"I don't know what to do about Mom and Dad. They just never listen to me." Lenken isn't happy with her parents at all—they never seem to let her have what she wants. So Lenken secretly slips two magic sugar cubes, given to her by a fairy, into her parents' teacups. From now on, every time Mom and Dad refuse to go along with what Lenken wants, they'll shrink to half their height! But what will be the true price of Lenken's magic? The Korean edition of Two Magic Sugar Cubes is approaching its 100th printing, and now it returns in a brand-new edition with fresh illustrations and design. There's one question that's always on Lenken's mind: "Why won't Mom and Dad ever let me have what I want?" The moment she sets off to find a fairy to solve this problem, an unbelievable story begins to unfold. First published in Korea in 2001, Michael Ende's beloved short story Two Magic Sugar Cubes has captured the hearts of countless readers ever since—and now it returns with witty, delightful new illustrations for Korean readers once again. The mysterious magic that leads Lenken down streets both familiar and strange; the fairy Franziska Fragezeichen, who can only cast spells at twelve o'clock with her twelve fingers; Mom and Dad, who shrink by half every time they go against Lenken's wishes; and finally, the realization that Lenken and her parents come to together... This new edition reimagines the original story's key scenes with innocent charm and wit, sharing with readers the secret of what truly matters most in a family. It offers a fresh and lingering answer to a question that everyone once held close to their heart in childhood. "If only Mom and Dad's height was cut in half..." — A children's literature classic that has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide. Lenken, the heroine of this story, is just an ordinary child—which is to say, she has plenty of complaints about parents who always seem to say no to what she wants. So Lenken sets out to find someone who will listen to her frustrations and solve her problem: a fairy who can work magic! The fairy sympathizes with Lenken and hands her two magic sugar cubes that will shrink her parents' height. From then on, every time Lenken's parents disagree with her, they shrink by half. As the fairy's magic takes hold, Lenken watches with satisfaction as her parents—now too small to exert their usual authority—struggle with their new situation. But as problems begin to pile up one after another, Lenken's feelings grow more complicated. Because Two Magic Sugar Cubes captures the pure, unguarded heart of a child, it has been beloved around the world and has become one of Michael Ende's signature works. To Lenken, it seems full of contradictions that parents who claim to love her won't give her what she wants. Her simple, quirky solution—that if she were taller than her parents, she wouldn't have to listen to them—resonates deeply with children, while giving the parents reading alongside them a nostalgic trip back to their own childhoods. The reason Lenken's whimsical wish, and the chain of problems it causes, continues to resonate with readers around the world today is that Michael Ende wove the universal psychology of a growing child into a fantastical tale. In the end, Lenken comes to understand the true meaning of family, growing just a little more and transforming from a discontented child into a truly happy one. The final scene, depicting the family's changed everyday life after the magical commotion, naturally leaves readers with a meaningful lesson. A Growing-Up Story Full of Magic and Fantasy That Brings the Joy of Reading First published in Germany in 1991 and later introduced to Korea in 2001, this beloved original story has been reimagined by illustrator Julian Christiaans, who brings illustrations that feel even more familiar and relatable to today's readers. Her colorful, vivid depictions, infused with her own sense of humor and wit, immediately draw readers into the world of the story—and further invite them to lose themselves in a bit of magic of their own. This New Edition of Two Magic Sugar Cubes also aims to convey the original story's intent and spirit to readers in a fresh new way.