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JuENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE:
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY: Korea (Republic)
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Korea; family name is Lee.
EDUCATION:Studied design and illustration in Korea and the U.K.
ADDRESS
CAREER AWARDS:
Korean Young Illustrator Award; BolognaRagazzi Award for Comics/Early Reader, 2021, for Iparapa Yamooyamoo.
WRITINGS
Paper Dad was adapted as a children’s musical in Korea.
SIDELIGHTS
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, November 1, 2022, Van McGray, review of My GrandMom, p. 76.
Horn Book, November-December, 2023, Julie Danielson, review of The Red Fruit, p. 57.
Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2022, review of My GrandMom; September 1, 2023, review of The Red Fruit; June 15, 2024, review of The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower.
Publishers Weekly, July 8, 2024, review of The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower, p. 171.
School Library Journal, September, 2023, Jessica Clark, review of The Red Fruit, p. 89.
ONLINE
Celebrate Picture Books, https://celebratepicturebooks.com/ (November 18, 2022), review of My GrandMom.
K-Book Trends, https://www.kbook-eng.or.kr/ (August 2, 2021), “Author Illustrator Yi Gee Eun.”
Korea Times, https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/ (June 2, 2021), Park Ji-won, “Korean Children’s Books Win Big at Bologna Children’s Book Fair.”
Randomly Reading, https://randomlyreading.blogspot.com/ (November 17, 2022), review of My GrandMom.
Lee Gee Eun is the most beloved picture book artist working in Korea today. The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower is her magnum opus: a ridiculously exuberant picture book—with a surprisingly moving ending—that spans 80 pages of breathtaking comics and full spread illustrations. Readers young and old will delight in and become fast friends with the legend of this irrepressible pair.
Lee Gee Eun is an author and illustrator from Korea who has won numerous international honors, including the BolognaRagazzi award and the Korean Young Illustrator Award. She is also the author/illustrator of The Red Fruit, which Kirkus Reviews said “beautifully transcends its seeming simplicity” in a starred review. You can follow her at @studio_geeeun. Author residence: Korea
Lee, Gee-eun MY GRANDMOM Amazon Crossing Kids (Children's None) $17.99 11, 15 ISBN: 978-1-66250-825-7
Author/illustrator Lee draws on childhood experiences in this South Korean import about a girl who gains a greater appreciation for her grandma.
Gee-eun, a Korean child, is introduced seeking comfort in her grandma's arms as her mother leaves for work. Softly textured lines and colors are blended and smudged to invoke a sense of intimacy as Grandma, or Halmoni, distracts Gee-eun by making knife-cut noodles together. As they slurp the well-earned meal of kalguksu, they talk about how Halmoni raised Gee-eun's mother when she was younger. The forthright, poignant narrative reveals that Gee-eun is worried about who will accompany her to the upcoming Family Sports Day in her parents' absence. Halmoni answers in stride, telling stories of her athleticism and the nicknames she earned for her prowess. On the big day, children and their parents run in curved streaks of color across the pages as Halmoni and Gee-eun participate in the first race. "Halmoni, fast! Faster! Even Faster!" Yet Halmoni falls, and Gee-eun begins to sob. The disappointed pair walk through different neighborhoods in Korea that are saturated in warm colors, vivid shapes, and images as Halmoni offers a curry bun to Gee-eun to cheer her up. When they arrive home and Halmoni prepares a feast for the entire family, the experience is cemented as a fond memory.(This book was reviewed digitally.)
A touching tale that exudes love and warmth. (Picture book. 5-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Lee, Gee-eun: MY GRANDMOM." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Sept. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A717107352/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=5b2788ea. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
My GrandMom. By Gee-eun Lee. Illus. by the author. Tr. by Sophie Bowman. Nov. 2022.40p. Amazon Crossing, $17.99 (9781662508257). PreS-Gr. 2.
Korean author and illustrator Lee draws on her relationship with her own grandmother in this endearing picture book. Young Geeeun's parents are often busy working. Luckily, Halmoni, her grandma, is there to spend time with her. When Gee-eun's mom is unable to take her to Family Sports Day, Halmoni fills in, even if it's not in quite the way Gee-eun had hoped for. But maybe the day can still end on a delicious note. Through softly sketched, roughly colored illustrations that evoke children's drawings, Lee channels her young self's perspective. The artwork, while seemingly simple, is charming and captivating. Lee captures her characters' expressions with minimal detail and plays with various scales, creating one visually interesting spread after another. Translator Bowman conveys Halmoni's playfulness and the tenderness in her relationship with Gee-eun, which are mirrored in Lee's drawings. A touching celebration of grandparent-and-grandchild connection that will warm many hearts.--Van McGary
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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McGray, Van. "My GrandMom." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 5-6, 1 Nov. 2022, p. 76. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A727772654/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b2c5a24f. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
Lee Gee-eun THE RED FRUIT Levine Querido (Children's None) $18.99 11, 14 ISBN: 9781646147007
Economically drawn and narrated, this translated work from Korea spotlights a bear cub's naïveté and determination.
An italicized, scene-setting line of text appears against a page depicting snow, tall conifers, and the bear cub's tracks: "Baby bear got up early, by himself." "Tok"--a red fruit bounces off the hungry cub's head. Finding the morsel delicious, the bear declares, "I want to eat more." He begins to climb, successively encountering three red shapes that initially appear to be more tantalizing fruit but reveal themselves to be a caterpillar, a squirrel, and a beehive. As the cub climbs, the perspective shifts between close- and mid-range spreads and long views of his diminutive form amid the pine forest. At the very top, the bear sees "nothing." But the setting sun's red blaze tints the branches, catching his eye. "It looks delicious!" Leaping, he falls--first, backlit against the huge orb, then past beehive, squirrel, and caterpillar into the voluminous embrace of a parent, waiting with two other cubs and piles of red fruit. Rendered in inky, grainy gradations of gray-to-black, accented with red and yellow, Lee's pictures capture the forest's beauty, evoking traditional brush painting. The bears' spreading pads and claws seem as significant as their physiognomy--which nonetheless quietly conveys sensations of curiosity, satiety, surprise, and (in the parent bear) implacable aplomb. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Beautifully transcends its seeming simplicity. (Picture book. 3-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Lee Gee-eun: THE RED FRUIT." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A762669007/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=48f56987. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
The Red Fruit
by Lee Gee Eun; illus. by the author
Preschool Levine Querido 64 pp.
11/23 9781646147007 $18.99
Hungry baby bear wakes up early and wanders off alone. When a delicious red fruit falls from a tree and lands on his head, he decides to search for more. The tree is exceedingly tall, but that doesn't stop him. On his way up, he spots what he thinks is the red fruit, but page-turns reveal other surprises: a caterpillar, a squirrel, a beehive. At the top of the tree, he's mesmerized by what he thinks is the biggest red fruit of all: the setting sun. Eun fills this Korean import with simple sentences ("I want to eat more"), perfect for pre- and emerging readers. Playful text orientation captures bear's daunting climb: the letters of "Going up" are set in a vertical line. The use of a repeated "Oh!" for many of the creatures the bear sees on his climb emphasizes his abundant curiosity. Vibrant pops of red for the elements in nature that baby bear discovers punctuate an otherwise monochromatic palette in textured illustrations with relaxed lines that look like they were done in charcoals. Thinking the setting sun is "a huge red fruit," baby bear leaps to grab it but instead falls toward the ground, passing all his red discoveries on the way down. Thankfully, an adult bear is there to catch him. A new discovery, this one yellow, hints at another enchanting adventure. JULIE DANIELSON
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
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Danielson, Julie. "The Red Fruit." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 99, no. 6, Nov.-Dec. 2023, p. 57. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A772686773/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6df4a955. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
EUN, Lee Gee. The Red Fruit. illus. by Lee Gee Eun. 64p. Levine Querido. Nov. 2023. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781646147007.
PreS-K--Children follow a baby bear on an adventure to find more of the delicious red fruit that has fallen to the ground. The book's minimalist text seamlessly complements the simple illustrations of a vast forest where the search takes place. The monochromatic digital illustrations, resembling charcoal or perhaps bamboo brush and deep black ink, are broken up by a glimpse of vivid red, piquing curiosity--did the little bear find the fruit or not?--helping to keep readers engaged. The bear finds a caterpillar, a red squirrel, even the sun. Although the text maintains a deliberate pace, young readers will relish joining in the journey. The tale lends itself to an easy storytelling session, particularly in libraries, as the text follows the bear's movements and can be played out using puppets and simple colors. Will the chosen color scheme cause confusion for some readers? The wintry sense of the landscape implies hibernation and a natural scarcity of fruit. Still, the hunt is compelling, and the curiosity of the child will be well understood. It helps foster the development of early inferencing skills by encouraging children to figure out what things a small bear encounters along the way. VERDICT Appealing for a younger audience or for a parent or librarian seeking a simple read-aloud.--Jessica Clark
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Clark, Jessica. "EUN, Lee Gee. The Red Fruit." School Library Journal, vol. 69, no. 9, Sept. 2023, p. 89. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A762831848/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f71db02b. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
* The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower
Lee Gee Eun, trans. from the Korean by Aerin Park. Levine Querido, $19.99 (80p) ISBN 978-1-64614-459-4
Grumpy Tiger is persuaded into doing good deeds for his forest neighbors in this heartening picture book by Lee (The Red Fruit). Tiger wakes up one morning to discover that a dandelion with a human face is growing from the end of his tail. Despite Tiger's best efforts, chatty and friendly Tail-Flower remains firmly attached to the appendage. At the bloom's insistence, Tiger assists his woodland neighbors by accomplishing various tasks, such as saving Chicken's egg from a far-off ledge and helping several critters cross a river. Soon, once-ostracized Tiger finds himself accepted by the other animals, an event that Lee depicts via nuanced facial expressions, which showcase Tiger's surprise and delight. As the seasons change, so too do Tiger and Tail-Flower, both growing older, as evidenced by Tiger's graying fur and Tail-Flower's changing foliage ("We look so cool!" Tiger declares). After getting trapped in a precarious situation, Tiger and Tail-Flower must sacrifice something dear to them. In a mix of straightforward comics-style panels and animated spreads, Tiger and Tail-Flower's adventures culminate in a thoughtful examination of friendship and grief that teems with tongue-in-cheek humor and joy. Ages 7-10. (Sept.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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"The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 26, 8 July 2024, pp. 171+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A801800271/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1870240c. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
Lee Gee Eun THE LEGEND OF TIGER AND TAIL-FLOWER Levine Querido (Children's None) $19.99 9, 10 ISBN: 9781646144594
Everything changes when a dandelion lands on a tiger's tail.
A grumpy tiger is "bear-y mischievous," much to the chagrin of his fellow forest dwellers. One day, a dandelion with a human face falls from the sky and becomes attached to Tiger's tail. After a raucous round of tail spinning fails to detach the cankerwort, the cantankerous feline soon realizes that his new friend is his opposite; Tail-Flower makes friends with the denizens of the woods and encourages him to perform acts of benevolence, creating goodwill along the way. As time passes, Tiger and Tail-Flower get closer. Tiger's orange fur turns white as snow, and Tail-Flower's vibrant yellow leaves start to become white poofs; Tail-Flower's face becomes lined, too. When Tiger and Tail-Flower get caught in a trap, Tail-Flower asks Tiger to blow. He does, and the dandelion's delicate tendrils spread all over the forest; Tail-Flower is dead. The other animals come together to mourn the loss of their beloved friend and to rescue and comfort Tiger. Translated from Korean, this beautiful fable explores the need for companionship and the inevitability of death. With a mix of panels and full-page spreads, Lee's loose, digital art makes fantastic use of the format, capturing both the exuberance of the good times and Tiger's grief. The narrative is bookended by an East Asian-presenting elder who eagerly tells the tale.
A gorgeously told story of the people who come into your life for a reason. (Picture book. 6-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Lee Gee Eun: THE LEGEND OF TIGER AND TAIL-FLOWER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A797463233/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=fe283510. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.