author / illustrator: Soyung Lee
ages: 4+
48 pages
23 x 30.7 cm
hardback
French
Les Éditions des Éléphants
Sold: Korean, Simplified Chinese, Italian, Spanish (Spain), Swedish, Complex Chinese, Russian
It's Alright, Dear Toad
A sensitive and powerful picture book that explores the feeling of possessiveness with tact, and looks at what happens when it goes too far.
Once upon a time, there were two toads who were very good friends despite being very different. White Toad was outgoing and cheerful, Red Toad was a loner and a homebody. Red Toad is growing tired of sharing his friend with all of White Toad’s other pals until one day, things get out of hand and Red Toad throws a rock at White Toad, shouting “Go away!”.
As White Toad is injured and rushed to the hospital, Red Toad is consumed by guilt… But when the kind and understanding White Rabbit comes along, Red Toad manages to let go of his sadness and forgive himself.
- 2021 Millepages award
IN THE MEDIA
"No moral judgement here, just a story to relate to when you're struggling to share your 'best mate'." – Le Monde
"No black-and-white morality here, but plenty of nuance (after all, the white toad isn’t entirely blameless either), with bold brushstrokes that make the colours — like the young amphibians’ anger — burst off the page. Read, approved, loved a thousand times over." - Librairies Sorcières
THE AUTHOR
Soyung Lee was born in Seoul in 1980 and spent several years in Paris studying at the École Olivier de Serres. After graduating with an applied arts degree, she published several picture books in Korea and France, where she is recognised as a talented new illustrator and storyteller. She currently lives in Korea.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR:
- A wonderful and tender story showing that accepting chance doesn't mean that your life and destiny will get away from you.
- Sold in korean.