Even if we're a little slower or clumsier than others, we each shine in our own place! A running race is in full swing on the school playground. Kids gathered around cheer at the top of their lungs. Waiting for his turn, Seo-woo tightens his shoelaces. But why does his heart keep pounding so hard? "Run, hurry! Our class is in first place right now!" a friend shouts, gasping for breath as he runs toward Seo-woo. Taking the red baton, Seo-woo runs forward with all his might. But… one by one, his friends pass him by. "Turtle, hurry up!" "Come on, hurry up already!" Urged on by his friends' shouts, Seo-woo tries his hardest to run, not even noticing when his cap flies off in the wind. But in the end, Seo-woo's class loses the race. His friends call him "Turtle" because he's slow at everything. Yes, that turtle. On his way home, Seo-woo pulls his cap down low and walks alone, keeping his distance from his friends. Then he stops in his tracks in front of a newly opened aquarium, captivated by the colorful fish swimming this way and that. As he gazes at them in a daze, Seo-woo notices a turtle basking alone in a corner of the tank. Back home, Seo-woo's mind is still full of thoughts about the lonely turtle. Jumping out of bed, he sits at his desk and folds a turtle friend out of colored paper—origami is something he's good at! But what's this? The paper turtle starts to move on its own! What in the world is about to happen to Seo-woo? This moment matters more than being first—and so does being together. Seo-woo is a child who knows how to create his own little world. Remembering the turtle he saw on his way home, he folds a paper turtle and empties a drawer to make a small sea. Then, pulled along by the paper turtle he made, he dives headfirst into the drawer-sea. When he reaches the bottom of the sea, colorful fish welcome him warmly. But as luck would have it, today is the day of the underwater swimming competition. Seo-woo tries his best to swim, but he's no match for his fish friends. Just as he starts to feel down, wondering if he's the only slow one here too, the turtle who had been swimming ahead turns back. "Hop on my back! Let's go together." The turtle carries Seo-woo on its back and starts swimming. As Seo-woo watches the fish friends bickering and struggling to be first, he starts to feel sorry for the turtle. Just then, a fish swimming ahead collides with a dolphin and hurts its tail—the result of everyone pushing to win. Seeing the fish upset, Seo-woo gives it a new tail made of paper. He also suggests they make a long paper jump rope so everyone can play together. The paper rope, made together with all his sea friends, spins round and round underwater. Seo-woo and his friends forget all about competing and jump rope together as one. It's okay to trip or fall—they can just find their rhythm again and keep jumping together. A quietly sparkling story from author Kim Yu-jin, who says books and pictures were her best friends growing up! Everyone is good at different things. Some children are fast runners; others are slower but have a keen eye for observation. Some are great at organizing; others may be a bit messy but have a wonderful way with words. Whether we're children or adults, we all have something that makes us shine. Seo-woo, the main character of this book, is one of those children. Though he's a bit slower than his peers, he's wonderful at origami. More than that, he's someone who understands his friends' feelings and knows how to comfort himself when he's hurting. 'Turtle's Place' is author Kim Yu-jin's first autobiographical story, drawing from her own childhood memories of books and pictures being her closest friends. In fact, the author herself always came in last in races growing up, watching her confidence crumble as her friends ran ahead. But at some point, instead of only focusing on what she lacked…