The project begins with the creation of a paper doll, using the children’s own drawings in a sketchbook. They become the character and act out the role’s voice. “Ateliesta,” an individual with a background in education and the creative arts, joined the project and started to create an original picture book using the paper doll they had drawn as a motif.

The children draw lots for keywords like “when, where, who” and then expand the story using the words and animals that come out of the lots. By July, many of the children were able to write letters and became interested in creating picture books, allowing them to focus on the activities.

Around August, they decided on the title of the story, “Lion’s Roll Cake.” However, when they attempted to draw pictures for the picture book, they struggled with depicting roll cakes. This led them to question, “What should we do?” But when they saw a real cake, they realized that they might be able to draw it!

“Children who were aware of the sweets being made at the school’s café approached the café staff. They used the video and photo functions of their iPads to capture what they learned, allowing them to revisit the information later. As they reviewed these videos, the children enthusiastically started to create a picture book titled “Lion’s Roll Cake.”

Around September, the children appeared satisfied with the completion of the picture book, and there wasn’t much development from that point. However, during a conversation one day, they discovered that some other children were making crepes. This jogged their memory of their experiences making roll cakes at the café and their picture book, “Lion’s Roll Cakes.” They began reflecting on that period and shared their experiences with the crepe-making children as well.

Around October, as the children became more familiar with iPad apps, they started to wonder if it was possible to create a picture book with moving images. One of the children had seen another child using Springin’ to make a game, which inspired the thought, “I can make a book with moving images using this!” Some children attempted to create a picture book in a similar manner to “Lion’s Roll Cake,” but found it challenging due to the numerous steps involved, such as drawing pictures and making them move.

In order to begin with a simpler picture book, they searched the bookshelves for one they could recreate and decided to make “The Railroad Goes On… and On” (Senro wa tsuzuku, mada tsuzuku) [2009, Kinsei-sha Publishing Co., Ltd.]. By January, when they had completed “The Railroad Goes On… and On,” they gained confidence and resolved to create “Lion’s Roll Cake” in a similar fashion. The children were delighted to be able to redraw their pictures whenever they made mistakes, and through repetition, they improved their drawing skills. The project appeared to evolve into one where the children experienced joy and a sense of accomplishment in transforming an ordinary picture book into an extraordinary “moving picture book.”