大きい1年生と小さな2年生

"The Big First Grader and the Little Second Grader" is a children's literature work written by Japanese author Ashibi Furuta. It was published by Kaiseisha in 1970, with illustrations by Masami Nakayama. The story is set in Higashikurume City, Tokyo, where the author Furuta once lived. The work tells a story about the friendship between a first-grade student and a second-grade student, known for its warm and touching plot. It was later adapted into an animated short film, released in March 2014, directed by Ayumu Watanabe, written by Kan Takagi, with Shimphei Ezaki as the director, and Shizue Kaneko responsible for character design. In addition, there is also a paperback edition published by Kaiseisha Bunko in 1975. The story revolves around the interaction between students of different grades, reflecting the friendship and growth between children. The illustration style of the work is also widely loved, and there are multiple versions and derivative works. This book has also been included in the recommended reading lists of many libraries, highlighting its significance in Japanese children's literature.