Long ago and far away is the way western stories begin, but Korean stories begin like this:
"In the days when the tigers smoked pipes."
In Korean mythology a bear and a tiger were taken to a cave to eat only roots. The tiger couldn't stand it but the bear endured. The bear became human. But what happened to the tiger?
This book answers that question and more.
When You Trap a Tiger
by Tae Keller
I just got this book today.
This book won the Nerdberry (Newberry) Award last year 2020, so I thought it would be a good book for my kids to read. I want to read it first just to make sure. I took this picture at the chalk board. The next thing I need to do is to take the plastic off and open it up.
It's about a girl named Lily and her Korean Halmoni (grandma) filled with folktales. Lily makes a deal with a tiger to restore her grandma's health.
The book is about courage and may be good for my boys if they can get over the fact that the main character is a girl.
Have you read this book?
It reads pretty fast and puts a twist on Korean folklore. My kids were not interested in it today so I read it without them. I liked the story and it reminded me of my grandma. There are so many stories we just need the guts to tell them.
The writer Tae Keller is a relatively young writer and I am impressed. It's not exactly the adventure story my kids were looking for but it's enough to make them think. I hope they will read it soon.
What book are you reading today?
