Leo Lionni: Frederick (Colors) A5 Cousin Size - Techo Lineup

Leo LionniFrederick (Colors)A5 Cousin Size

2027 New

Leo Lionni’s beloved classic picture book Frederick has become a Hobonichi Techo cover.

Leo Lionni is the author of many picture books that have been translated and published in Japan — including Swimmy and Little Blue and Little Yellow — and are cherished by readers of all ages, from children to adults. Frederick, which marks its 60th anniversary in 2027, tells the story of a field mouse named Frederick who sits quietly collecting “sun rays,” “colors,” and “words” while the other mice busy themselves gathering food for winter. Incorporating torn-paper art and collage techniques, the story captures a year in the lives of these little field mice with a warm and gentle gaze.

The Cousin-size cover Frederick (Colors) centers on Frederick as he collects colors. The front cover depicts a scene where Frederick describes the colors of each season to his fellow mice during the cold winter months. By applying a matte print with a rough texture over the glossy white enamel surface, the cover evokes the feeling of a world built from torn pieces of colored paper collaged onto white pages.

The bookmark charms are shaped to evoke the fragments of color and words that Frederick carefully collects.

On the inside right pocket of the cover, you’ll find the mice carrying grain and nuts, while the inside left pocket shows Frederick blushing with delight as his friends praise him.

The back pocket features the handwritten “Frederick” lettering from the endpapers of the picture book.

And tucked inside the back pocket, a single little mouse listens to Frederick’s story and lets their imagination soar.

With its gentle pops of pink, this cover fills your heart with a cozy glow, capturing the comforting feeling of reading a picture book. We hope that as you spend each season alongside Frederick, you’ll gather your own light, colors and words within the pages of your techo.

About Leo Lionni

Leo Lionni (1910-1999)

Born in the Netherlands. Was prominent in the United States and Italy as an illustrator, graphic designer, and children’s book author. Many of his picture books have been translated and published in Japan, where they continue to be beloved by readers. These include Swimmy, Frederick, and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse — all recipients of the prestigious Caldecott Medal, awarded to outstanding American picture books — as well as Little Blue and Little Yellow and A Color of His Own.

Staff List

Photographer: Styled Images: Masahiro Tamura / Product Detail: Hiroyuki Oe
Stylist: Sanami Okamoto

Leo LionniFrederick (Colors)A5 Cousin Size

¥8,910 - ¥10,560 (incl. tax)
¥5,390 (incl. tax)

20 per item

Available

Normal

Specifications*Specifications may vary slightly

Cover

Size

H: 228 x W: 337 x T: 3 mm / H: 9" x W: 13.3" x T: 0.1"
*Excluding pen holders

Weight

Approx. 170 g

Main material

Exterior: PU / Interior: PU, Polyester

Compatible Techo Books

Cousin (A5)
1 page per day
Cousin Avec (A5)
1 page per day 6-month book
Day-Free
Monthly notebook

Cousin | One-Page-Per-Day TypeJapanese / English

type	Monday Start (Japanese) Monday Start (English)
Size	A5 H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 18 mm / H: 8.3" x W: 5.8" x T: 0.7" *Specifications may vary slightly
Weight	Approx. 445 g
Dates	Jan 2027 - Dec 2027 (Jan start) Apr 2027 - Mar 2028 (Apr start)

A daily techo with lots of space to write

This A5-size techo provides ample space on each daily page. It’s great for keeping in one place at home or at work and you can use it to track your child’s growth or exchange with someone.

Daily pages
Yearly calendar
Yearly index
Monthly calendar
Weekly pages
Memo pages

View details on features and included content

Cousin Avec | One-Page-Per-Day Type (2-Book Set)Japanese

type	Monday Start (Japanese)
Size	A5 Each Book: H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 10 mm / H: 8.3" x W: 5.8" x T: 0.4" *Specifications may vary slightly
Weight	Each Book: Approx. 260 g
Dates	Book 1: Jan 2027 - June 2027 Book 2: July 2027 - Dec 2027

Each 6-month daily techo is thin and light for easy carry

This techo splits the year into two 6-month books, making it easy to carry while keeping the same page design and layout as the standard edition.

Daily pages
Yearly calendar
Yearly index
Monthly calendar
Weekly pages
Memo pages

View details on features and included content

Day-Free | Monthly Techo + NotebookJapanese

type	Monday Start (Japanese)
Size	A5 H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 8 mm / H: 8.3" x W: 5.8" x T: 0.3" *Specifications may vary slightly
Weight	Approx. 220 g
Dates	Dec 2026 - Mar 2028

A monthly notebook with undated pages to write freely

This techo starts with monthly calendars and ends with undated graph paper pages so you can write whenever you want, and as much as you want.

Monthly calendar
Yearly calendar
Yearly index
Graph paper notebook pages

View details on features and included content

User recommendations

If you’ve used any of these products, we welcome your notes on what you like about them or what led you to buy them so we can share it with customers who are currently considering these products. We’d also love to welcome comments from customers who purchased their techo outside the Hobonichi Store or received their book as a gift.

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Please Read Before You Buy

We’ve compiled a list of warnings, potential issues, and tips to keep in mind for this particular product. Additionally, the color of the product may be slightly different in actuality than compared to how it appeared on a computer or smartphone screen.

Cover may contain variations in stitching or loose lining: Due to the structure of the cover that opens flat 180 degrees, exterior stitching areas may appear puckered and lining material may be loose.

Pen holder fits pens up to 13.5 mm wide: The pen holder is designed to fit the 12.2 mm (0.48") diameter Jetstream pen offered as a free Hobonichi Store Exclusive Bonus. Pens with certain shapes and materials may be difficult to pull through the holder. The holder can fit pens up to 13.5 mm (0.53") in diameter.

Color and print may vary slightly: The cover's color and print pattern are created by dyeing or printing onto white fabric. While we take care to ensure consistency during production, slight variations in color or pattern may occur between individual items. This may also happen across a single cover, such as a pocket compared to the rest of the cover. Minor print blurring or uneven coloring may also be present. In addition, on rare occasions, there may be small black or white dots visible on the print. This is an unavoidable aspect of the manufacturing process.