Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Per a note, Kim's memories of a former Seoul neighborhood propel this meditative story, which describes a child's morning routine. Awakening to a "beautiful, blue sky morning," the East Asian protagonist, Eunny, takes pleasure in the mundane, with second-person narration leaning toward mindful-feeling pauses: "It's bright when you step outside,/ and the air feels cool and fresh./ Take a deep breath." Though other children hurry by, the subject stops to appreciate the sky--"so big and so blue"--then proceeds to express gratitude for conversation with Mama, changing foliage, and a warm greeting from a school friend. Crisp watercolor, pencil, and colored pencil illustrations soothe via pale coloring and careful lines, combining with deliberate text to create a gentle portrait of the beauty found amid a day's beginnings. Ages 4--7. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2--Eunny's day begins with a beautiful, blue-sky morning and it sets the stage for everything else. Her morning routine from waking up--"Can you hear the town waking up too? Lots of people are starting their busy days"--to a family breakfast, then walking her mother to the bus stop and continuing on to school is transformed. On this unhurried day, there is time to breathe the cool fresh air; notice the flowers and others on the street; look up at the big, blue sky; talk to Mama about the day ahead; and enjoy the colors of the turning leaves. The text, written as though speaking to Eunny, is simple and direct. Set in Kim's old neighborhood in Seoul, the mostly watercolor illustrations are amazingly realistic and detailed. The bricks on the houses, the artwork on Eunny's room, the dragonflies in the sky, the individual leaves on the trees--readers will see it all and so much more. Changing perspectives, depth, and angles keeps the story moving along. Those who have been awaiting the follow-up to The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky will not be disappointed. VERDICT Within the confines of a regular day, the author-illustrator brilliantly conveys the joy and beauty found in an autumn morning, making every small moment relatable and wonderful. A solid purchase for libraries.--Catherine Callegari
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Review by Horn Book Review
On a "beautiful, blue sky morning," Eunny wakes up, eats breakfast, and walks to school with Mama. During the walk, Eunny takes the time to notice and appreciate the world around; the childlike second-person narration gently instructs readers to do the same ("You're not in a hurry today. Stop for a moment, and look up"). Delicate watercolor and pencil illustrations depict a bustling neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea, and, in the middle of it all, a child and mother enjoying each other's company. (c) Copyright 2025. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Come along with Eunny as she navigates her morning routine. Delicate watercolor and colored pencil illustrations depict a view of an initially quiet Korean town, while clever second-person text directly addresses readers and the protagonist: "Wake up, Eunny! It's a beautiful, blue sky morning." With a gentleness that matches her soft yet precise artwork, Kim invites readers to participate in Eunny's activities ("Can you hear the town waking up too?" "Have you noticed the flowers?"). Eunny eats a breakfast prepared by her grandmother, Mama drinks coffee, and then she and Eunny set out. "It's bright when you step outside, and the air feels cool and fresh. Take a deep breath." Kim's portrayal of the now-busy streets makes for immersive reading; every illustration in this South Korean import is filled with detail, from the children's expressions to the individual leaves on the trees. Mama and Eunny aren't in a rush, and the unseen narrator urges the child to "stop for a moment, and look up." A marvelous page turn transitions from an overhead image of Eunny with her head craned back to a stunning view of the blue sky seen from below. As Eunny and her mother enjoy their walk to Mama's bus stop and Eunny meets her friend Sohee, readers get to experience the fun of saying goodbye and hello, observing the changing colors of the foliage, and anticipating a new school day. The feeling of a lovely morning, captured perfectly.(Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
