▣ Korean writers first recognized in Europe, including France and Italy
6-1 Picture book included in Korean language textbook, "Golden Apple," by author Song Hee-jin
A new picture book is released after over 10 years!

Author Song Hee-jin's representative works, "The Golden Apples Les pommes d'or" (2009) and "The Real Bear Un vrai ours" (2011), were first published by the prestigious publishing house Casterman and received attention in Europe, including France, Italy, and Belgium, before being published in Korea and receiving love from readers.
The author, who published various children's books after studying abroad in France, was unable to draw for a while due to lectures, childcare, and health issues, but recently began drawing in earnest again.
"My Perfect Day," a new work presented after more than 10 years, is a masterpiece picture book with a cheerful and warm story and meticulously hand-drawn illustrations, making us reflect on the meaning of "perfect happiness."


The picture book "The Golden Apple," which satirizes a society where communication is cut off due to greed, is included in the 6th grade Korean language textbook, making it a familiar work for both children and caregivers.
That's why news of the author's new work will be even more welcome.


▣ “Knock knock knock! Crocodile, help me!”
What will the crocodile do when his neighbors disrupt his perfect day?

Crocodiles are prickly and sensitive perfectionists.
Just looking at the way he fills his home with crocodile props and photos of himself, you can see his strong narcissism and individualistic tendencies.
This planning crocodile, who perfectly plans and executes his day, fills his plans without any gaps today either.
Pick cherries, clean moss from the roof, water the garden, take a break and wash the car.
But all plans are thrown into disarray when neighbors unexpectedly show up one by one asking for help.
An elephant with a twisted nose, a spider asking to be chased away a blue monster, a mother bird asking to be taken care of her baby birds, and even an old cat asking to borrow a car.
How do crocodiles cope when their time and plans are interrupted?

▣ “Could there be a more perfect day than this?”
About perfect happiness through sharing, consideration, communication, and solidarity
A warm fable that will remain in the hearts of both adults and children.

When neighbors come one by one to ask for help, the crocodile firmly refuses.
The crocodile, who appears cold on the outside, cannot hide his infinitely warm heart, and ends up meticulously solving each of his neighbors' problems.
(Even if you look at the 'WELCOME' foot mat, the crocodile is always ready to welcome guests!) Although the plan went awry, the crocodile feels strangely happy when he sees the bright face of his neighbor.

Strangely enough, I felt really happy and content.
I think this is a pretty good day.
No, could there be a more perfect day than this? _ From the text

At the end of the scene, readers discover that the crocodile's efforts were ultimately accomplished thanks to the help of his neighbors.
It was a perfectly happy day for both the crocodile and his neighbors.


Living in a foreign country for a long time, I received help from many friends and also gave help to many people.
When I had to give up something of my own to help someone, it sometimes felt like a loss in the moment.
But eventually I realized that I was getting more out of it.
People are alone
It's also more satisfying to live together in a relationship than to live well! _ Song Hee-jin

The work tells us how precious and valuable it is to be willing to step forward to help those in need.
Furthermore, it reminds us that a warm heart and actions that do not ignore the difficulties of others ultimately have a positive influence not only on ourselves but also on others, leading to positive change.
This delightful fable, which embodies the meaning of 'happiness' achieved through sharing, consideration, communication, and solidarity, will remain deeply engraved in the hearts of both adults and children for a long time.

▣ “Mr. Crocodile, have you seen our blue airplane?”
A story full of delicate directing and hidden fun

The author unfolds a picture from an omniscient point of view beyond the crocodile's field of vision behind the crocodile's narration in the first person, hiding fun elements for readers to discover in every corner.
Readers can see the crocodile's tasks being completed as he helps his neighbors.
For example, if you untangle an elephant's nose, water will pour out of its trunk and sprinkle water on the garden; if you clear away the spiderwebs on the cherry tree, cherries will fall like rain; if you take care of baby birds, the moss on the roof will be cleaned in an instant; and if you borrow a car, Grandpa Cat will clean the black car.


As the story draws to a close, with all of Crocodile's plans neatly completed, the three little pigs come to find Crocodile in search of the blue airplane.
Where is the blue airplane? Readers who passed it by without paying attention are encouraged to return and look for it.
I also recommend looking for the foreshadowing the author intentionally laid in each scene where the crocodile's task is completed, or looking at the illustrations on the back cover and talking about the positive butterfly effect and good influence brought about by the crocodile's small acts of kindness and good deeds.


▣ A world of lovely crocodiles completed with hand drawings!
A masterpiece picture book filled with vibrant colors and unique characters.

In an era where digital illustration is the mainstream, artist Song Hee-jin meticulously hand-draws each and every one of her masterpiece original paintings.
Enter the world of adorable crocodiles, delicately rendered using acrylics, gouache, colored pencils, and markers.
Familiar animal characters such as crocodiles, cats, spiders, elephants, and birds appear, delivering a cheerful and warm feeling.
The repetitive structure commonly seen in picture books provides a sense of stability, and the strong and beautiful colors, unique characters, and bold composition beyond the concise text overwhelm the gaze.
The colorful directing and the crocodile's facial expressions that reveal honest emotions in each scene are also impressive.


Author's Note

Living happily with your neighbors sometimes requires compromise and consideration.
Even if it seems like a loss at first, I hope you know that it will ultimately lead to greater happiness.
I hope you will look around at those in need and willingly extend a helping hand.
Remembering that the little love I gave will one day come back to me and be passed on to someone else.
_ Song Hee-jin