Sun-mi Hwang

This book had been on my to-read list FOREVER. Somewhere I saw this described as a Korean Charlotte's Web, and I think that is just about perfect. A farmyard of anthropomorphized animals, an extremely earnest narrator, with the farms as The Man who won't just Let The Animals Live! Messages of following your dreams, resilience, and self-sacrifice, while also side-eyeing scarcity mentality. Less focused on winning the state fair and more focused on not getting eaten by Weasel. A fast read appropriate for kids and adults alike.… (altro)

To become a mother, the self-named hen, Sprout, has to sacrifice the acceptance of others and has to face life as an outcast with an adopted child who is different from herself. She courageously fights every day to keep her little duckling safe, until he flies away and leaves her alone to face her own mortality. The same end that her duckling's parents have already met while keeping him safe. This is a simple yet wonderful tale of love and friendship. Subtly raising issues of the "unconventional family" prejudice, motherhood, freedom, sacrifice and mortality. Solidly told and well translated, a story for all ages. Compared to classics like Charlotte's Web and Seagull. Also compared to Animal Farm, but I would say it is an opposite view of humanity.… (altro)