Description: All comfort comes at the cost of someone's sacrifice. The Piano-Playing Bear, the original version of Why, Mom?, was a project born from listening closely to the hearts of mothers who sacrifice for their families, and from a wish to express gratitude to them. Because of this, it was a work I poured more care into than any other. However, quite a few readers told me they felt the ending was a little disappointing, since the family didn't seem to change much by the end. It was a fair point, and that's why this revised edition came to be. Why, Mom? is, in a way, my own letter of apology for having selfishly enjoyed the comfort my mother gave without a second thought. - Kim Young-jin What if our mom turned into a bear?! "Mir's mom! Have you seen my phone?" "Mom! Where's my jump rope?" "Mom! Feed me!" Every morning at Mir's house is chaos, with everyone calling for Mom at once. Mom rushes around, taking care of everything without missing a beat. But once the kids are off to school and Dad is off to work, all that's left behind is a messy house and lonely silence. Mom spends her whole day sacrificing for her family, yet no one in the family ever thanks her. Instead, they often complain, "It's because of you, Mom!" or "What do you even do around here?" Then one day, Mom turns into a bear. With Mom now a bear, the once-stable daily life of Mir's family falls apart. Grandma, hearing the news, comes to visit and teaches the family how to listen to Mom's heart. She reveals that Mom has always wanted to play the piano. At first, the family is bewildered and doesn't know what to do, but in order to bring Mom back, they all work together, giving Mama Bear the time and space she needs to play the piano freely and enjoy something just for herself. Once the piano recital ends safely, Mom returns to the family - and from then on, Mir's family is never quite the same. The family portrayed in Why, Mom? feels completely familiar - it could be any of our own families. As you read this book, why not take a moment to reflect on the preciousness of family and the roles we each play? Tonight, before Mom turns into a bear - or maybe a rabbit - it's worth remembering. "When Mom is happy, the whole family is happy!" A joyful fantasy created together by the whole family! There's a saying that goes, "Since God couldn't be everywhere at once, He sent mothers instead." Just like this saying suggests, moms are always there for their families. A mother's heart is so vast that she accepts our complaints and tantrums unconditionally, and as if by some magical power, she appears whenever her family calls, ready to solve any problem. But in truth, moms are just ordinary people too. They need time for themselves, and they have things they want to do as well. They simply hold back and wait, setting aside their own wishes for the sake of their family. But Mir's mom finally turned into a bear. Thankfully, Mir's family accepts Mom just as she is, bear and all. Even though the house becomes a mess, Grandma helps with the chores, Dad looks after the kids, and Mir takes care of little Grin, filling in for Mom's usual role. Grin even polishes an apple every day for Mama Bear, who now eats only apples. In time, the family comes to understand what Mom truly wants, and they support and cheer her on in her new pursuit. Through the extraordinary event of "Mom turning into a bear," Why, Mom? beautifully shows a family learning to understand and accept one another as they are, leaning on each other and filling in each other's gaps as they live life together. As this story shows, a family's happiness isn't built on the one-sided sacrifice or effort of a single person. It's only when every member of the family makes small compromises and efforts for one another's happiness that the whole family's dream of happiness truly comes true. A delicately and vividly illustrated picture book that feels like it captured the everyday scenes and stories of our own home! The 'Kim Young-jin Picture Book' series draws from the author's own experiences and feelings, as well as those of his family, weaving them into heartfelt stories and illustrations. As the author's note reveals, Why, Mom? is also a story dedicated to his wife, filled with both apology and gratitude. That's why every word and every small detail in the illustrations...