29/10-10   -   Press releases

NEXTBOOK, an eBook Publisher, Releases a Digital Picture Book for iPad

An eBook written by Warabe Kimika, a popular author of picture books, is for the first time compatible with five languages and available in 90 countries in the world.

NEXTBOOK Inc. ("NEXTBOOK"; head office in Minato Ward, Tokyo; its CEO is Mr. Kenichiro Osada) released "Warabe Kimika´s Illustrated Animal Book", an eBook for iPad written for the first time by Warabe Kimika, a popular picture book author, on October 8. 2010. iPhone version will be released at the end of November.

It is the first of the "pi-bo Ehon*" series published by NEXTBOOK, as well as the first eBooks written by the author. Its price is US$2.99, UKGBP1.79.

NEXTBOOK is developing its "pi-bo Ehon" under the policies, "For Global Children", "Interactive" and "Not Game", and "Warabe Kimika´s Illustrated Animal Book" is the first product realizing the policies. The eBook is compatible with five languages - American English, British English, German, French and Japanese - and will be available at any App Stores in 90 countries in the world. Also it features that parents can record their voice reading aloud the names of animals in the main language for their children, and that they can choose any language from four options other than the main language for the secondary voice.

"Warabe Kimika´s Illustrated Animal Book" will be updated on a continuous basis in the future as the launcher of the digital picture books. Also, NEXTBOOK will release more eBooks of "pi-bo Ehon" series one by one in the future. For more details, please visit our website: http://www.nxtbk.com/

* "pi-bo" is a coined word standing for "picture book".

Profile of Mr. Warabe Kimika
Born in 1950 in Kumamoto Prefecture. While in the Science and Engineering Department of Chuo University, he worked for Mr. Osamu Tezuka, a masterly cartoonist, as assistant, starting to create his illustration work. He turned freelance as illustrator as soon as graduated from the university. In 1982, he founded Omochabako Inc. to create picture books and character designs. The work produced by the company includes more than 250 picture books, including ones for intellectual education such as "Akachan Zukan" series (published by Hisakata Child), "Tenohira Ehon" series (published by Shogakukan), "Pittari Card" series (published by Poplar). The company is also engaged in commodification of towels and tableware of the "WARABE FAMILY" brand.

Outline of "Warabe Kimika´s Illustrated Animal Book"
Contents: A cognitive picture book a child may encounter for the first time since he/she is born. Twelve types of animals will move pleasantly on the screen, and the child reader can involve himself/herself in the animals´ movement. They can learn the names of animals by both characters and sound.

Edited by: Mr. Shuji Tazawa (Komazawa Women´s University)
Target: Children of the age of 1 - 3
Operational environment: iPad
Price: USD2.99, UKGBP1.79, EUEUR2,39, AUD3.99, JPY350
Compatible languages: American English, British English, German, French, Japanese
Territory: 90 countries in the world (available in App Stores in each country)
Others: The user can record the names of animals in the main language by himself/herself. Parents can record their own voice reading aloud the names of animals for their children.
App store http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id395934054?mt=8#

Corporate profile of NEXTBOOK Inc.
Trade name: NEXTBOOK Inc.
Head office: 2-8-2-801 Minami-aoyama, Minato Ward, Tokyo 107-0062, JAPAN
Founded in: July, 2010
Line of business: Planning and sales of eBooks for children in the world.
Development and operation of a totally new web-site, nxtbk.net, on which writers, editors, designers, illustrators, photographers, proofreaders and readers can collaborate with each other to create new work.
URL: http://www.nxtbk.com/
Management:
Kenichiro Osada, CEO
Yoichi Harada, COO
Maki Nakayama, CCO

[Contact concerning this press release]
NEXTBOOK Inc.
2-8-2-801 Minami-aoyama, Minato Ward, Tokyo 107-0062
Person in charge: Ms. Tsunakawa, Mr. Osada
TEL: +81-3-5843-5955 e-mail: pr@nxtbk.com