This study investigated the effectiveness of a search system designed to help parents find picture books for their infants and toddlers. Sixteen mothers used Pitarie―a search system that enables parents to find picture books suitable for their childʼs age and interests―and completed questionnaires and interviews concerning their joint picture-book reading experiences both before and after using the system. The questionnaire results showed that Pitarieʼs user-friendly interface and its search functions aided the mothers in finding picture books that were appropriate for their child.Moreover,follow-up interviews with the mothers also indicated that Pitarie increased their motivation to read picture books by introducing them to a wider variety of picture books. These findings suggest that Pitarie can improve the quality of picture-book selection and enhance joint picture-book reading.
