Elephant Orphanage
hornless rhinoceros
abandoned eggs
Paradise
First memory
Mango fruit colored sky
Sea of ​​Rhinos
Blue Horizon
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■ The overwhelming power of emotion that shakes the heart
■ It was natural to be called ‘us’ since we had spent so many long nights together.


The news a few years ago about the last remaining male northern white rhinoceros on Earth, Sudan, made us reflect deeply.
What kind of life did Sudan lead until then?
What moments were enjoyed with those weary eyes and what moments were cut out?
What would we find if we went back in time by unknown means?

The story "The Long Night," which began in Sudan, received praise for its "overwhelming power of emotion," "profound questions about the meaning of life and the solemnity of the process of finding it," and "beautifully depicting the endangered rhinoceros and the penguins that do not give up even in extreme situations," and won the grand prize at the 21st Munhakdongne Children's Literature Award along with "Lane No. 5."

Norden, a rhinoceros raised in a herd of elephants, and a young penguin born from an abandoned egg.
Noden, who must live for his loved ones, and the young penguin who desperately fights to survive because he wants to live for himself.
The journey of two beings, different from head to toe, becoming 'us' and advancing through the long night toward the blue horizon (the sea) will remain as a strength within me for a long time.

“Do you see that horizon over there? It’s shimmering green.
“This is my sea.”
“I like it here too.
“I want to stay here.”
“You are a penguin.
“The penguin must go to the sea.”
“Then I will live as a rhinoceros.
Look at my beak.
“It looks exactly like a horn.”
“You are already a great rhinoceros.
So now all that's left is to become a great penguin.
Come here.
I'll hug you.
And I'll tell you a story.
All night long.
“You go find the blue horizon, you go find the sea, you meet your friends, you tell our story.” _From the text


■ “A small but great solidarity of love”
■ “I will become a white rock rhinoceros by your side.”

A world of elephants where if you can't see, you can lean on an elephant that can see, and if you have trouble walking, you can lean on an elephant that has strong legs.
In the midst of the unbiased remark that it was not a big deal not to have a trunk like an elephant, Norden lived as a proper elephant.
But when the time comes to choose his own future, Noden sets out into the world, cheered on by the elephants, to become his other self, the rhinoceros.

“Just as we were glad to meet you, someone out there will be glad to meet you too.”

The outside world was happier than Norden could have imagined, but it was also full of suffering.
From the elephant orphanage to the wild, from the wild to the zoo, from the zoo back on the road, there were those beside Noden who looked at the same scenery, got hit by the same raindrops, and melted the long night with each other's breath.
His wife, who called Norden, who was awkward at living in the wild, an “odd but special rhinoceros,” Angaboo, who taught him how to endure long nights without nightmares, and Chiku, who helped him overcome the scary nights that he could not get used to and stand on the path to “tomorrow.”
Because of them, Noden was able to find strength, and the young penguin was able to grow up in a love stronger than the eggshell that was his whole world.
Even if we don't fully understand each other, and even if we end up in different places, the certainty that we are always together provides comfort to readers of this work.

Everything was a miracle.
From Wimbo and Chiku hatching the abandoned egg, to Wimbo protecting the egg with his whole body during the war, to Chiku meeting Noden and escaping from the zoo, to Chiku hatching the egg until the very last moment, and to Noden being there for him at that very last moment… … .
All of it could only be described as a miracle.
_From the text


■ “Now that you’ve become a great rhinoceros, all that’s left is to become a great penguin.”
■ “A story that will serve as a support for children who are trudging through a dirty puddle of stars.”

The journey of Rhinoceros Norden and the young penguin in search of the blue horizon is also a journey to find the answer to who I am and where my dignity comes from.
Eating, sleeping, walking... Even in the harshness where nothing was easy, the young penguin's dignity remained intact because he was surrounded by the 'love' of Chiku and Wimbo, whom he had never seen before, and Norden, with whom he had done everything.
We believe because there was a long night they crossed together, because the rhinoceros's eyes, as bright as the stars, are engraved in the young penguin's first memory, and because there was Noden who watched the young penguin's back for a long time as he walked.
That the young penguin would boldly jump into its own sea, that it would endure many more long nights, that it would find something that shines like a star in the long night sky.


Another driving force behind the fairy tale "The Long Night," which contains love, solidarity, and the dignity of life, is the encouragement it gives to children as they pass through one world and enter another.
It gives me the relief that I don't have a name to prove myself, that I don't have to grow a nose, the encouragement that I am enough just as I am, even if I am imperfect and not great, the consolation that I have tried my best, the belief that countless miracles have come together to create the miracle called 'me', and the courage to face the sea before my eyes.

"Will the other penguins like me? Will they recognize me like Norden?"
"of course.
At first, he will probably observe you out of curiosity.
But as I grow to like you, I start to notice you, I start to notice how you smell when you're near, and I start to listen to how you walk.
That's you." _From the text

This work simply but deeply shows the pain, fear, and joy of 'living as myself.'
I talk about the long night of tears, pain, solidarity, and love of everyone who has been with me until I became who I am today.
As the message in “The Long, Long Night” goes, our lives may be like a dirty puddle.
But he also tells us that there is a shining star in that dirty puddle.
I believe this book will provide a small support to children who are still treading through the "Dirty Puddle of Stars" today. _Song Su-yeon (Children's Literature Critic)

■ A small tremble turns into a large wave.
■ The captivating illustrations of author Ruri, who won the Munhakdongne Children's Literature Award in 2020 for "The Long Night" and the Biryongso Golden Toad Award for "They Couldn't Go to Bremen in the End"

The dramatic power created by the combination of pictures and sentences is intense.
The bold and changing angles and the deeply emotional screen add appeal to the story and increase immersion.
The painting that leads to the epilogue contains the scenery that must have stopped the rhinoceros Norden's feet, the path that Norden must have walked with his loved ones, and the meaning that even if someone's time stops, that person does not disappear completely, and that another life and path continues.
The beauty of nature that passes by in an instant, the vitality that spreads even on the land swept by fire, resonates deeply.

May our long nights not be lonely.
Even if all that's left is pitch-black darkness, may our stories stay by each other's side.
I hope this story can be a small part of that. _Author's Note


■ Children's reading notes from this book

The scene where the baby penguin rolls down and falls over from exhaustion, but still manages to climb up the cliff is both heartbreaking and impressive.
And it was also impressive that even if they have different appearances and personalities, they can still have the same thoughts and values. _Kim Lee-jun (6th grade, Daeheul Elementary School)

It was like watching a movie.
I hope that Noden and the baby penguin can meet happily in each other's dreams without having nightmares all night long. _Kim Chae-eun (5th grade, Gilum Elementary School)

What's the difference between a long night and a long, long night? I wonder if the night when Noden remembered his beloved with pain turned into a morning he could cherish as a memory wasn't a long, long night for him.
I wonder how other friends who have read this book will interpret the meaning of "The Long Night." _Ban Hyeon-wook (6th grade, Seongbuk-gu)

I was curious about the content of the three-character title, 'The Long Night', and after reading it all, it seems that the characters' suffering, courage, cooperation, and friendship are all encapsulated in the title.
The image of a penguin faintly reflected in Rhinoceros Norden's eyes still lingers in my mind. _Jeong Yun-ho (5th grade, Gilum Elementary School)

It was sad but touching.
I thought it was important to have faith that we could meet again even after breaking up.
As the saying goes, even if you are far apart, your heart remains.
As I remember and reminisce, I think the hope that we will meet again someday is the force that makes me wait even longer. _Jeong Bom-hae (6th grade, Namgwang Elementary School)

Norden, what would have happened if I had been there with you through your long nights? I would have held you, made you laugh, soothed your pain, and run faster toward the blue horizon…
If I ever meet you again, I think I'll recognize you right away.
Those sad but beautiful eyes, those white and strong horns.
If you recognize me then, let's run together. - Lim Dong-hyeok (6th grade, Donggwang Elementary School)

■ Recommendations from each bookstore MD

In these days when it feels like we're passing through a long, dark night, the journey of two mismatched animals, a rhinoceros and a baby penguin, gives us the courage to navigate the darkness.
The future seems bleak due to COVID-19, and it's difficult to have hope. However, like the protagonist who doesn't cower in the midst of life's pain, I slowly move forward toward my dream. _YES24 Kim Su-yeon MD

A book filled with a true resonance that makes all clumsy melodrama, clumsy coercion, clumsy sympathy, and clumsy teachings seem insignificant.

It's been a year since we couldn't go to our kids' favorite zoo due to COVID-19.
As the promise to go together came to mind when things got better, I started to feel confused.
Perhaps it was because I read a book that taught me more powerfully than any other book about "animal rights" and the need to "respect animals." Although it wasn't a planned encounter, the heart that cherished and took responsibility for "life" holds a story that goes beyond "animal rights."
To Noden and the young penguin, who are still somewhere, I would like to ask for forgiveness on behalf of all humanity, if permitted.
I'm sorry. _Kyobo Bookstore MD Kim Ji-eun

It's a strange thing.
This is the image of Rhinoceros Norden leaving his safe world and heading into a world where he doesn't know what he will encounter.
In fact, my safe world would not have been complete without the elephants who helped me along.
The young penguin who traveled with Noden also stands at the starting line to leave the safety of his own world and find another companion.
Readers of this story will also stand at their own starting line someday.
By then, the story of the rhinoceros and the baby penguin will no longer be so strange.
And I believe that the care that elephants give to rhinos, and rhinos give to penguins, will be passed on to others. _Aladdin Im Ah-hyeok MD

I was so shocked that I started crying while reading.
The story of Rhinoceros Norden, who bravely survived repeated tragedies, left me deeply moved throughout my reading and gave me the courage to bear the weight of life I must live.
Don't get tired and don't give up.
The saying that good days will come as you live sounded cowardly when I was young, but now I think I understand a little.
That there is happiness that can be enjoyed because you did not tire and did not give up, and that happiness becomes the strength that allows you to continue living.
I hope this book will be a source of strength for everyone who is exhausted from the coronavirus.
Ultimately, like Noden, we will survive by joining forces with our family, friends, and neighbors, and we will reclaim our homeland. _Interpark MD Song Hyun-joo