- Overview
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This book is a comedy and creative fable that reflects on human attributes through the artist's unique humor.
- Book Intro
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One morning, a ladybug got caught in a spider web. The ladybug sees a bear passing by and begs him to save her, but the bear leaves the ladybug, saying that he cannot go against the laws of nature. At lunch, the bear happens to pass by the same place again and once again ignores the ladybug's pleas for help. In the evening, somehow, the bear passes by the same place a third time...
Flowers For a Gift divides the day's happenings into breakfast, lunch and dinner. The dialogues and monologues of the characters in a limited space give the unique impression of watching a three-act play. While the same situation is repeated, slight changes bring excitement, and the conversation between the individual characters is humorous. Ladybug tries several tactics to get rescued. She flatters to the bear (morning) and lies to the bear (lunch), but fails both times. Eventually, the ladybugs succeeds in the evening by using tact, and this help us to think about what strategies we might use in the crises of life and which ones might work. The bear does not save the ladybug because he cannot 'go against the laws of nature.' But in fact, he wants to help the spiders because they deal with the nasty, annoying mosquitoes. The bear pretends to be a bystander, but in the end chooses which is better for him, the ladybug or the spider. Flowers For a Gift is a creative fable that reveals various human attributes through the character of the ladybug and the bear.
The bear finally decides to save the ladybug. The writer, Kang Gyeong Su, began writing the story with the idea that even a trivial action, such as breaking a web with a fingertip, could make a big difference in the world. Thanks to the surviving ladybug, the following spring is filled with blooming flowers.
- About the Author
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Kang Gyeong Su
Kang Gyeong Su (M) creates unique, yet witty stories. He loves cartoons and has been drawing them for 10 years. These days, he is fascinated by children's books and works as a picture book and children's book writer. Books illustrated by Kang include the series Gunbangi's Cheeky Training, The Dung Shield, and Mr Confucius' Bakery Shop. In 2011 he won the Bologna Ragazzi Award in the non-fiction category at the Bologna International Children's Book Fair.