Description Our story of living somewhere between 'ordinary' and 'special' When Green is given a school assignment to write 'something about myself,' he has no idea what to write. Green thinks of himself as far too ordinary—he's not funny like Geon-young, and he can't play soccer like Min-cheol. It seems like everyone else has something they're good at, except him. His teacher tells the class that everyone in the world is special, and that everything in the world comes together in harmony to create beauty. Thinking about this, Green remembers the beach trip his family took and the visit to his grandmother's house—feeding shrimp crackers to seagulls by the sea, eating delicious food at Grandma's, watching the rain fall, riding bikes with Grandpa across golden fields. He writes about how all these different, ordinary moments came together to create happiness, and turns it in as his assignment. A few days later, something special happens to Green. After reading his essay, his teacher praises him for having a special way of seeing the world, and his classmates give him a big round of applause. His dad frames the essay and hangs it up at home, smiling every time he looks at it. One evening, while out on a walk, Dad tells Green, "I don't think being ordinary is a bad thing. I think life is about moving back and forth between ordinary and special." Green doesn't fully understand his dad's words, but somehow he feels like he knows what they mean. Through his school assignment, Green—who always thought he was just ordinary—discovers that he actually has a special way of looking at the world. After reading I'm So Ordinary, take a moment to think about what parts of your own life are ordinary and what parts are special, and try writing your very own 'something about myself'! "What's wrong with being ordinary?" An encouraging message to lift up your child's spirit! As we go through life, we often compare ourselves to the people around us. The things we're not good at tend to stand out even more in our minds. Before we know it, we start thinking, "I'm not as good as they are. I guess I'm just ordinary," and can end up feeling discouraged. But is being 'ordinary' really such a bad thing? Everyone starts out clumsy at everything. Through many different experiences and lessons, we grow into what people call 'ordinary.' Being ordinary can also mean blending in smoothly with those around you, without sharp edges. And every kind of special talent grows out of ordinary, everyday things—like how loving soccer and practicing hard leads to kicking the ball better, or how playing piano every day leads to mastering fast, difficult pieces. In this way, being ordinary is simply a stepping stone toward becoming special, like climbing a staircase one step at a time—it's never something lacking or bad. The 15th installment in Green's ups-and-downs growing-up story, I'm So Ordinary is a picture book for children who feel smaller and smaller inside from thinking they're not as good as others. Just as ordinary elementary schooler Green turns out to have a special way of seeing the world around him, everyone has something special that makes them who they are and gives them confidence. Even if you can't see it right now, why not try discovering the special sparkle hidden within your own everyday, ordinary self? Our children's story, our parents' story! Korea's beloved everyday-fantasy picture book series, the 'Kim Young-jin Picture Book' series! With vivid, true-to-life storytelling that feels just like something that happened in your own home, 'dad-author' Kim Young-jin has won the hearts of readers everywhere. This time, he brings a story about a worry that everyone—not just children—faces at some point. While previous books in the Kim Young-jin Picture Book series featured bright, bouncy illustrations, I'm So Ordinary introduces a new side of Green through soft, warm watercolor art. The precious memories that come to life on the page—the white waves breaking on the beach during Green's family trip, the delicious food made with Grandma's loving care, the star-filled blue night sky, the sound of rain tapping on the roof, the golden, wide-open fields, and the crunch of fallen leaves that almost smells like fried chicken—