Description A Picture Book That Understands a Child's Frustration Boldwaeji is a character who represents the perfectly ordinary child. His personality isn't particularly unusual, and he doesn't have a striking appearance. But even ordinary children have their own deep longings or hidden passions burning inside them. For Boldwaeji, that passion was singing. He loves to sing, and he's even good enough to be praised for it, so he wants to show off in front of his family—but that chance never seems to come easily. And yet, he doesn't have the nerve to sulk or throw a tantrum about it. These are the kinds of things adults tend to brush off as trivial, but during childhood, when even the smallest things can bring tears, they can feel like real disappointments. The author portrays this everyday sense of childhood frustration with humor, while also offering young readers a satisfying, cathartic resolution. Boldwaeji is upset that the adults around him don't understand his feelings, but simply by imagining himself singing in front of an audience far bigger than his own family, he manages to completely turn his mood around. In that single moment, everything is forgiven, and he's filled with happiness. A World of Imagination That Adults Don't Know About Children slip in and out of their imaginations several times a day. In that world, anyone can freely act out whatever their heart desires. There, we can become anything we wish, and experience the fulfillment of dreams we've kept hidden deep in our hearts—dreams we often forget we ever had. But what we tend to forget is that the door leading to this wondrous world is always very close by. For Boldwaeji, the moment he opens his uncle's door, he steps into his fantasy. The room where his uncle used to teach him to sing feels like the perfect place for Boldwaeji to transform into a singer. But even without that particular room, his imaginative journey could have happened anywhere—wherever children happen to be, they can easily find the 'door' to the world of dreams and pass through it freely. Perhaps it's only as we grow up that we pass through that door less and less often. The author skillfully captures this story that moves back and forth between reality and imagination through varied, well-composed scenes and thoughtful use of color. The same witty imagination and delicate brushwork seen in previous works like Riding the Subway and The Mischief-Maker Under a Spell will keep readers' eyes glued to the illustrations. The charming little details hidden throughout the pictures—based on the author's own bedroom—along with the humorous and delightful expressions and gestures of the characters, make this a picture book that's an absolute joy to pore over.