- Overview
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This illustrated book teaches readers the value of being considerate and respecting promises and that consideration for others is never trivial.
- Book Intro
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An illustrated book that plants the seed of philosophical thinking that transforms the meaning of triviality.
One day, Hun, the main character, rescues a toad on his way to school. Grateful, the toad declares that he will grant a trivial wish in return. However, Hun's wishes, which he thought were trivial, are rejected every time by the toad. He wishes to be friends again with a classmate with whom he had a fight, but the toad asserts that such a matter is never trivial. Hun wishes for his art class to be changed to physical education, but that wish is also rejected. The toad explains to Hun the importance of abiding by rules. Hun wishes for vegetables to be replaced with ham on his dinner plate, but the toad explains that being a picky eater is no trivial matter. Frustrated, Hun yells, "Then what exactly is trivial?" The toad rolls his eyes and answers, "Well, something that's very small and meaningless". Will Hun be able to figure out what a trivial wish actually is? And what does trivial mean anyway? The toad sprang into Hun's mundane life like magic. The toad's answers contain nuggets of wisdom that all children should understand, from considering others' feelings and getting along with friends to respecting rules and order.
Bright, tranquil illustrations and humorous writing.
Although short, the writing skillfully leads the story of a child's daily life in fun and interesting ways. The illustrations harmoniously capture movements and spaces with dynamism, leaving readers with a feeling of having watched a movie. Plus, the toad's expressive appearance and actions offer a sense of pleasure and curiosity, drawing in readers even deeper into the story. The characters are expressed in bold yet simple lines with distinct expressions and movements for greater immersion. What's more, the dominant use of yellow, green, and red add a sense of warmth and brightness for a youthful feel.
- About the Author
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Chon Gumja
(French) Elle est devenue écrivaine de livres d'images parce qu'elle aime écrire et dessiner. Elle a remporté le Golden Goblin Award for Excellence pour son premier livre, "Crapaud qui n'exauce que de petits vœux". Il y a un livre intitulé "Moustache Rabbit" qu'elle a écrit et dessiné, et un livre intitulé "Un enfant comme moi".
(English) Chon Gumja majored in painting and currently creates picture books after working as a designer for a long time. Chon liked writing and drawing as a child, which led her to becoming a picture book writer. She won the Gold Goblin Excellence Award with her first book A Toad That Only Grants Trivial Wishes. She has written and drawn A Mustache Rabbit, and has illustrated A Child Who Is Just Like Me.
(Russian) Мне нравится писать и рисовать, поэтому я стал(а) писать книжки с картинками. Первая книга «Жаба, исполняющая только маленькие желания» получила премию «Золотой гоблин» за выдающиеся достижения. Книга, которую я написал(а) с картинками, называлась «Усы Кролика», а книга, для которой я нарисовал(а) картинки, была «Такой же ребенок, как я».
- Award
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2017, Golden Goblin Award
- Selection
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National Library for Children & Young Adults, 2018, Recommended Book by librarians
Bookstart, 2018, Recommended Book
Happy Reading in the Morning, 2018, Recommended Book
School Librarian Council, 2018, Recommended Book