Five Categories Including Picture Books, Children's Books, Youth, Literature, and Non-fiction
Yangju City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kang Su-hyun) announced on the 11th that from November 2024 to February 2025, it received recommendations for 100 books for the ‘Book of the Year,’ conducted a citizen preference survey and citizen selection committee meetings, and finally selected a total of 18 books as Yangju City's ‘Book of the Year 2025’ across five categories (picture books, children's books, youth, literature, and non-fiction).
Yangju City, Poster for the Selection of 18 Books as 'Book of the Year' 2025. Provided by Yangju City
The selection of the ‘Book of the Year’ began in 2012 as part of the ‘One City One Book Reading’ project and is now in its 14th year. Especially this year, a non-fiction category was newly established, and the number of selected books per category was expanded to up to six, aiming to activate reading culture by reading books on more diverse topics together with citizens.
The books selected this year in the picture book category are ▲ Gaeyoktang (text by Kim Yu, illustrations by Sobok) ▲ Insect Hotel (text by Han La-kyung, illustrations by Muun) ▲ I’m Broccoli but I Want to Be Loved (texts by Byeoldareum and Daldareum, illustrations by Seo Young) ▲ Sonagi (by Pidok) ▲ White Gift (by Lee Yeon). In the children's book category, the selected titles are ▲ Island (by Kim Ji-wan) ▲ Always Kind Jukjip (by Woo Shin-young) ▲ Why Why Why Club (by Jin Hyung-min) ▲ Master Finder Kim Ji-woo (by Jang Hee-jung) ▲ Haedeun Snack Bar (by Dong Ji-a) ▲ Harriet (by Han Yoon-seop).
In the youth book category, the selected books are ▲ Tomorrow’s Picnic (by Kang Seok-hee) ▲ B-Cut for You (by Lee Geum-i) ▲ Why Do We Easily Forget and Repeat Similar Things? (by Noh Myung-woo) ▲ Yul’s Perspective (by Kim Min-seo). In the literature category, ▲ Melanin (by Ha Seung-min) ▲ Light and Melody (by Jo Hae-jin) were selected, and in the non-fiction category, ▲ Read the Constitution Once in a Lifetime (by Lee Hyo-won), making a total of 18 books.
Yangju City plans to promote various projects to spread reading culture by linking the selected ‘Book of the Year’ with childcare institutions, schools, local bookstores, and private small libraries.
To this end, various programs will be operated where citizens can communicate and empathize through reading, such as ▲ Sound of Book (book reading events) ▲ School Book Relay (inter-school book reading relay) ▲ Our Neighborhood Small Library (community reading space creation) ▲ Book Crossing Reading Movement (book sharing campaign).
A Yangju City official said, “With the expansion of the ‘Book of the Year’ categories and number of books, we hope more citizens will encounter diverse books and feel the value and joy of reading,” adding, “We will continue to make efforts to establish a reading culture together with citizens.”
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