My Lime Orange Tree for Elementary School Students

"My Lime Orange Tree" is a classic coming-of-age novel that was included in the 6th grade textbook. It was first published in 1978 by Gwangminsa, the predecessor of Dongnyok Publishing, and was subsequently published by over 50 publishers, selling over 400 million copies (estimated). It was selected for the MBC ! Exclamation Mark in 2003 and is still loved today.
Dongnyok Publishing, the first to introduce the book to this land, signed an official contract with the copyright holder and corrected over 100 mistranslations in the existing book, publishing a new version of My Lime Orange Tree in 2002. This book, which was loved by many for its emotional illustrations and elegant translations selected through an illustration contest, has been remade for elementary school students. Considering that elementary school students already read My Lime Orange Tree, I hope that children will read the proper version of My Lime Orange Tree, not an abridged version.

First, the format and font size were made larger, and the overall design was made cute and appealing to children's tastes.
Second, we boldly discarded the sentimental illustrations in existing books and added 30 realistic yet beautiful illustrations suitable for a children's edition.
Third, we changed difficult words into easy words to make it easier for children to understand. However, in cases where children find it difficult or unfamiliar but absolutely need to know it or where it is necessary for the context, we tried to be as faithful to the original as possible.
Fourth, in order to solve the problems of the existing children's book, 'My Little Orange Tree', which was like an abridged version, not a single part was deleted and it was included as is, completely capturing the deep emotion of the original work.
Fifth, we made important parts of the novel into descriptive questions so that children could organize the contents of the book and their own thoughts.

The secret to the longevity of the sad and beautiful fairy tale of the lovely little rascal, Jeje, My Sweet Orange Tree

When he was a journalist, poet Ki Hyung-do referred to My Sweet Orange Tree as a “strange book” and commented that it was not easy to explain the “magic” of this book. What is the magic of My Sweet Orange Tree, a coming-of-age novel by Brazil’s greatest writer, José Mauro de Vasconcelos, that is still loved not only in the 1980s but also in the 2000s?

First, it is so similar to the difficult landscape of our lives. My Sweet Orange Tree is by no means a beautiful fairy tale. My father lost his job, and my mother, who had to work in a factory since she was six, still works in the factory until she is exhausted. My older sisters also have to work all day at the factory or at home, and my sensitive son, who does not receive love or care, is beaten every day. For 27 years since this book was first published, readers have looked into our difficult lives and mourned together while looking at the landscape of a poor family in Brazil.
Second, it follows the format of a coming-of-age novel. Usually, a coming-of-age novel describes the process in which a young protagonist discovers himself while colliding with the world, and readers grow together with the protagonist while reading the book. Because the readers who read the book are the protagonist, were the protagonist, and will be the protagonist, countless coming-of-age novels do not lose their vitality and are loved for a long time. Readers discover themselves while colliding with and reconciling with the world together with the little mischievous boy, Jeje.
Third, Jeje, who has a pure soul even in poverty and indifference, brings tears and laughter. The unstoppable playfulness that thinks of playing again even after being beaten in the fake snake incident, the cleverness that allows him to write on his own, the golden heart that shares bread with Dorothea, who is ostracized because he is black and poor, the imagination and sensitivity that allows him to converse with things in the world such as animals and trees… … In the heart of the mischievous Jeje lives an angel that is disappearing from us, and everyone who meets him cannot help but fall for him.
Fourth, Vasconcelos is said to have written this work in just 12 days. But don’t be surprised. The planning period is over 20 years. In keeping with the author’s tendency to write works based on thorough experience, all the characters in this book are vivid and vivid, and you can accurately imagine each scene through realistic dialogue that seems to be talking right next to the person.