★Author Bokoyama Kurita’s latest heartwarming picture book series in 2025! As a picture book writer who transitioned from a publishing editor, he excels at capturing the subtle joys and pleasures of daily life!
★The illustrations are fresh and delicate, with warm and lively text, making it suitable for parent-child reading while also allowing adults to immerse themselves in it, experiencing Japanese life aesthetics and the beauty of nature.
★This series is set in the “Twirling Forest” and tells stories that take place in convenience stores, delivery shops, and general stores across the four seasons, conveying “small happiness in ordinary daily life”, offering healing and comfort.

This series includes 4 titles:
"Tanuki’s Springtime Lunchbox"
"The Summer Expressman"
"The Autumn Chapter"
"The Winter Tales"

“Twirling Forest” Four Seasons Story Series.
“The Bento Shop Story” is the spring volume, and “The Delivery Shop Story” is the summer volume.
The autumn and winter stories are expected to be published after summer 2026.

Ms. Yamabuki and Mr. Yaguruma, two raccoon dogs, run a bento shop. Since childhood, they have played with fruits and leaves pretending to cook, and even now, they continue this passion, working hard every day to make bentos. Ms. Yamabuki’s specialty is mixed rice with a faint, delightful fragrance; Mr. Yaguruma excels at cooking crispy tempura.
Though seemingly different, the two are also very much alike. Hoping to hear customers say “It’s so delicious!” with a smile, they continue to prepare meals with care today. So, what exactly is inside today’s bento?
This is a story set in Twirling Forest, a spring volume. It depicts the small joys found in everyday life.

Bokoyama Kurita

Born in 1970 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Worked as a publishing editor for many years before becoming a picture book author. Skilled at capturing the subtle joys and pleasures of daily life and depicting them delicately in picture books. Also responsible for numerous books that present common mysteries in nature from a scientific perspective.
Major works include “The Long Breakfast”, “It’s Born! Jellyfish” and the “Water and Earth Study Notes series (5 volumes)”. Additionally, active in illustration and other fields under the name “Kubo Studio”, with works such as “Let’s Find the Signs! Picture Book” and “Understanding World Flags Picture Book”.