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| Authors Lee Su-zy and Choi Deok-kyu / Courtesy of BIR Publishing Co. and YUN Edition |
By Park Han-sol
Two critically-acclaimed Korean picture books have been honored in this year's prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Awards for children's literature, presented at Italy's Bologna Children's Book Fair.
Lee Su-zy's "Summer" and Choi Deok-kyu's "Father's Big Hands" earned special mentions in the fiction and nonfiction categories, respectively.
The Bologna Ragazzi Awards, which are awarded to international works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and comics each year, are celebrated prizes in the world of children's book publishing, along with the Hans Christian Andersen Award and the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB).
Choi's "Father's Big Hands" is a semi-autobiographical story about a son who grew up under his father's care and is now looking after him as an adult. The book's juxtaposition of illustrations of a father and son switching roles ― giving each other a bath and helping each other to get dressed and eat ― has captivated both young and adult readers alike.
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| A page from Lee Su-zy's "Summer" (2021) / Courtesy of BIR Publishing Co. |
Lee's "Summer" is a 148-page book ― quite an ambitious length for a picture book with no text ― that has combined the music of Antonio Vivaldi, specifically "Summer" from "The Four Seasons," with dynamic illustrations of children playing in the water.
Readers can scan the QR code printed on the book's dust jacket, which will then play the iconic violin concerto, and begin turning the pages filled with vibrant visuals achieved through paper collages, pencil drawings, watercolors and acrylic paint.
Lee has also made headlines for being shortlisted for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, referred to as the "Little Nobel Prize." The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) has awarded the prize to authors and illustrators every other year since 1956 and 1966, respectively, in recognition of their lifelong contributions to literature for children and young adults.
This year marks Lee's second time as the only Korean illustrator ever to compete for an Andersen Award, following her first nomination in 2016. The winner will be announced during the four-day Bologna Children's Book Fair, which is scheduled to start on March 21.
The author has previously received "The Most Beautiful Swiss Books" prize, organized by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture, for "Revenge of the Rabbits" (2003), as well as the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for "Open This Little Book" (2013). Her "Alice in Wonderland" (2002) is also in the Artist's Book Collection at the Tate Britain.
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