[This Week's Children's and Youth Books] "Eulssinyeon Is the Class President" and More

Eulssinyeon Is the Class President

This award collection brings together five short stories that won the 12th Kyobo Bookstore Story Award for Youth. It features a variety of narratives and genres that open the "door to a strange world" that teenagers are likely to encounter. Here, the "door" serves both as an entrance to an unfamiliar world and as a passage for looking into a previously unknown self. The stories follow the experience of "difference" and "diversity" that arise when facing the worlds both inside and outside of school, as well as the emotional journey of understanding and overcoming these differences. The collection depicts five ways to connect different worlds through a warm and delicate language of the heart, far from being gloomy or cold. (Written by Jang Agyeol and four others | Bookda)

I Decided to Become a Nurse

For a long time, there were conventional gender roles assigned to certain professions. There was the notion that women could not become soldiers and men could not become nurses. However, these boundaries have now disappeared. Women can confidently enlist in the military, and male nurses are no longer rare. The cumulative number of male nurses in Korea surpassed 20,000 long ago. This book introduces the stories of 14 of them. In a world where prejudice has not been completely erased, these men candidly share how they decided to become nurses and what they have experienced and continue to experience in their respective positions. (Written by Kim Jinsu and 13 others | Sidaeichang)

My Own Way: Bang Bang Bang Bang

Here is an all-purpose bus run by Choux Cream Bread. One day, Rye Bread, Hardtack, Glutinous Rice Bread, and an unidentified bread arrive and make unusual requests: a syrup that makes things smooth, amazing fun, a lie detector, and something to protect themselves. Even for an all-purpose bus, the requests from the four breads leave Choux Cream Bread bewildered. Nevertheless, Choux Cream Bread does its best to meet their needs, and through this process, the four breads discover their own charms that they had never realized before. They also come to understand that what they truly needed was not the items they originally wanted, but someone who would listen to and empathize with their stories. (Written and illustrated by Kim Jian | Woongjin Junior)

The Rabbit Who Wants to Sleep

This children's book, which gained attention in Sweden as a recommended gift for friends expecting childbirth or raising children, has been published in Korean. Its purpose is to help children fall asleep comfortably at home, school, or kindergarten. The author, a psychologist and behavioral science expert, uses unique language patterns within a simple story to help children go to bed early. Adults are no exception. The book also includes the author's own tips for using the book, helping parents better understand how to use it. (Written by Carl-Johan Forssen Ehrlin | Illustrated by Sydney Hanson | Wilma)

Tata, Please Help!

One day, an egg falls in front of the hen Kkoko, making a loud noise in the mountains. Kkoko decides to incubate the egg, and the next day, the mother ostrich comes looking for it but pretends not to know. The chick that hatches is named "Tata," but it looks very different from the other chicks. Then, Bibi comes to Kkoko and says, "You willingly sent me to my mother, too." Touched by Bibi's words, which show understanding of both Kkoko's warm heart for caring for the fallen egg and Tata's longing for its mother among the chicks, Kkoko decides to return Tata to its mother. This book highlights the power of a single empathetic word. (Written by Kwon Ohjun | Illustrated by Jeon Mingul | Hyeonlim Publishing)

Oh! Carrot

A rabbit who enjoys being alone spends the long winter reading books and drinking tea by itself. Then, when spring arrives, it plants plenty of its favorite carrot seeds and lovingly nurtures them. One day, after pulling up a large carrot, the rabbit is surprised to find that the carrot can talk and walk. The rabbit, who once preferred solitude, begins to develop a unique friendship with the lively and cheerful carrot. This is the latest work from an author who has consistently published delightful picture books on themes such as the environment, animals, and books, always maintaining a sense of humor. The story conveys the lesson that, like plants, friendship grows well when you consistently give it your heart. (Written by Mariaho Illustrataho | Wisdom House)