(2) PS A young Korean American boy travels across the ocean to visit his grandfather in South Korea. Everything is strange there. "It smells strange. It sounds strange." Grandpa speaks an unfamiliar language and eats food that the child doesn't want to eat. The boy is not happy. "Grandpa's house is the most boring place on earth!" But some time spent together proves him wrong. Grandpa laughs when watching cartoons and loves chocolate ice cream. He's a great singer, and also a troublemaker--just like his grandson! Now, everything is familiar. The child can understand Grandpa's language and eat Grandpa's food. And he can't wait to be back next summer. In this sweet and funny story, Yum (Saturday Is Swimming Day, rev. 7/18; I Am a Bird, rev. 1/21) explores the grandparent-grandchild relationship and shows how barriers of language, culture, distance, and age are overcome through the creation of shared memories and finding commonality. The straightforward text is easily accessible, and the colored-pencil illustrations are bright and vibrant. Faithful representations of street scenes and food culture in South Korea invite readers from the same background to connect personally with the visual narrative while allowing others to experience something new. The front and back endpapers also include a wealth of detail and provide a visual summary of the story.

Reviewer: Weileen Wang | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(2) K-3 At the young Asian girl narrator's first swim lesson, she shrinks from getting into the water, and the teacher doesn't insist. By the third Saturday, she's ready to fully participate. Yum conveys the little girl's reluctance through body language. Watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations show people with a variety of skin tones. There's no preaching or reproach, just adults giving an anxious child time and space to try something new.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(3) K-3 "I hate rainy days" declares a grumpy boy. "Do you want to draw?" asks his mom; "Okay. I'll draw by myself then," she says. A mother turns a boring rainy afternoon into an exciting one with crayon-drawn (and, eventually, real) puddle-splashing. In this meta making-the-best-of-it story, Yum draws readers in by turning the family's art project into the story. Childlike illustrations pop against stark white backgrounds.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(2) PS Those strong-willed sisters from The Twins' Blanket are fighting over Mom's attention. The situation worsens when Mom brings home a new baby sister. Yum's twins are believably childlike in their directness and their unshakable belief that the world revolves around them. Collage elements add texture and interest to the gouache illustrations. This is a fresh take on both the sibling-rivalry and new-baby themes.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2014

(2) PS "This is the house where my grandparents arrived from far away..." A girl associates tangible aspects of her house and neighborhood (a tree, the stairs) with meaningful kid-milestones and memories ("This is the street where I learned to walk, just like my mom"). Yum's rosy-cheeked, smiling characters and bright, expressive mixed-media illustrations offer visual warmth to complement the comfortingly circular narrative.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2013

(1) PS A young boy entering kindergarten looms large, while his mom appears small and blue (as in "sad"). Turns out she's worried. Youngsters will giggle when she asks, "Will you be okay...you’re still so little"--the illustration shows a big, robust boy and his tiny mom. Kids will get right away that the roles are reversed and that this is mightily amusing. Yum's breezy illustrations are spot on.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2012

(2) PS The twins in this story have always shared everything, including a special blanket. Now that they're five, the blanket is too small. Which girl will get it? Yum neatly differentiates the sisters by giving each one her own side of the book; she also uses the gutter brilliantly. The text varies its direct narration effortlessly, pulling the book's audience into the drama.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2011

(3) K-3 Sometimes it's easier to be brave when you're safe at home. Our narrator thinks he wants to venture into his city neighborhood alone. But then he imagines such a trip--to the Chinese restaurant, the toy store, etc.--seeing "scary wolves...everywhere!" Yum's mixed-media collages perfectly reflect the little guy's mood through his stance and facial expressions in addition to shifting background hues.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith