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Culture shock is a phenomenon commonly experienced by individuals who encounter unfamiliar cultural environments, including children. This phenomenon is represented in the picture book The Way We Do It in Japan through the experiences of Gregory, an Asian-American child who moves from America to Japan and faces cultural differences in daily life. This study aims to analyze the representation of cultural differences between Japan and America and to examine the stages of culture shock experienced by Gregory throughout the story. This study employs a descriptive qualitative method using textual and visual analysis of the picture book. The analysis applies Oberg’s (1960) concept of culture shock and Pedersen’s (1995) stages of culture shock, including the honeymoon, disintegration, reintegration, autonomy, and interdependence stages. The findings reveal that differences in language, social norms, daily habits, and school practices become the main triggers of Gregory’s culture shock. His experiences develop dynamically from curiosity and confusion to gradual adaptation and cultural acceptance. These experiences also contribute to Gregory’s emotional growth, adaptability, and ability to understand cultural differences more objectively. Therefore, this study highlights the important role of children’s literature in promoting intercultural understanding, empathy, and awareness of cultural diversity among young readers.

. Studies on the use of a digital storybook for teaching English to young learners have been abundant; however, the integration of independence values into the story for elementary school students in Indonesia has received limited attention. Independence is one of the characters that educate young learners to become responsible and self-reliant. This study aims to design a digital storybook that integrates independence value into English language learning materials for fifth-grade students. Using a qualitative Design-Based Research (DBR) approach, this study employed a design framework as the main research instrument, derived from character education theory, Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL), and multimedia learning theory. Data were collected through the analyses of curriculum policies, English textbooks, children’s literature, character education, and multimedia learning. This study produced a digital storybook entitled Lisa Can Do It, which can be expected to become a medium to learn English and at the same time educate children about independence value. Findings indicate that character-based digital storybooks demonstrate the potential to integrate language learning with character education, providing a foundation for the design and implementation of digital learning materials integrated with character in English language education in elementary schools. Further research should focus on the implementation of the product to evaluate its impact on student learning outcomes.

This study explores how Eric Carle’s children’s storybook The Very Hungry Caterpillar creates depth in its narrative through visual components and tactile elements despite its limited text. Using a multimodal analysis approach, this study highlights the texture of the collage, the use of symbolic colors, and the die-cut holes as elements that can be felt. The results of this study show that the physical design of this book is not merely decorative, but functions as a key narrative guide that helps children understand the concepts of growth and change independently. The die-cut holes have a specific role as a physical symbol of hunger, allowing young readers to interact directly with the story. The combination of the book’s materials and visual storytelling has proven to transcend language barriers, making it an effective literacy tool for beginner readers. This research confirms that visual storytelling intertwined with the physical form of a book can convey complex philosophical themes more effectively than narratives composed solely of dense text. The success of this book confirms that tactile and visual elements are important literary tools in the world of children’s literature.