Let's go to a winter village covered in white snow.

When we arrived at the winter village,
I feel like I'm in a salt shaker,
It felt like I was standing on a Christmas cake.
Crushed star candies rained down from the sky all night long.
_From the text

On a day when heavy snow is falling, the child who arrived in the winter village looks full of excitement.
Although everything was unfamiliar, the story that deer would occasionally come to play in the backyard was enough to give the child a sense of anticipation.
What should you do first to meet deer? Following the deer, your child begins to prepare for their friendship by eating kale, arugula, cucumbers, and lettuce, which they don't normally eat. They walk through the snowy fields, diligently searching for deer tracks, and even running like a deer in the forest.
I am also passionate about studying deer, such as what they do when they feel threatened and why they always look straight at the camera when you take their picture.
As the day to return home approaches, the child decides to go see the deer himself.
As he earnestly wishes, will the child be able to meet the deer?

The warmest and most precious growth in the world, met in a winter village

As we prepared for our trip to the winter village, a small wish to see deer grew in our child's heart.
It was a trip to an unfamiliar place, but it was probably this wind that gave me the courage to do so.
When will the deer come to see the child? If you were to encounter a deer in this snow-white world, what would you talk about?

But, didn't they say wishes don't come true easily? The deer that was supposed to come play in the backyard never showed up, despite the child's earnest waiting.
The longer the waiting period, the more deeply and earnestly the child's wish takes hold of his heart.
And finally, the child decides to give up waiting and go on an adventure into the forest to meet the deer.
You probably knew that the winter forest, with its strong winds and cold snow covering everything, was by no means an easy place.


I think I've become very, very close with the deer.
So I'm not upset.
Because the winter village liked me a lot.
I think this winter will be truly unforgettable.

--- From the text

We live with countless 'deer' in our hearts.
On the day he entered the forest, the child began to embrace new dreams, layer upon layer, in addition to the desire to meet the deer.
"Winter Village" is a picture book that makes us reflect on the meaning of times when we desperately desire and embrace something, and the value of growth for those who go through that process.


An unexpected gift I discovered while listening to the world and observing it quietly: "Winter Village."

To have hope,
It is a wonderful and precious thing in itself.
On the journey to fulfill your wish
Because sometimes you get gifts you never expected.
If you always listen to the world, look at it quietly, and savor it,
An unexpected gift awaits you.

--- From the author's note

"Winter Village" is a picture book inspired by the exotic scenery and unfamiliar experiences that author Naomi Yang experienced while spending a winter in Ithaca, New York, over ten years ago.
Even the students who attended college in Ithaca all returned to their hometowns in the winter, and Ithaca seemed like a city filled with nothing but snow.
Just as the child in "Winter Village" harbored a longing for the "deer" in this desolate and unfamiliar land, author Naomi Yang also spent time listening to and savoring the stories of her heart, experiencing warmth.
These times finally became the seeds of 『Winter Village』.


A dazzling winter world seen through beautiful paintings

When you open 『Winter Village』, a beautiful winter landscape unfolds.
It feels like I'm walking around a small village in the snowy forest with my child.
In image directing, you can feel the various temperatures and atmospheres of winter by using various backgrounds and compositions, such as indoor and outdoor spaces, distant and close-up views, neighborhoods and forests.
Also, the multiple cuts of the picture using the frame look like an album with several photos organized.
It makes you feel the excitement and happiness of traveling.


The purple used with white throughout the painting seems perfect for expressing the cold snow and warm neighborhood.
Even in the chilly temperatures, the snow-covered landscape provides a warm feeling, like a cozy blanket covering you.
The texture, which could be monotonous due to the abundance of white, was captured in a free and ecstatic way by mixing various materials such as colored pencils, oil pastels, and gouache on top of detailed pencil sketches to create a deep landscape.
Enjoy the winter temperature and scenery to your heart's content in "Winter Village."