- Overview
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This is a special diary of a child who stumbles upon a magic pencil.
- Book Intro
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This book tells the story of Min-ho, a boy who feels torn between secrets and lies after discovering that a special red pencil enables him to easily write fantastic tales. One day, Min-ho grabs a red pencil on his desk to start his school writing assignment. He's astonished to learn that it has a remarkable power. Although it appears to be no different from any other ordinary pencil, the red pencil moves deftly across paper like a figure skater on ice whenever Min-ho begins to write. Whenever Min-ho has trouble writing in his diary or finishing an assignment, he taps into the power of the red pencil. What results is endless praise not only at school but at home as well. However, the red pencil's wonderful power soon makes Min-ho feel like an impostor. The pencil gradually becomes a big secret that cannot be revealed, making Min-ho nothing more than a liar.
This book has been well-regarded for its subject matter of hard-to-resist temptations, one that is uncommon in Korean children's stories. Its unique theme of a child's self-realization of moral choice without outside influence was cited as the main reason why a panel of judges selected this book to win the 17th Golden Goblin Award.
- About the Author
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Shin Suhyeon
Shin Suhyeon graduated from Korea University with a degree in Geographic Education and Psychology. Shin previously worked in the movie industry after studying films at the Korea Academy of Film Arts. Her children's story Red Pencil received the 17th Golden Goblin Award in 2011.
Kim Sunghee
Kim Sunghee is a cartoonist. She was born in 1975 and set off on the road of manga as his cartoon was published on a university newspaper. Her works include Nasty Girl, Dust-Free Room, Equally Different, and Power to Hang In There at 4 p.m., and works she participated in include Yongsan Where I Lived, People Who Cannot Leave, Island to Island, and Red Medicine. She now lives in Gangneung and is developing her hunting-gathering skills in nature and in neighboring farms.
Kim Sunghee wrote and illustrated That Rotten Woman, The Same Difference, The Life at 4 o’clock, You in Black, and I Am Kim Maria, and she also illustrated the following titles: Yongsan Where I Used to Live, The People Who Cannot Leave, Connecting One Island to Another Island, and Red Medicine. She received the Best Educational Comics Award for Dustless Room.
- Award
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Biryongso, 2011, Golden Goblin Award
- Selection
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Gyeonggi Province School Librarian Council, 2012, Recommended Book
Gyeonggi Culture Foundation, Recommended Book
Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Library, 2011, Recommended Book
Happy Reading in the Morning, Recommended Book
Included in the textbook for 5th graders at elementary schools
Korea Library Association, 2018, Excellent Literature Book
