If You Want to Eat a Red Apple (『빨간 사과가 먹고 싶다면』)
Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 4:00–5:00 PM
Korean Cultural Center New York Library
(122 E. 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016)
Recommended for ages 4–6
Korean with English support
Free admission – Registration required
Spots are limited and may fill up quickly. Early registration is recommended.
Join us for Korean Storytime featuring If You Want to Eat a Red Apple (『빨간 사과가 먹고 싶다면』), winner of the 2025 BolognaRagazzi Opera Prima Award, one of the world’s most prestigious honors in children’s literature.
Written by Jin Joo and illustrated by Ga Hee Lee, this beautifully photographed picture book captures the quiet magic of waiting, growing, and sharing. Through the eyes of siblings Ji-gu and Ji-ho, we follow the life of a single apple tree planted by their grandfather. One child moves slowly and thoughtfully, while the other runs with energy and speed but both eagerly wait for the moment when the apple turns red.
Told through film photography and steeped in warm, familiar Korean imagery—like a courtyard cat, an old bus stop, and traditional flooring—the book gently portrays the beauty of patience, the rhythm of nature, and the warmth of family.
Activity: Make Your Own Apple Suncatcher
After the story, children will create two apple suncatchers—one to brighten the library glass wall, and one to take home as a keepsake.
Each child will:
• Take a fun photo of their own “apple moment” — a face, pose, or smile that reminds them of a red apple
• Add their photo inside a colorful apple suncatcher
• Cut or tear tissue paper into pieces to decorate the apple
• Write their name in Hangeul (Korean alphabet) on the apple stem
• Reflect on the story’s themes of growing, waiting, and sharing — just like the siblings in the book
Through this hands-on, heartwarming activity, children will connect with Korean language and culture in a playful and memorable way.
Book Trailer
About Korean Storytime at KCCNY Library
Korean Storytime at the Korean Cultural Center New York Library invites children and families to experience Korean language and culture through storytelling and creative activities. Each session introduces an engaging picture book and a hands-on project designed to spark imagination and cultural curiosity.
About the Instructors
Heuiju Kim earned her B.A. in Korean Language and Literature from Yonsei University, and Certificate of the program for Education of Korean as a second language at Seoul National University's School of Education. Since 2008, she has been working as a teacher and program director at a weekend Korean School in Manhattan. She's been educating children and youth on Korean culture and language.
Jess Minji Paik earned her Ed.M. in Arts in Education from Harvard University and her B.F.A. in Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. She has worked at the intersection of art, education, and community engagement, designing and leading creative programs at museums, cultural centers, and universities. As a Fulbright Scholar in Seoul, she conducted research as an artist and educator, focusing on Korean visual culture and creative pedagogy. Her work explores how art and design can foster cross-cultural dialogue, identity, and belonging. Based in New York, she continues to create interdisciplinary learning experiences that connect Korean culture with diverse communities.