New in Translation: Children’s Lit in Translation from Korea

Abstract

New in Translation:Children’s Lit in Translation from Korea Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp (bio) Click for larger view View full resolution Kim Hyo-eun I Am the Subway Trans. Deborah Smith Scribe In the children’s market, very little is translated into English from languages beyond western Europe, and until very recently Korean children’s books, for all their vibrancy and stunning artwork, were no exception. And so the sudden appearance of five originally Korean-language picture books in English translation in 2021 was something of an event. The interest in the Korean children’s market may have been spurred by innovative illustrator, animator, and artist Baek Heena being named the 2020 laureate of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, a major international award honoring the body of work of children’s book creators. Whatever the reason for the long-awaited increase in investment in translating Korean picture books, it is a treasure trove of artistry and fresh perspectives that English readers inherit with these authors and illustrators from South Korea. “The unique lives of strangers you might never meet again – ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum – are all around you, every time you take the train.” Carrying an average of 7.2 million people per day on the city lines alone, the Seoul subway network is one of the longest in the world and reaches far beyond the city limits. In this lyrical exploration of place and population, the voice of the subway train mingles with the thoughts of its passengers, revealing the varied lives of commuters, grandparents, dreamy workers, and weary children. Each character is introduced with a tantalizing peek through the parting subway doors, before we turn to a double-page spread offering a glimpse of their life, the highs and lows, the humdrum and the hectic. At Guui station, Mr. Jae-sung the cobbler strides on, reminding us to glance at the passengers’ feet and infer what we can of their character from their choice of footwear. At City Hall station, on steps Granny with a pungent package, filling the carriage with the strong, salty smell of the sea. Turning the page, we learn of her lifelong love of diving, catching octopus and abalone for her daughter and grandchildren. With stunning watercolor illustrations that capture the spirit and detail of urban life, this book weaves through life’s generations as it winds its way along the subway track. Winner of the Professional Children’s Publishing category of the World Illustration Awards 2021, this best-selling Korean picture book is destined to garner a global audience in Deborah Smith’s delightful translation. [End Page 6] Click for larger view View full resolution Lee Juck One Day Illus. Kim Seung-youn Trans. Asuka Minamoto, Lee Juck & Dianne Chung Enchanted Lion Books Grandpa is a tailor, a craftsman, a member of the community, and his presence is everywhere, until suddenly, one day, Grandpa is gone. His shoes sit in the closet, waiting to be worn. At the water fountain, where locals queue up to fill their bottles and canisters, everybody asks about Grandpa. Why did he leave so suddenly without telling his friends? In a tender exploration of the shock of grief and the impossibility of fathoming the enormity of a loved one’s absence, this gentle picture book explores the comfort to be found in the objects left behind, the smell of his jacket, as well as in the thought of Grandpa assuming his rightful place among the stars. Kim Seung-youn’s illustrations offer a simple yet stylishly drawn aesthetic that imbues everything with the warmth of Grandpa’s felts and fabrics. From quiet rooms bereft of Grandpa’s presence, we’re transported on floating balls of yarn into a reassuring, imaginative space filled with the buttons, needles, and threads of his craft, increasingly vibrant with Grandpa’s passion, his energy and creativity, as he lives on amidst the pin-cushion planets and shoe-shaped shooting stars of the cosmos. Click for larger view View full resolution Baek Heena Magic Candies Trans. Sophie Bowman Amazon Crossing Tong Tong plays on his own or with his dog, Marbles. How do you ever know what the other...