What's great about this book is that it acknowledges that we are helpless in the face of the overwhelming amount of information we are bombarded with through the media.
The overflow of information is like a constantly surging fog, preventing us from seeing and understanding properly.
Contradictions repeat themselves and lies appear to be truth.
But we can finally find out through the stories and pictures in this book.
This is because the sadness of childhood distorted by historical circumstances, inequality, and violence is clearly revealed through the illustrations.
The illustrations in this book have symbolic significance, implying situations, violence, and even condemnation.
Expressions that were not revealed in the media find their own voices in this book.
The children in this book represent children who have no choice but to remain silent.
The harmonious composition and poetic quality further enhance this story of suffering children.
--- Full text of the international jury's comments on "A Story Like a Lie"

It may sound like a lie, but it delivers deep shock and resonance through things that are actually happening in reality!

Human rights picture books for children
According to the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1959, all children have ten fundamental human rights.
Non-discrimination, equality of opportunity, social security, preferential protection, prevention of abuse, protection from all exploitation, priority rescue in emergency situations, relief for orphans and starving people, prohibition of overwork, and contribution to world peace.
"A Story Like a Lie" is a picture book that makes us think about children's human rights by honestly conveying the reality of children living difficult lives around the world without the basic human rights mentioned above.
Above all, it conveys the harsh reality of children through short texts and concise illustrations, making it easy for children from kindergarten to early elementary school to read.
This human rights picture book, which readers naturally encounter as they leave their parents' embrace and take their first steps into society, helps them cultivate the generosity to look beyond their own homeland to the wider world, and encourages them to think about their role as members of a community.


A literary approach that doubles the emotion
Things that seem like lies, but are actually happening in reality, are made more shocking and resonant through literary development and devices.
As you turn the page, leaving behind the images of children from around the world warmly greeting their Korean friends, a simple and calm narration follows, conveying the harsh reality of the children's situation.
This dramatic contrast multiplies the emotion and lingering impact through repetition and layered development.
We can also discover the innocence inherent in human beings in the figure of Sol, a South Korean child who was shocked after hearing the reality of her friends around the world.
The blank spaces hidden in the concise text and pictures give readers something to think about and ponder.
The portion that remains after a deep aftertaste is also a blank space that the reader must fill in.
The painting, expressed with rough drawings and collages on recycled paper, is the artist's intention to bring out this feeling of blank space and a simple and rough feeling.


The author's dream of a 'small Earth'
One day, the writer happened to see a documentary and the world seemed so unfamiliar to him.
Countless people around the world were suffering from things that would be unthinkable in South Korea, such as natural disasters, bombings caused by religious conflict, and diseases caused by poverty.
The author was quite shocked by the fact that the people who suffered the most in it were children.
In this book, Sol-i, who represents Korean children, is also the author and illustrator of the work.


Through this book, the author conveys the fact that even though we may have different appearances and live in different spaces, we are ultimately a 'global family' living together in a small village called the Earth.
This book is the author's debut picture book, and all royalties from the author will be donated to Plan Korea, an international children's support organization, to improve children's human rights, in line with the project's intention.
Additionally, to coincide with the publication, an exhibition of original drawings was held at Gwanghwamun Gwanghwamun Gallery, allowing for a more diverse expansion of the emotions contained within the book.
The exhibition runs from March 9th to 15th.


The world-renowned Bologna Ragazzi Award
The Bologna Ragazzi Award is awarded annually at the world's largest international children's book fair held in Bologna, Italy, in the spring, and is open to picture books published around the world.
A prestigious international jury from each country awards the picture book with the most outstanding completion based on creativity, artistry, and originality, and there are grand prizes and excellence awards in four categories: fiction, non-fiction, new horizons, and opera prima.


In 2004, 『Red Bean Porridge Granny and the Tiger』 (Woongjin Junior) won an award of excellence in the fiction category, and 『The Subway is Running』 (Chobang) won an award of excellence in the non-fiction category, thus introducing Korean picture books to the world picture book scene.
After that, 『Enchanted Bottle』(Jaemi Maju) won the Excellence Award in the fiction category in 2006, 『Mathematics I Met at the Art Museum』(Yeowon Media) won the Excellence Award in the non-fiction category in 2009, and 『Seokguram, a Temple Built of Stone』(Woongjin Junior) won the Excellence Award in the fiction category in 2010, gradually changing the perception of global publishers on Korean picture books.
And this year, 『A Story That Sounds Like a Lie』 achieved the feat of winning an Excellence Award in the non-fiction category, truly demonstrating the elevated status of Korean picture books.
This year's Bologna International Children's Book Fair will be held in Bologna, Italy from March 28th to 31st.