Description

After a long winter, in a remote house in the mountains,
Grandfather sets out to find spring for Grandma,
who is waiting for the warm season.
But spring is nowhere to be found in the mountains, fields, or streams.
Even the bear, pheasant, and dragon do not see spring.
Where could spring be?
After a long winter, Grandfather embarks on a journey to find spring for Grandma.
Where could spring be?Once upon a time, in a deep mountain, there lived a grandfather and grandmother in a remote house. Spring passed, summer and autumn came, and soon the white winter arrived. Grandfather and grandmother spent their time making straw shoes or sewing, but this winter felt particularly long and hard to endure. One night, as the snow fell heavily, Grandma casually mentioned that she wished spring would come soon. This made Grandfather fall into deep thought. Then he said, "I will go find spring!"
Where could Grandfather go to find spring in this cold winter? Despite Grandma's protests, Grandfather decided to set off on his journey the next morning. Reluctantly, Grandma packed some rice balls into Grandfather's backpack and told him to return if he couldn't find spring after checking the hill behind their house.
Grandfather left with a loud shout, but deep down, he didn't know where spring was either. After pondering, he decided to ask the animals. First, he went to find the bear, who was hibernating. He offered a rice ball and asked if the bear knew where spring was, but the bear said he didn't know either, though the pheasant might. So, Grandfather went to find the pheasant, but it didn't know either, and even the thousand-year-old dragon was unaware of spring's whereabouts.
As Grandfather searched for spring, getting snowed on everywhere, he became exhausted and collapsed. The snow kept piling up, and Grandfather's eyes began to close. Then, from somewhere, a warm energy spread, and the sweet scent of spring flowers wafted in. What could this mean? Will Grandfather be able to find spring?Features of this Book
A story structure inspired by the Seol Jung Mae folktaleThe plum blossom, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo are known as the Four Gentlemen and have been used as subjects in paintings by artists since ancient times. The plum blossom represents spring, the orchid summer, the chrysanthemum autumn, and bamboo winter. "The Grandfather Who Found Spring" tells the story of the plum blossom that blooms in the snow at the end of winter, heralding the arrival of early spring.
Seol Jung Mae refers to the beautiful flower buds that burst forth from the snow in the cold winter. When the red plum blossoms peek out from the white snow, people know that spring has arrived. Additionally, the plum blossom frequently appears in the poetry and paintings of ancient scholars. They discovered the spirit of integrity and virtue that a scholar should possess in the plum blossom, which blooms in the snow during the cold winter.
Shin Jam is a painter from the Joseon Dynasty, and his painting "Tammaedo" depicts a scholar searching for plum blossoms in the snowy mountains with a young boy. For scholars, searching for plum blossoms signifies the quest for their own integrity and virtue, which is why they often chose this subject to depict.
"The Grandfather Who Found Spring" is a work created to evoke the hearts of those who set out to find plum blossoms while waiting for spring. In the story, Grandfather also experiences the joy of spring through the plum blossoms he encounters while eagerly waiting for spring. How about reading "The Grandfather Who Found Spring" with your children and discussing the meaning of plum blossoms as envisioned by ancient scholars?A lyrical picture book expressing warm springAuthor Han Tae-hee wrote and illustrated "The Grandfather Who Found Spring" while waiting for the warm spring during the unusually long and snowy winter. Perhaps that's why the process of Grandfather searching for spring is depicted in a more lyrical and warm manner. The lines reminiscent of ink wash painting and the colors that feel both traditional and modern add depth to the emotion. The scene where the red plum blossoms bloom amidst the white snow captivates the reader's eyes. Additionally, great care was taken in the book's production to express the texture of the paper, enhancing the visual appeal of the illustrations.
Through Grandfather's journey to find spring and ultimately discovering it, children will come to understand the seasons and appreciate the value of spring. The flowers and various animals depicted throughout the work are meticulously illustrated, and the contrast between the cold winter fields and the spring fields on the front and back covers adds to the enjoyment. Experience the radiant fragrance of spring as you gaze at the red plum blossoms in "The Grandfather Who Found Spring."