forest, is practising her harp when she hears a strange sound. Following a trail of flowers she has never seen before, she walks deep into the forest and finds one enormous tree.

The story and what makes it special

Inside the tree is a 100-storey house, with a new forest creature every ten floors, such as deer, mantises, monkeys and butterflies. The publisher describes this volume as the one with a music theme, so instruments are part of the fun on many floors. As with the rest of the series, the book opens vertically and is read from the bottom up.

Summarised from reader feedback

Why children love it

Reviews on 絵本ナビ and reader letters on the Kaiseisha page suggest children love meeting familiar animals and insects, each living in a home that suits it. Guessing who is on the next floor, and what instrument they play, keeps the page-turning exciting. Some floors work as hidden-picture puzzles, and a few families report children drawing their own 100-floor houses afterwards.

What parents may appreciate

Parents value how the music theme sparks curiosity about instruments and sounds, and how the book shows the variety of forest life. Counting floors and chatting about each home happen naturally. Even families who know the series format well say they still find themselves lingering over every floor.

Things to consider

Readers raise very few concerns. One reviewer notes that the overall story pattern matches the other volumes, though they still found it inventive. One child in the publisher's reader letters found a scene with a mantis a little scary. As with the whole series, detailed pages mean a full read-through can take a while.

Recommended age

Publisher states: 3歳から
NIPIKO Books suggests: 3–8 yrs

The publisher's stated age is 「3歳から」 (from age 3). NIPIKO Books's editorial suggestion is roughly ages 3 to 8: younger children enjoy naming animals and bugs, while older ones like hunting for hidden details, counting floors and spotting instruments.

Reading-together ideas

On each floor, try making the sound you imagine that creature's instrument would make.
Ask: if you lived in this tree, which floor would you choose, and why?
After reading, listen for birds and insects outdoors and guess whose 'music' you can hear.

NIPIKO Books editorial assessment

NIPIKO Books's recommendation

NIPIKO Books suggests this volume for children who like animals, insects or music. It is a good second book for families who enjoyed the first one, and it also works as a first meeting with the series. Best for unhurried shared reading when there is time to explore each floor.