Korean / Republic of Korea
Byeol naksi
(Star fishing)
Gim, Sang Geun
(Kim, Sang-Keun)
(text/illus.)
Paju: Sagyejeol (Sakyejul), 2019. – [51] p.
ISBN 979-11-6094-460-0
Night | Insomnia | Star | Constellation | Friendship | Bedtime story | Picture book
Reading age: 4+
White Ravens issue: 2020
One night, a sleepless child turns to the moon in search of a playmate and is pulled up by a fishing line. The fisherman turns out to be the equally sleepless moon rabbit. Now, the two of them cast their fishing rods into the sky. A crab, a fox, and two polar bears take the bait. While the new-found friends share thoughts about their insomnia, their fishing lines start shaking. Something huge has bitten! It is a cluster of stars that draws them out into space. What a playground! What fun to create one’s own constellation in the night sky: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Vulpecula, Cancer … and a new one for the rabbit. Playing makes one so tired! Even the rabbit can sleep now, back on the moon and sheltered by its very own constellation. Kim Sang-Keun describes his creative process as similar to making animated films. No wonder that this book shows cinematic qualities, brought to life through countless shades of blue, dialogue, and comic book features without any need for an overarching narration. [YC, MC, SP]