The only edition translated from the definitive Portuguese text, now published especially for elementary school students—My Sweet Orange Tree! My Sweet Orange Tree is a beloved classic of coming-of-age literature, so treasured that it has even been included in sixth-grade textbooks. First introduced in Korea in 1978 by Gwangmin-sa, the predecessor of Dongnyok Publishing, the book has since been reprinted by more than fifty publishers, selling an estimated four million copies and becoming a massive bestseller. It was selected for MBC's "Exclamation Mark!" program in 2003 and continues to be cherished by readers today. Dongnyok Publishing, the very first publisher to introduce this book in Korea, formally secured the rights from the copyright holder and corrected mistranslations found in over a hundred earlier editions, releasing a newly revised My Sweet Orange Tree in 2002. That edition—featuring tender illustrations selected through a public contest and a beautifully fluent translation—won the hearts of countless readers. Now, this cherished book has been newly reimagined especially for elementary school readers. Since so many children already read My Sweet Orange Tree during their elementary school years, we wanted to ensure that they experience the real, unabridged story rather than a simplified version. First, we enlarged both the trim size and the font, and redesigned the entire book with a charming look that appeals to children. Second, we replaced the previous edition's sentimental illustrations with thirty realistic yet beautiful new illustrations suited for a children's edition. Third, we replaced difficult vocabulary with simpler words to make the story easier for children to understand. However, whenever a word was essential to the meaning or context—even if unfamiliar or challenging—we kept it as close to the original as possible. Fourth, to address the common problem of previous children's editions feeling like abridged versions, we included the story in its entirety without cutting a single part, preserving all of the original's deep emotional impact. Fifth, we created open-ended discussion questions on key parts of the story to help children reflect on the content and form their own thoughts. The Secret Behind the Enduring Popularity of My Sweet Orange Tree, the Sad and Beautiful Tale of the Lovable Little Rascal Zezé. The poet Ki Hyeong-do, while working as a journalist, once called My Sweet Orange Tree a "strange book," remarking that its magic was difficult to put into words. Written by Brazil's greatest author, José Mauro de Vasconcelos, this coming-of-age novel has remained beloved not only in the 1980s but continuously through the 2000s. So what exactly is the magic behind this "strange book"? First, it closely mirrors the hardships of our own lives. My Sweet Orange Tree is by no means a purely charming fairy tale. The father has lost his job; the mother, who has worked in a factory since the age of six, still comes home exhausted every day. The older sisters must also work endlessly, whether at the factory or at home, while the sensitive young Zezé receives little love or care and is beaten almost daily. For the 27 years since its first publication, readers have looked at this poor Brazilian family's life and seen echoes of their own struggles, sharing in their sorrow. Second, the novel faithfully follows the structure of a coming-of-age story. Such novels typically portray a young protagonist discovering their sense of self through conflict with the world, and readers grow alongside the main character as they read. Because every reader has been, is, or will be that protagonist in some way, these stories never lose their vitality and continue to be loved across generations. Readers grow and discover themselves as they follow little troublemaker Zezé's clashes and reconciliations with the world around him. Third, Zezé's pure heart—despite growing up amid poverty and neglect—brings both tears and laughter. His irrepressible mischief (getting punished for a fake snake prank, only to immediately think up new pranks), his cleverness in teaching himself to read, his generous heart in sharing bread with Dorotília, who is bullied for being poor and Black, and his vivid imagination in talking to animals and trees as if they were living beings—all reveal a rare, angelic innocence that draws everyone who meets him. Fourth, Vasconcelos reportedly wrote this novel in just twelve days. But don't be too surprised—he had spent over twenty years developing the story in his mind. True to his writing style, which was always deeply rooted in real experience, every character in this book feels vividly alive, and the realistic, natural dialogue brings each scene to life with striking clarity.