The Pill Bug Celebration 
Yamasaki Oshiruko

"Every creature matters." A story about pill bugs that is both joyful and moving. A picture book through which children learn about "life." The long-awaited debut of a beloved creator! 

Publisher: KADOKAWA

One after another, they head toward the forest. They line up in a row — and march forward! Beside them, fireflies flutter and shimmer. In the sky, a round moon shines. The pill bugs swarm and march. All the pill bugs march together.

"To the one who shines brightest of all at tonight's festival, we shall award a wonderful prize!" Whatever could this amazing prize be? Their hearts are pounding and they are filled with excitement — all aquiver with anticipation.

Come on everyone, the festival begins! They roll and spin around and around. Kutululu. Kutululu. The sounds of life converge and rolling thunder across the whole glade. Hooray, hooray, pill bugs! Hooray, hooray, pill bugs!

She gave her last strength and when she reached the top, she was curled into a ball and no longer moving. Her blue shell, bathed in moonlight, began to shimmer.

The elder came forward and called out "Hey!" and raised his staff. "To the one who shone the brightest, I shall award a wonderful prize." The blue body shimmers and rises up toward the sky.

The festival began again. Everyone curled into a ball, gazed up at the sky and began to sing. Slowly, rolling along, pill bugs. Slowly, rolling along, pill bugs. The song of the pill bugs spread quietly through the forest.