Status
In-library use only
Call number
Genres
Collections
Publication
Plough Publishing House (2019), Edition: Translation, 40 pages
Description
Grandfather returns each year to the demilitarized zone, the barrier--and accidental nature preserve--that separates families that live in North and South Korea.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Jesslaw
"When Spring Comes to the DMZ" fills one of the many voids in the "Historical Picture Books Appropriate for Young Children" category. As a homeschool mom I am always looking for books that tell a story about a particular piece of history, to supplement a mere paragraph in a history text. This book
Grandfather visits the DMZ because it was where he was from. The land between the countries was once a place to live, to farm, to enjoy. However, something unexpected is shown to us as we travel through the seasons with Grandfather. Animals and plants have made this no "man's" land into a refuge for themselves.
The illustrations are lovely, the text is a good standard... but the story and the subject matter are why I would choose to keep this book in my library.
I received a free copy of "When Spring Comes to the DMZ" from Library Thing Early Reviewers. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
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does just that. Grandfather visits the DMZ because it was where he was from. The land between the countries was once a place to live, to farm, to enjoy. However, something unexpected is shown to us as we travel through the seasons with Grandfather. Animals and plants have made this no "man's" land into a refuge for themselves.
The illustrations are lovely, the text is a good standard... but the story and the subject matter are why I would choose to keep this book in my library.
I received a free copy of "When Spring Comes to the DMZ" from Library Thing Early Reviewers. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member Leano
When Spring Comes to the DMZ
Early reader’s review for Library Thing
I was silenced by this powerful little book. It looks like a children’s book, but it is anything but childish—the illustrations are innocent and charming, the text is sparse and simple but it takes time to digest it. I read
At first glance, I saw the beauty of the fields and the animals. I saw the fences, but I tried to gloss over them and concentrate on the positives in the pictures. Then I marveled at how the animals just made the ruins turn into homes for their young—how the flowers grew up through the rusted out helmets—how nature lived in the moment as opposed to the human ability to harbor spite for generations. I started to feel shame as a species for being unable to repair relationships. I looked at all the animals living side by side with others who were so different and I was saddened to think that the world’s “smartest” animal appears incapable of maintaining that kind of peace. I felt deep regret that the grandfather was denied the land of his youth—that politics could treat people so cruelly as their grudges outlived generations.
This is a quiet book that is a real conversation starter—a hushed cry for peace and hopefully someone will listen and teach their children too.
Early reader’s review for Library Thing
I was silenced by this powerful little book. It looks like a children’s book, but it is anything but childish—the illustrations are innocent and charming, the text is sparse and simple but it takes time to digest it. I read
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it multiple times; I looked at the illustrations carefully. This is not a book to merely entertain—this is a book to move humanity. At first glance, I saw the beauty of the fields and the animals. I saw the fences, but I tried to gloss over them and concentrate on the positives in the pictures. Then I marveled at how the animals just made the ruins turn into homes for their young—how the flowers grew up through the rusted out helmets—how nature lived in the moment as opposed to the human ability to harbor spite for generations. I started to feel shame as a species for being unable to repair relationships. I looked at all the animals living side by side with others who were so different and I was saddened to think that the world’s “smartest” animal appears incapable of maintaining that kind of peace. I felt deep regret that the grandfather was denied the land of his youth—that politics could treat people so cruelly as their grudges outlived generations.
This is a quiet book that is a real conversation starter—a hushed cry for peace and hopefully someone will listen and teach their children too.
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LibraryThing member FinnDragon
A child tells how Grandfather goes to the DMZ (the Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South Korea) every year, what he sees, and why it is now essentially a wildlife refuge, despite the soldiers on each side, since no people are allowed to enter it.
It is marketed as a children's book and I
Early reader’s review for Library Thing
It is marketed as a children's book and I
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think it would work well for a class learning about the DMZ. For younger readers, the artwork is excellent, and we spent time identifying vehicles, plants, and animals. Early reader’s review for Library Thing
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LibraryThing member bwheatley
This is a book that was originally written in 2010 and was recently translated to English in 2019. The book begins with a two-page spread of colored images filling two large circles--almost like binoculars--with a black background. This not only draws the reader in, but focuses the reader to the
I received this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
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images of spring in the DMZ (demilitarized zone). As the story continues, the images reflect the words that describe how life continues through the seasons in the DMZ in Korea. In addition, the narrator's grandfather travels to the DMZ to gaze upon the other side and dreams of the day when the fences are gone. Throughout the story, the "razor wire fence" is a constant reminder of the boundaries present between North and South Korea. The beautiful illustrations and poetic text provide a piece of children's literature appropriately covers the content. In addition, the end papers illustrate a map of the world, one with the fencing in Korea and one without it. Author's notes at the end explain the DMZ and how the area has become an accidental wildlife sanctuary, but continues to contain devastation such as land mines. A great book!I received this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member MKCagle
At first glance, this looks like a simple children's book, but it's impact can be appreciated by any age. I was skeptical of a children's book having the ability to sufficiently and tenderly introduce the broad and harsh impact of the DMZ to a young reader. Using beautiful illustrations and
I received this book from Early Reviewers in exchange for my honest opinion.
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engaging wording, the thriving animal and plant life paired with the longing of a grandfather to see reunification in his land is carefully contrasted with the ugly parts of the DMZ, including barbed wire, soldiers, and warships. It leaves the reader with a sense of both loss and hope. I also appreciated the extended notes at the end to explain the topic more deeply.I received this book from Early Reviewers in exchange for my honest opinion.
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LibraryThing member Kellswitch
Korea's demilitarized zone has become an amazing accidental nature preserve that gives hope for a brighter future for a divided land.
This beautiful picture book shows us how the DMZ has become a unique nature preserve where animals and plants have flourished since the creation of the DMZ as well as
The art is amazing, it has a rather retro style to it, the color palate reminded me of books I read as a child, but the colors feel fresher and more vibrant. The style almost seems simple but once you really look you see so many details and so many shades of colors there is always something new and interesting to look at in each image.
I was fascinated with how the artist captured the beauty of nature but managed to include the evidence of a brutal war and just how controlled the whole DMZ is by including images of security cameras, flood lights, soldiers, barbed wire and ruined machinery, but it never feels heavy handed, it never takes away from the beauty of the natural world.
Small details I appreciated:
The inside front cover has a world map with Korea highlighted and the DMZ line in red, on the back cover, the line is removed to reflect the hope for the future.
The different types of framing used, some are in circles, as though you are using binoculars, others in squares and a few covering the full page. This helps the drawings and text from becoming static and gives a sense of movement and change.
The representation of the different seasons, the passage of time and the focus on family without being heavy handed.
I am not sure what age group this is appropriate for, my friend who has children said he would give it to his eight-year-old to read, if that helps anyone.
This is a beautiful and thoughtful book and I’m glad I was able to read it.
This beautiful picture book shows us how the DMZ has become a unique nature preserve where animals and plants have flourished since the creation of the DMZ as well as
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the effect it has on the lives of the Korean families it separates.The art is amazing, it has a rather retro style to it, the color palate reminded me of books I read as a child, but the colors feel fresher and more vibrant. The style almost seems simple but once you really look you see so many details and so many shades of colors there is always something new and interesting to look at in each image.
I was fascinated with how the artist captured the beauty of nature but managed to include the evidence of a brutal war and just how controlled the whole DMZ is by including images of security cameras, flood lights, soldiers, barbed wire and ruined machinery, but it never feels heavy handed, it never takes away from the beauty of the natural world.
Small details I appreciated:
The inside front cover has a world map with Korea highlighted and the DMZ line in red, on the back cover, the line is removed to reflect the hope for the future.
The different types of framing used, some are in circles, as though you are using binoculars, others in squares and a few covering the full page. This helps the drawings and text from becoming static and gives a sense of movement and change.
The representation of the different seasons, the passage of time and the focus on family without being heavy handed.
I am not sure what age group this is appropriate for, my friend who has children said he would give it to his eight-year-old to read, if that helps anyone.
This is a beautiful and thoughtful book and I’m glad I was able to read it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mabith
A simple book about the DMZ and a boy's grandfather's visits to the zone. Beautiful illustrations, and the text of the actual story is very simple.
There are a few explanatory paragraphs about the DMZ and the Korean War in the back of the book, but I do wish some of that information had been
There are a few explanatory paragraphs about the DMZ and the Korean War in the back of the book, but I do wish some of that information had been
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incorporated into the story. I felt like the book text alone could be confusing for kids and that parents will have to do a lot of explaining while trying to read it. That's not a bad thing, but the extra information should maybe have been at the front of the book. I had to go into a lot of explanation with my nephew just based on him reading the title (and he's 10, probably aged out of the target audience). Show Less
LibraryThing member book58lover
A serene view of the demilitarized zone in Korea and the effect on the families and animals that live near there. In a few short words the author/illustrator describes the angst felt by the grandfather that looked to the north sky each season. The area between the two Koreas has become a game
A beautiful book and one for discussion with the grandchildren of Korean vets.
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preserve by usage and the author notes that the wires should come down to open up the area for the animals to move freely. Although that is laudable, I am afraid if the animals were free to roam they would lose their protection afforded by the wires.A beautiful book and one for discussion with the grandchildren of Korean vets.
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LibraryThing member nirrad
An interesting read, nice story about the DMZ, for kids. It'll make a nice addition to a little library.
LibraryThing member PardaMustang
‘This unique picture book invites young readers into the natural beauty of the DMZ, where salmon, spotted seals, and mountain goats freely follow the seasons and raise their families in this 2.5-mile-wide, 150-mile-long corridor where no human may tread. But the vivid seasonal flora and fauna are
Lee's When Spring Comes to the DMZ is a delightful picture book following the cycle of seasons in the safe zone. You get to see all kinds animals that have made the DMZ home. It's truly a natural wonderland. It was so sad about the grandfather though. It's too deep for a children's book, but I wanted to know his thoughts. Was he from the area now North Korea? Did he fight in the war? Lose family during it? What were his thoughts on the changes in the DMZ? I read this with my cubs and we all enjoyed it!
***Many thanks to Netgalley & Plough Publishing for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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framed by ever-present rusty razor wire, warning signs, and locked gates—and regularly interrupted by military exercises that continue decades after a 1953 ceasefire in the Korean War established the DMZ.’Lee's When Spring Comes to the DMZ is a delightful picture book following the cycle of seasons in the safe zone. You get to see all kinds animals that have made the DMZ home. It's truly a natural wonderland. It was so sad about the grandfather though. It's too deep for a children's book, but I wanted to know his thoughts. Was he from the area now North Korea? Did he fight in the war? Lose family during it? What were his thoughts on the changes in the DMZ? I read this with my cubs and we all enjoyed it!
***Many thanks to Netgalley & Plough Publishing for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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LibraryThing member hooligansmama
I think this is a unique book. It brought a lot of conversation to our table. We learned a lot of things we didn't know about the animals that have found shelter in the DMZ and also it gave me and my children a lot of perspective on life in other places. My kids had a lot of questions which I think
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is awesome but if you have sensitive kids or very young kids it might be harder to explain why North and South Korea were separated and why people couldn't see their families. The pictures give a lot of context but aren't too much to handle. We really liked this book for the awareness level it brings. Show Less
LibraryThing member Literate.Ninja
The art in this book is fantastic, and my niece had a great time looking at and naming all the animals. We both really liked the fold out pages at the end that allow you to "open the gate" into the DMZ. I thought the story was sweet, if a little sad to think about as an adult, but the 3-year-old
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just thought it was great that the animals were all happy, and I didn't feel like getting into a big explanation of international politics with her. ^_^ Show Less
LibraryThing member 2wonderY
This is a textured, timely and loving look at Korea. The restrained text perfectly compliments the illustrations and leaves a hopeful message while conveying a particular natural science situation and a society's longing for re-unification and peace.
LibraryThing member sylliu
When Spring Comes to the DMZ is a lyrical and beautiful picture book about the wildlife that's found in the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, and the story of an old man who goes periodically to the lookout on the South Korea side to look at his old home in the north.
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The author and illustrator juxtapose the freedom of the birds and animals with the barbed wire and military exercises of people in a poignant and moving book. Show Less
LibraryThing member LilyRoseShadowlyn
A really powerful story with beautiful illustrations. Highly recommend for kids and adults. In an ideal world, the DMZ wouldn't exist, and peace would reign.
LibraryThing member Dreesie
A book with sweet illustrations featuring the many animals that live in the DMZ between North and South Korea. It has become an accidental wildlife refuge, and humans are not permitted in.
The animals are sweet, but the razor wire is there. The viewing platforms. The soldiers. And the tourists who
I just wish it gave the species names of the various animals featured--again, though, maybe it assumes the readers of the original Korean would know.
The animals are sweet, but the razor wire is there. The viewing platforms. The soldiers. And the tourists who
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come to look out to the north. This is a children's book, so it only briefly touches on the family separation, though there is a page of adult text in the back explaining what the DMZ is (was this in the Korean original I wonder?).I just wish it gave the species names of the various animals featured--again, though, maybe it assumes the readers of the original Korean would know.
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LibraryThing member thmazing
I love how the book incorporates subtle elements from traditional Korean art. The text's quiet rhythms make for a pleasant read, and its emphasis on a limited geography and list of characters makes the world much more emotionally accessible and easily understood.
Even for the adult who's looking for
Even for the adult who's looking for
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a short, one-sitting read about the DMZ might be satisfied. Show Less
Awards
Freeman Award (Honorable Mention — Children's Literature — 2019)
Mildred L. Batchelder Award (Honor Book — 2020)
Notable Children's Book (Younger Readers — 2020)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2010 (kor)
2019 (eng)
Physical description
40 p.; 10.5 inches
ISBN
0874869722 / 9780874869729