Riddim-kun and Melody-chan / Rob Kidney, Dosan Miki / Signed book with postcard

I'm not just saying this to flatter you, it's really great. --Yosuke Kubozuka (Actor)

Read like you're rapping with this "Rhyme Picture Book"!

Riddim and Melody are close twin siblings who live in a town somewhere. Their fun daily lives have been turned into a rap picture book!

Miki Michizane, the reggae singer who took the world by storm with "Lifetime Respect," and Rob Kidney, a popular artist known for his vivid colors and adorable yet somewhat strange style of writing, have teamed up to create a picture book that can be read in a fun, rapping style!

The story begins with an introduction, and then progresses in a unique way, with the close-knit twin brother and sister rapping back and forth between them. For example, it would be fun to read the story out loud as either the parent or the child, alternating between rapping.

In keeping with the theme of music, the picture book is the size of a 7-inch single record. What's more, a circle has been cut out in the center of the cover, allowing the cover image to be seen!

We hope that this picture book will help you realize the connection between music and words and encourage parents and children to have fun rapping together.

In English-speaking countries, there are many rhyming nursery rhymes, also known as "Nursery Rhymes" or "Mother Goose's rhymes," and many of them have been made into picture books. They contain a lot of wordplay, and listening to parents read them aloud and singing along helps children practice reading and speaking.

We wondered if we could create a book in Japanese that would help children learn to read and speak in a fun way while using rhymes, so we created a "rhyme picture book," which incorporates elements of "rap," a tune that has become popular in Japan in recent years.

Title: Riddim-kun and Melody-chan

Author: Michizō Miki (text) / Rob Kidney (illustrations)

Format: B5 size, hardback, with cover

Number of pages: 32

Price: 1,500 yen + tax

Publication date: December 22, 2021

ISBN 978-4-910315-09-6 C8771

Miki Dosan (DOZAN11) / Miki Dozan (DOZAN11)

Debuted under the name Miki Dosan in 1996. In 2001, he became the first Japanese reggae artist to reach number one on the Oricon charts with his album "Lifetime Respect." In 2002, he retired from singing to become a writer and producer. In 2014, he resumed his singing career under the name DOZAN11. Developed the music app "mupic." Runs the organic vegetable sales website "Yamato Tsukigase Natural Farm" and the online salon "DOZAN Salon." Live streamer for the live streaming app "Pokocha." Father of one child.

Rob Kidney

Artist and illustrator from the UK. Graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Illustration. Currently based in Tokyo. Specializing in unique character art using vibrant colors and strong hand-drawn lines, he provides illustrations for a variety of fields. Since 2012, he has been the owner of Gallery WISH LESS (Tabata/Tokyo), where he also curates exhibitions by artists from Japan and abroad.