- Overview
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This is a story that gives comfort and encouragement to children who are afraid of expressing their true thoughts.
- Book Intro
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"Ahn Eung" is a secod grader at Haedal Elementary School who always answers "Yes" because he likes to be complimented by adults and afraid of saying "No" as his friend might not like it. He replies "Yes" to his friends' teasing and "Yes" to his mom's pressure on study, but he always feels frustrated inside. Eung, who can not say no to things he does not like, meets a strange cat in the park. As he fails to refuse the cat's offer, Eung must now solve the puzzle.
Eung receives three hints to solve the cat's quiz. He hears up to the second hint, but has no clue to the answer. At the last hint, Eung realizes that the cat's quiz is strange. And he shouts loudly, "No, that's wrong!" which he never told anyone before. Eung who solved the mystery by saying his true thoughts feel relieved.
A Strange Cat is a work that shows how a child who is not good at expressing emotions can honestly express his thoughts and grow. It contains a positive change in a child who have not been able to freely express his feelings because of others' eyes. Eung's true shout will help relieve stress in children who murmur in front of others and have difficulty expressing their thoughts and feelings.
Everyone would have been troubled by not being able to say "no" at least once. Especially, it is not easier for children to say no than adults. Also, society and family still often demand to be "good person." Lim Eojin wrote A Strange Cat hoping that children could say what they want and when they really need it, rather than paying attention to the expectations or attention of others.
- About the Author
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Lim Eojin
(English) Lim Eojin received the Saemteo Award and the Grand Prize at the Woongjin Junior Literary Awards. Lim authored Story Thief, Children of Delta, Goblin Party, Handless Wife, Are We Family and Do You Want Me Gone?.
(Japanese) 成均館大学韓国哲学科を卒業し、2006年『セムト(泉のほとり)賞』、『デルタの子どもたち』で2009年『ウンジンジュニア文学賞』の大賞と2019年韓国文化芸術委員会アルコ文学創作基金を受けました。
Kim Muyeon
(English) Kim Muyeon studied animation at school, and now lives in a house with a lot of trees, drawing. She lives with a shy black dog, a naughty white dog, and two mature cats. The books she illustrated include Draw My Way series; The Shooting Star’s Secret Flavor; Hungry Restaurant; A Pig Cook; Mysterious Ice Cream Shop; and Bonbon, a Romantic Dog.
- Selection
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Chungju City, 2018, 1 Book for 1 City
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 2018, Sejong Books for Sharing Literature