Sora’s Seashells
SORA’S SEASHELLS is the story of a girl who learns the meaning of her unique name and gains the courage to address school bullies, thanks to her grandmother. The wonderful publisher is Candlewick Press, and the illustrations are by Stella Lim and Ji-Hyuk Kim, both based in South Korea. The book is illustrated in watercolors to capture the seaside setting of the story. The images are luminous!
Watch the re-play of Helena’s chat with the Los Angeles Public Library about Sora’s Seashells (learn a big secret about Helena’s name + writing/publishing tips!):
Praise
A tender tale of loss and love. The illustrators deftly layer shadows and blurs boundaries between colors, evoking the feeling of a warm memory. The gently paced narrative reveals Sora, now understanding her grandmother’s words, bringing her jar of shells for show and tell. — Kirkus Reviews
In this poignant picture book, Rhee unspools an uplifting tale with soothing narration that harmonizes beautifully with Lim’s stunning watercolor art. The blending of paint creates shadows to accentuate Sora’s grief over her Halmoni and the loneliness she feels at school. Young readers will find Sora’s confidence empowering and see that her story honors the strengths in both kindness and confidence. — The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
