"Learn with Manga: AI & Digital Literacy" reaches 1,000 stories — 87 themes, every story with a video

NPO Digital Kodomo BASE’s free 4-panel manga series for children, "Learn with Manga: AI & Digital Literacy" (https://digitalkodomo.jp/kids-manga/), now has 1,000 stories. The series launched with 100 stories on June 29, 2026, reached 500 on October 7, and published its 1,000th story on October 14. It covers 87 themes. Every story comes with a narrated video and a plain-language explanation. No registration is needed, and everything is free.

1. Back to our roots: AI, checking information, and ways of living

The series began with one wish: that children learn early not to be pushed around by AI or information, and to take care of themselves and others. Stories 701 to 1,000 return to that starting point and focus on these themes:

• Keeping a healthy distance from AI / Using AI wisely — checking AI’s answers, not typing in names or addresses, thinking for yourself
• Checking for yourself / Rumors and facts / Clips and fakes — tracing the source, comparing with other information
• Feelings and ways of living / Friends / Getting back up — saying no, apologizing, choosing again after a mistake

2. New themes: choosing work and starting small

We added two themes on things worth knowing while young: how to choose work, and how to start something of your own.

• Choosing work (31 stories) — asking about the "ordinary day" behind a dream job, trying things out on a small scale before deciding
• Starting small (38 stories) — testing with three before making a hundred, listening to customers, keeping track of money in and out

3. What each story includes

Every story bundles a 4-panel manga, a narrated video (about 30 seconds), a plain-language explanation, key points to remember, and a note for parents. Children can read on their own, or families can watch the video together and talk about it.

4. Take a look

• Series home: https://digitalkodomo.jp/kids-manga/
• All themes: https://digitalkodomo.jp/kids-manga/4koma/
• No.701 (asking about the ordinary day of a dream job): https://digitalkodomo.jp/kids-manga/4koma/hanaya.html
• No.950 (an AI said a mushroom was safe to eat): https://digitalkodomo.jp/kids-manga/4koma/kinoko.html
• No.1000 (making a town map together): https://digitalkodomo.jp/kids-manga/4koma/machichizu.html

5. The artwork can be used in children’s activities

Illustrations, scene pictures, worksheets and posters from the series are available in our teaching materials library. Non-profit children’s activities, such as families, after-school clubs, community groups and NPOs, may use them without applying.

6. What’s next

From here, rather than chasing numbers, we will choose stories about the small "huh?" moments in children’s lives and about the way they want to live. If there is a theme you would like us to cover, please contact us. This site is supported by donations; you can support us on our donation page.