Celebrating National Korean American Day – January 13!

Title: Bee-Bim Bop!
By: Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Ho Baek Lee
Published: 2005

Bee-bim bop (the name translates as “mix-mix rice”) is a traditional Korean dish of rice topped, and then mixed, with meat and vegetables. In bouncy rhyming text, a hungry child tells about helping her mother make bee-bim bop: shopping, preparing ingredients, setting the table, and finally sitting down with her family to enjoy a favorite meal. Age Range: 4 -7 years

Call Number: JPicture Park.L

Title: Danbi Leads the School Parade
By: Anna Kim
Published: 2020

Danbi is thrilled to start her new school in America. But a bit nervous too, for when she walks into the classroom, everything goes quiet. Everyone stares. Danbi wants to join in the dances and the games, but she doesn't know the rules and just can't get anything right. Luckily, she isn't one to give up. With a spark of imagination, she makes up a new game and leads her classmates on a parade to remember! Age Range: 3 - 7 Years

J Picture Kim.A

Title: Grandpa Across the Ocean
By: Hyewon Yum
Published: 2021

With her signature warmth and humor, award-winning author-illustrator Hyewon Yum shares the challenges and joys of having a relative who lives far away—proving that even from across the ocean, the grandparent-grandchild relationship is a very special one.Grandpa Across the Ocean. Age Range: 3-6 years

Call Number: J Picture Yum.H

Title: The Name Jar
By: Yangsook Choi
Published: 2001

The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she? Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Age Range: 3 - 7 years

Call Number: JPicture Choi. Y

Title: No Kimchi For Me!
By: Aram Kim
Published: 2017

Yoomi likes Grandma’s Korean food but doesn’t like one thing – stinky spicy kimchi. Her older brothers tease Yoomi because they think only big kids can eat kimchi and Yoomi is a baby. Yoomi tries to prove that she is not a baby by eating kimchi but keeps failing until Grandma steps in to help. Together, they cook a yummy kimchi pancake that everyone can enjoy! Age Range: 3 - 7 Years

Call Number: Call Number: JPicture Kim.A

Title: The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story
By: Tina Cho
Published: 2020

Dayeon wants to be a haenyeo just like Grandma. The haenyeo dive off the coast of Jeju Island to pluck treasures from the sea--generations of Korean women have done so for centuries. To Dayeon, the haenyeo are as strong and graceful as mermaids. A breathtaking picture book featuring a Korean girl and her haenyeo (free diving) grandmother about intergenerational bonds, finding courage in the face of fear, and connecting with our natural world. Age Range: 5 - 8 Years

Call Number: JPicture Cho.T

Title: Rice From Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Koreans
By: Tina Cho
Published: 2018

Rice from Heaven is based on a true story about compassion and bravery as a young girl and her community in South Korea help deliver rice via balloons to the starving people in North Korea. Age Range: 4-8 years

Call Number: J Picture Cho.T

Title: Tiny Feet Between the Mountains
By: Hanna Cha
Published: 2019

A young Korean girl must come up with a clever idea to help a spirit tiger who has swallowed the sun by mistake in this fun, charming debut picture book. Age Range: 5-9 years

Call Number: J Picture Cha.H

Title: The Turtle Ship
By: Helena Ku Rhee
Published: 2018

An adaptation of the legend of Sunsin Yi, a young boy in sixteenth-century Korea, who, inspired by his pet turtle, designs one of the greatest battleships in history and fulfills his dream of sailing the world. Age Range: 5 - 8 years

J Picture Rhee.H

Title: The Twins' Blankets
By: Hyewon Yum
Published: 2011

One of School Library Journal’s Best Picture Books of 2011! These look-alike twins have always shared everything—their room, their toys, a crib, and, since the day they were born, a blanket. But as they grow into new beds, they need new blankets, too. Now they face a new dilemma: they don’t know how not to share. Age Range: 3 - 6 years

Call Number: JPicture Yum.H

Title: When Spring Comes to the DMZ
By: Ok-pae Yi
Published: 2019

Korea's demilitarized zone has become an amazing accidental nature preserve that gives hope for a brighter future for a divided land. Age Range: 4-8 years

Call Number: J Picture Yi.O

Title: Where's Halmoni?
By: Julie Kim
Published: 2017

This picture book in graphic-novel style follows a young Korean girl and boy whose search for their missing grandmother leads them into a world inspired by Korean folklore, complete with mischievous goblins (dokkebi), a greedy tiger, a clever rabbit, and a wily fox. Age Range: 5 - 9 years

Call Number: JGraphic Kim.J

Title: A Single Shard
By: Linda Sue Park
Published: 2001

Tree-ear, an orphan in Medieval Korea, lives under a bridge in Ch’ulp’o, a potters’ village famed for delicate celadon ware. He has become fascinated with the potter’s craft; he wants nothing more than to watch master potter Min at work, and he dreams of making a pot of his own someday. Newbery Medal Winner 2002 Age Range: 10 - 13 years

Call Number: J Park.L

Title: Spirit Hunters
By: Ellen Oh
Published: 2017

Spirit Hunters is a high-stakes middle grade mystery series about Harper Raine, the new seventh grader in town who must face down the dangerous ghosts haunting her younger brother. A riveting ghost story and captivating adventure, this tale will have you guessing at every turn! Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee (2021) Age Range: 8 - 12 years

Call Number: J Oh.E

Title: When You Trap a Tiger
By: Tae Keller
Published: 2020

When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now, the tigers want it back. And when one of those tigers offers Lily a deal--return what Halmoni stole in exchange for Halmoni's health--Lily is tempted to accept. But deals with tigers are never what they seem! Winner, Newbery Award 2021 Age Range: 8–12 years
Call Number: J Kelle.T

Title: Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix
By: Jacqueline Briggs Martin and June Jo Lee with art by Man One
Published: 2017

For Chef Roy Choi, food means love. It also means culture, not only of Korea where he was born, but the many cultures that make up the streets of Los Angeles, where he was raised. So remixing food from the streets, just like good music—and serving it up from a truck—is true to L.A. food culture. People smiled and talked as they waited in line. Won't you join him as he makes good food smiles? Age Range: 6-12 years

Call Number: xBiog Choi.R Marti.J

Title: K is for Korea
By: Hyechong Cheung
Published: 2008

In this photographic alphabet, the author introduces young readers to some of the customs, religion and culture, both ancient and modern, that make up this high-profile country. Focusing on both city and country life, from Arirang to Lacquerware to Taekwondo, this is a celebration of Korea in all its colorful diversity. Age Range: 6-10 years

Call Number: x951.9 Cheun.H

Title: The King’s Secret: the Legend of King Sejong
By: Carol Farley
Published: 2001

With the help of a scholar and a young gardener, the wise king of Korea introduces an alphabet that will enable his people to read and write in their own language. Based on Korean legends. Age Range: 6-10 years

Call Number: x398.6 Korea Farl.C

Title: Korean Celebrations: Festivals, Holidays and Traditions
By: Tina Cho
Published: 2019

Korean Celebrations takes young readers on an exciting exploration of Korea's colorful festivals and family celebrations--wonderful days that are filled with exciting activities and delicious foods. This book allows children to experience Korean culture firsthand by involving them in games, crafts, stories, foods and other activities Age Range: 6-10 years

Call Number: x951.9 Cho.T

Title: Land Of Morning Calm: Korean Culture Then and Now
By: John Stickler with Soma Han (Illustrator)
Published: 2003

What was life like in Ancient Korea? What did people eat? What did they believe in? How is it different now? Take a journey to both ancient and modern Korea, where you will find a rich world of history and traditions that will capture your imagination and whet your appetite for learning more about this fascinating culture.Age Range: 8-12 Years

Call Number: x951.9 Stick.J

Title: Magic spring : a Korean folktale
By: Nami Rhee
Published: 1993

A traditional Korean style of painting and calligraphy helps to capture the distinctive flavor of this unusually gentle tale of justice and redemption, as an old couple, longing for a child, is given a second chance at youth. Age Range: Ages 4-8 years

Call Number: x398.6 Korea Rhee.N