Republic of Korea
(Romanization
according to McCune-Reischaure norms)
Special
Mention
20
Hwang, Son-mi
(text)
Kim, Yun-ju (illus.)
Na-onui
sumoinunpang (Na-on’s
secret room)
P’aju : Changbi, 2006. – 249 p.
(Changbi Adongmunko; 228)
ISBN 89-364-4228-7
Child – Parents – Illness – House – Secret – Peace
Little Na-on, who suffers from severe asthma attacks, is tired of her
mother’s exaggerated care and patronising attitude. Therefore she often
hides at her mother’s old birthplace where she explores the unkempt garden
full of flowers and herbs. This is a place where she can finally breathe
freely. One day, the girl overhears her parents talking. She learns that she
and her twin brother were born in that very house, that her brother died there
soon afterwards, and that her mother has refused to enter the house ever since.
Finally, the girl begins to understand her mother’s behaviour and pain. As
nobody seems to take care of house or garden, Na-on’s father secretly starts
renovating it. When her mother learns about her daughter’s secret activities
and her husband’s efforts, she eventually makes peace with the past and
decides not to sell the house. Delicate illustrations in bright colours
perfectly complement the text and underline the message of this powerful and
imaginative story. (11+)
21
Kim, Jung-sok
(text/illus.)
Appaga Pogosipo
(Longing for my father)
P’aju City : Porim, 2005. – [32] p.
(Porim ch’angjak kurim
ch’aek Mochon)
ISBN 89-433-0580-x
Daughter
– Father – Longing – Letter –Awkwardness – School – Everyday life
– Help
While her father has to stay behind in Korea to work, little Ha-yun and her
mother fly to their new family home in New Zealand. Ha-yun terribly misses her
father and writes letters full of love and longing. She meticulously describes
all the impressions and difficulties that she faces in her new home country
and thus turns everyday events into something special. Friendly Mr. Carry, who
teaches English to the girl and her mother, helps her to get accepted by her
new classmates. Ha-yun sends her father a drawing of the new garden, the
strange plants, and the lemon tree. She waits impatiently for the summer and
her father to arrive so that she can greet him with home-made lemon juice.
This quiet story is accompanied by colourful ink- and watercolour
illustrations. (6+) <>
22
Mun, Sung-yon (text)
Yi, Su-ji (illus.)
Uri nun
polgosungi hwaga (We
are naked painters)
P’aju : Tolbaegae 3rini, 2005. – [34] p.
ISBN 89-90025-09-5
Siblings – Painting – Body – Fun
Hun and Jin, brother and sister, discover a box of body paints in their room.
The children are absolutely delighted and start covering first their own and
then each other’s bodies with colourful paints. Their imagination roams
freely, and in their multi-coloured daydreams, they travel through oceans,
jungles, and into the moonlit night. Only when their mother repeatedly calls
for them to come and get into the bath tub, do the siblings return from their
imaginary journey. Witty and expressive full-page drawings rendered in
charcoal and pencil are completed with partly-coloured cut-out figures pasted
onto the illustrations in collage technique. (3+)