Written by Seo Seon-jeong | Published by Bombom Publishing

Spring is coming.
A new school year is just around the corner.

It feels like the perfect time to clean out the drawers.

That’s how this gentle picture book begins — with a family preparing for change through something simple: organizing clothes.

---

📖 About the Story

Before moving, the family starts sorting through their clothes.

Some are too small.
Some are worn from love and use.
Some are given to others.
Some are transformed into something new.

Through this quiet act of cleaning and sharing, memories resurface.

Thanks to a loving grandmother skilled with her hands, both mother and child carry warm memories stitched into every piece of clothing.

Clothes that once held laughter and growth are passed along again —
ready to begin new stories in someone else’s life.

---

🌸 Why This Book Feels Special

• Teaches children about sharing and sustainability
• Encourages emotional reflection through everyday objects
• Gentle introduction to seasonal change and new beginnings
• Rich visual details that invite readers to “search and find”

There is also a delightful element woven throughout —
spotting the illustrator’s signature fish,
finding birds hidden in the scenes,
discovering patterns in fabric.

A quiet but deeply meaningful reading experience.

---

👶 Recommended Age

Ages 5–8
Perfect for families preparing for a new school year or a seasonal reset.

After reading, you may look at your own closet differently —
not just as storage, but as a collection of memories.

Written & Illustrated by Park Yeon-cheol | Published by Biryongso

Have you ever heard the word “Eocheoguni”?

In modern Korean, people say “This is absurd!” using an expression that literally means “There is no eocheoguni.”
But what exactly is an eocheoguni?

An eocheoguni is a small decorative guardian figure, traditionally placed along the edge of palace rooftops in Korea. These tiny statues, also known as japsang, were believed to protect buildings from evil spirits.

If you visit Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, you can still see these whimsical figures sitting along the roof ridges.

But how did they end up there?

That’s the delightful question this picture book explores.

---

📖 About the Story

In the heavenly kingdom, the mischievous eocheoguni are causing chaos once again.

The Heavenly King comes up with a solution:

Capture the “Bad Son” spirit, and you will be forgiven.
Fail, and you will face severe punishment.

Here, “Son” refers to a traditional Korean folk spirit associated with misfortune — the same “Son” mentioned in the phrase “Son-less days” (auspicious moving days in Korean tradition).

Curious already?

The clever eocheoguni devise a mysterious plan.
Will they succeed? Or will they be punished?

To find out what happens next, you’ll have to read the book.

---

🌿 Why This Book Stands Out

• Introduces traditional Korean rooftop guardian figures
• Explains Korean folk beliefs in an engaging, humorous way
• Combines cultural education with imagination
• Rich, expressive illustrations full of personality
• Enjoyable for both children and adults

Rather than presenting history as dry information, this book brings Korean heritage to life through storytelling.

---

👶 Recommended Age

Ages 6 and up
Great for early elementary readers and families interested in Korean culture.

---

After reading this book, you may find yourself looking more carefully at palace rooftops —
and perhaps understanding a common Korean expression in a whole new way.

The Strongest Bungeoppang in the Universe

Written & Illustrated by Yuri
Publisher: Iyagikot (이야기꽃)

“I am a bungeoppang vendor.
I make the most delicious bungeoppang in the universe.”

That single sentence opens the story —
and honestly, it already feels complete.

Not the best in the neighborhood.
Not the best in Korea.
But the best in the universe.

That confidence alone makes you smile.

Wearing flower-patterned pants and boots,
pulling a cart filled with batter and sweet red bean paste,
the vendor walks proudly forward.

Even from behind,
you can tell —
this is someone who truly believes in their craft.

And somehow,
you believe it too.

---

Just Looking at the Pictures Makes You Hungry

Golden-brown fish-shaped waffles,
warm steam rising in the cold winter air,
sweet red bean filling packed inside.

The illustrations are so vivid
you can almost taste them.

Suddenly,
you want bungeoppang too.

---

Why “The Strongest”?

The answer appears
in the very last customer of the day.

A small but meaningful moment
that quietly reveals
why this is not just the strongest in flavor —
but strongest in heart.

---

Searching for Our Own “Strongest”

In winter,
we all become children again.

We follow the sweet smell on the street,
hold a warm paper bag in our hands,
and take that first bite.

Maybe we are all searching
for our own version
of the strongest bungeoppang in the universe.

---

Magpie Tiger Hates Lunar New Year!

Written by Park Kyung-im
Illustrated by Park Seo-young
Publisher Hoozmate

A humorous and witty reinterpretation of Korean folk painting (Minhwa),
Magpie Tiger Hates Lunar New Year! introduces readers to the traditional New Year custom of “Sebaehaeng” (New Year’s protective folk paintings).

In Korean tradition, Sebaehaeng paintings were attached to doors at the beginning of the year to drive away evil spirits and invite good fortune. Tigers, magpies, roosters, dogs, and mythical creatures often appeared as guardians.

But in this story, something is different.

The tiger — who is supposed to scare away ghosts — is actually terrified of them.

As Lunar New Year approaches and the village prepares its protective paintings, ghosts begin to gather in the dark streets. The brave-looking tiger desperately tries to escape from the spirits he fears the most.

Through humor and expressive illustrations, this book introduces children to:

• Korean folk painting traditions
• Lunar New Year customs
• Symbolic guardian animals in Korean culture
• The irony and humor hidden in traditional imagery

This picture book beautifully connects heritage with playful storytelling, making it an engaging introduction to Korean culture for international readers.

---

Themes

Lunar New Year · Korean Folk Art · Minhwa · Humor · Cultural Heritage

Recommended Age

4–9