A is for Asia  (1997) Cynthia Chin-Lee, Illustrations by Yumi Heo

An alphabetical introduction to life on the continent of Asia. For example, "B" is for batik, "D" is for dragon boats, and "Z" is for Zen. Pencil, oil, and collage illustrations accompany the text.

Bee-bim Bop   (2005) Linda Sue Park, Illustrations by Ho Baek Lee

Bee-bim bop (the name translates as "mix-mix rice") is a traditional Korean dish of rice topped, and then mixed, with meat and vegetables. In bouncy rhyming text, a hungry child tells about helping her mother make bee-bim bop: shopping, preparing ingredients, setting the table, and finally sitting down with her family to enjoy a favorite meal. The energy and enthusiasm of the young narrator are conveyed in the whimsical illustrations, which bring details from the artist's childhood in Korea to his depiction of a modern Korean American family.

The Best Older Sister   (1997) Sook Nyul Choi

Although Sunhi tries to welcome her new baby brother, Kiju, into the family, she can't help feeling jealous about all the attention he is getting. With Kiju's first birthday approaching, Sunhi's grandmother finds a way to help her work out her jealous feelings.

Dear Juno  (2001) Soyung Pak, Illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung

When Juno's parents are too busy to read him a letter from his grandmother in Korea, he decides to open the letter himself.  He cannot read the Korean words, but there's more in the envelope than just the letter. Grandmother has sent along a few things--a dried flower and a photograph of herself with her cat. These little things tell Juno a lot: Grandmother has a new cat and she's planting a flower garden. Now Juno wants to write back--without help from mom and dad--but Grandmother can't read English. Juno knows just want to do.

The Firekeeper's Son (2004) Linda Sue Park, Illustrated by Julie Downing

Linda Sue Park's first picture book for Clarion is about Sang-hee, son of the village firekeeper. When his father is unable to light the fire one night, young Sang-hee must take his place. Sang-hee knows how important it is for the fire to be lit-but he wishes that he could see soldiers . . . just once.

The Green Frogs: A Korean Folktale (1996) Yumi Heo

A Korean folktale about two green frogs who constantly disobey their mother. When she tells them to sit down they hop around with spoons in their mouths, when she tells them not to get dirty they play in the mud. Knowing that her children always do the opposite of what she asks, the mother frog requests that upon her death she be buried beside the stream--hoping that she will get her true wish and be buried on a sunny hillside. Is this the one time the green frogs will obey their mother?

Halmoni and the Picnic (1999) Sook Nyul Choi, Illustrated by Karen Dugan

When Yunmi's class plans a picnic in Central Park, her Korean grandmother, Halmoni, agrees to chaperone. But Yunmi worries that the other children will make fun of Halmoni's traditional Korean dress and unfamiliar food.

My Name is Yoon (2003) Helen Recorvits and Gabi Swiat Kowska, Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award, 2004

Disliking her name as written in English, Korean-born Yoon, or "shining wisdom," refers to herself as "cat," "bird," and "cupcake," as a way to feel more comfortable in her new school and new country.

The Name Jar (2001) Yangsook Choi

After Unhei moves from Korea to the United States, her new classmates help her decide what her name should be.

One Afternoon (1999) Yumi Heo

Yumi Heo's mixed-media illustrations use collage and oil painting to capture the hub-bub of an urban routine, seen through the eyes (and ears) of a small child. While this Korean-American artist's style is uniquely modern, Heo's text is comfortably traditional and child-centered, reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown.

One Sunday Morning (1994) Yumi Heo

In this simple story, Minho and his father take the subway to a park on a Sunday morning. They ride the carousel; enjoy a hot dog and a oda; look at the animals in the zoo; and watch the joggers, bicyclists, and rollerbladers. The joy of this outing is brightly captured in the dynamic collage, pencil, and oil illustrations and brief text. Heo creates an animated landcape with strong visual and auditory impact.

The Rabbit's Tail: A story From Korea (1999) Suzanne Crowder Han

Everyone knows that rabbits have short, fluffy tails. But this wasn't always the case. In this captivating version of a Korean folktale, a tiger tells a rabbit the story of how he narrowly escaped being eaten by an evil creature. Amazed that anything could scare a tiger, the curious rabbit dashes off to see the creature. The tiger warns him not to go, but the rabbit doesn't listen and gets himself in a spot of trouble that changes all rabbits forever.

The Sun Girl and Moon Boy (1997) Yangsook Choi

A picture-book version of a Korean version of the "Little Red Riding Hood" story. Here a tiger tries to trick a young boy and girl into thinking he is their mother, but the children use their wits to outsmart the tiger and to be reunited with their real mother. Illustrated with oil paintings

Sumi's First Day of School Ever (2003) Soyung Pak, Illustrated by Joung Un Kim

A Korean girl named Sumi experiences her first day of school in America. Will Sumi find a way to make it through the day in a place where everything is new and different and where everyone speaks a different language?

Waiting For Mama (2007) Lee Tae-Jun, Illustrations by Kim Dong-Seong'

This tender story was first published in a newspaper in 1938. A small child waits for Mama at the station, asking the conductor if he has seen her. The conductor hasn't, but cautions the child to wait a little farther from the tracks. It is cold and snowy but the child waits patiently until finally Mama comes. In the last wordless spread, we see the small hand in a mother's firm clasp as they walk away from us. The art and text are so authentic, so real, that this book is best published in a bilingual edition that respects and honors those traditions.

Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems) (2007) Linda Sue Park, Illustrated by Istvan Banyai

A sijo, a traditional Korean verse form, has a fixed number of stressed syllables and a humorous or ironic twist at the end.  The verses in this book illuminate funny, unexpected, amazing aspects of everyday life. Carefully crafted and deceptively simple, Linda Sue Park's sijo are a pleasure to read and an irresistible invitation to experiment with this poetic form. Istvan Banyai's irrepressibly giddy and sophisticated illustrations add a one-of-a-kind luster to a book that is truly a gem.

Yunmi and Halmoni's Trip (1997) Sook Nyul Choi, Ilustrated by Karen Dugan

Yunmi and her grandmother, Halmoni, are going to Korea, where Halmoni lived before she moved to New York City. Yunmi enjoys seeing Korea for the first time and helping prepare the annual family picnic feast. But seeing Halmoni happy and busy with her family and friends, Yunmi feels like an outsider and longs to have Halmoni all to herself again. She also fears that Halmoni will not return home to New York with her.

A Single Shard (2002) Linda Sue Park  -  Newberry Award

Set in 12th century Korea, this is the story of Tree-ear who lives under a bridge with his disabled older friend Crane-man. Tree-ear becomes fascinated with the potter's craft and longs to create celadon ceramics. However pottery is a trade passed on from father to son and Tree-ear is an orphan. He works long and hard hoping to become an apprentice.

Archer's Quest (2008) Linda Sue Park

Kevin is doing homework when suddenly an arrow comes out of nowhere, pinning his baseball cap to the wall. The man who shot the arrow claims he fell off a tiger . . . and wound up in Kevin’s room. The man, who calls himself Chu-mong, or Great Archer, is no ordinary burglar, but a traveler from far away in both space and time. A visit to the local museum confirms that there was a king named Chu-mong in ancient Korea, legendary for his skill with bow and arrow. No matter what it takes, Kevin is determined to help Archer return to his own time, or risk having Korean history changed forever.

Chi-Hoon: A Korean Girl (1998) Patricia I. McMahon and Michael F. O'Brien

"A week in the life of an eight-year-old Korean girl is presented through diary entries, wry third-person narrative, and full-color photographs. Children will delight in this work . . . an example of how this type of book should be done". --starred review, "School Library Journal".

Echoes of the White Giraffe (1994) Sook Nyul Choi

Sookan, the unforgettable heroine of Year of Impossible Goodbyes, is now fifteen years old and a refugee in Pusan, a city in a southern province of Korea. The Korean War is raging, and she once again has been separated from her father and brothers. Anxiously awaiting any news of them, Sookan imagines a time when she can return to a normal life in Seoul. In the meantime, though she often feels sad, alone, and scared, she finds solace in a forbidden friendship with the mysterious “shouting poet” who offers her and her fellow refugees inspiration each morning.

The Kite Fighters (2002) Linda Sue Park

In fifteenth-century Korea, two brothers discover a shared passion for kites. Kee-sup can craft a strong and beautiful kite, but his younger brother, Young-sup, can fly a kite as if he controlled the wind itself. Their skills are noticed by Korea's young king, who chooses Young-sup to fly the royal kite in the New Year kite-flying competition. Although tradition decrees, and the boys' father insists, that the older brother represent the family, the brothers know that the family's honor is best left in Young-sup's hands. This  story is filled with the authentic detail and flavor of traditional Korean kite fighting.

Korean Children's Favorite Stories (2004) So-Un Kim, Illustrated by Kyoung-Sim Jeong

An illustrated collection of Korean folk tales which are still being told, just as they have been for generations... This book is a beautifully illustrated, captivating collection of Korean folk tales which are still being told, just as they have been for generations. Some are peculiar to Korea, while others echo those told in other countries. Written with wit and pathos, they unveil the inevitable foibles of people everywhere and expose the human-like qualities of animals and the animal-like qualities of humans.

The Legend of Hong Kil Dong: The Robin Hood of Korea (2006) Anne Sibley O'Brien

Hong Kil Dong, the son of a powerful minister, is not entitled to a birthright because his mother is a commoner. After studying the martial arts, divination, swordplay, the uses of magic, and the wisdom of the Book of Changes, Kil Dong sets off on a quest to discover his destiny and claim his rightful role as a wise and just leader. This graphic book captures the drama and pageantry of sixteenth-century Korea during the Chosun dynasty and pays tribute to the adventure story that became the first novel written in the Korean language.

Project Mulberry (2005) Linda Sue Park

Julia Song and her friend Patrick want to team up to win a blue ribbon at the state fair, but they can't agree on the perfect project. Then Julia's mother suggests they raise silkworms as she did years ago in Korea. The optimistic twosome quickly realizes that raising silkworms is a lot tougher than they thought. And Julia never suspected that she'd be discussing the fate of her and Patrick's project with Ms. Park, the author of this book!

Seesaw Girl (1999) Linda Sue Park

Impatient with the constraints put on her as an aristocratic girl living in Korea during the seventeenth century, twelve-year-old Jade Blossom determines to see beyond her small world.

Sondok:Princess of the Moon and Stars, Korea,A.D. 595 (2002) Sheri Holman

During the seventh century, the land which is now Korea was fraught with political and religious intrigue. The country was spilt into Three Kingdoms, each fighting for supremacy. Besides this, three religions are in conflict: Shamanism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. In this atmosphere of conflict, we meet 14-year old Sondok, eldest daughter of King Chin-Pyong, ruler of Silla.

When My Name Was Keoko (2002) Linda Sue Park  -  Jan Adams Honor Book Award

This unusual book of historical fiction, told from the point of view of young adolescents, is set in a Korea occupied by Japan; it concludes at the end of WW II. A sister and brother, Sun-hee (Keoko of the tide) and Tae-yul, experience the fears and humiliations that go with military defeat and attempted assimilation by their conquerors.

The Yalu Flows: A Korean Childhood (1987) Mirok Li

As the son of a Korean family of substance, the author of this autobiographical sketch grew up during the occupation of Korea by the Japanese in 1910. Mirok Li, a perceptive and receptive schoolboy, saw this political scene in terms of his day-to-day experience. He has recalled his experiences in lucent, calm, and fully expressive terms, stirring the reader with a blend of intimacy and remoteness. Mirok Li died in Bavaria in 1950, but he has left us with a work of finished and haunting art that conveys a spiritual repose beneath the unrest and progress of his period.

Year of Impossible Goodbyes (1995) Sook Nyul Choi

In 1945, 10-year-old Sookan's homeland of North Korea is occupied by the Japanese. Left behind while her resistance-fighter father hides in Manchuria and her older brothers toil in Japanese labor camps, Sookan and her remaining family members run a sock factory for the war effort.. Sookan watches her people, forced to renounce their native ways, become increasingly angry and humiliated. When war's end brings only a new type of domination--from the Russian communists--Sookan and her younger brother must make a harrowing escape across the 38th parallel after their mother has been detained at a Russian checkpoint.

Gathering of Pearls (1994) Sook Nyul Choi

As Sookan Bak, the heroine of Year of Impossible Goodbyes and Echoes of the White Giraffe, travels the long distance between Seoul, Korea, and New York City, she is consumed by questions about her future. What will her life in America be like? Will she be able to communicate and fit in? Will she do well in her studies? And has she been selfish in her decision to leave her family and pursue her own dreams? Here is the compelling, often surprising story of Sookan’s first year in a foreign country—a joyful, overwhelming, and exhilarating time.

In the Absence of Sun (2002) Helie Lee

Helie Lee's first book , "Still Life with Rice," told of her grandmother's life, including her extraordinary journey to bring her family south across enemy lines during the Korean War, then on to America. The book's publication angered the North Korean government, and Helie was advised that her uncle, who remained in North Korea, was in grave danger. Making a promise to her grandmother that she would see her son alive again, Helie resolved to rescue him. "In the Absence of Sun" tells the story of how Helie and her family braved many dangers to achieve their goal. In fact, they surpassed it, freeing eight additional members of the extended family.

Lost Names: Scenes from a Korean Boyhood (1998) Richard Kim

Kim's fictionalized memoir tells the story of one family's experience during the Japanese occupation of Korea. In 1933 there is a dramatic iced-river crossing into Manchuria. In 1938, the boy and his family move back to Korea, where he must learn new routines like bowing his head toward Tokyo, toward the Japanese emperor. Later, when they are forced to renounce family names in favor of Japanese ones, his father takes him to the cemetery to ask forgiveness from their ancestors for the humiliation of losing their names. The scenes continue as the boy grows, mingling the experiences of childhood with the history of the occupation.

Still Life with Rice: A Young American Woman Discovers the Life and Legacy of Her Korean Grandmother (1996) Helie Lee

In this radiant memoir of her grandmother's life, Lee recreates a culture that is both seductively exotic and strangely familiar. Lee's desire to recover the family's history, as well as to understand the intricate weave of her own identity, results in the exploration of universal issues such as the complex nature of family relations and the rapidly changing lives of women in this century.

Under the Black Umbrella: Voices from Colonial Korea, 1910 - 1945 (2005) Hildi Kang

In the rich and varied life stories in Under the Black Umbrella, elderly Koreans recall incidents that illustrate the complexities of Korea during the colonial period. Hildi Kang here reinvigorates a period of Korean history long shrouded in the silence of those who endured under the "black umbrella" of Japanese colonial rule.