King Sejong Invents an Alphabet

by Carol Kim, Cindy Kang (Illustrator)

Overview

A Junior Library Guild Selection March 2022

How do you create a new alphabet?

In 15th-century Korea, King Sejong was distressed. The complicated Chinese characters used for reading and writing meant only rich, educated people could read—and that was just the way they wanted it. But King Sejong thought all Koreans should be able to read and write, so he worked in secret for years to create a new Korean alphabet. King Sejong's strong leadership and determination to bring equality to his country make his 600-year-old story as relevant as ever.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807541616
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	10/01/2021
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	686,715
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	AD810L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Carol Kim has written several fiction and nonfiction books, and enjoys researching and uncovering little-known facts. A second generation Korean American, she also loves creating stories that share Korean culture beyond kimchi and K-pop. Carol lives in Austin, Texas with her family.

Cindy Kang is an artist and illustrator from Seoul, South Korea. She graduated with a BFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She has received awards and recognitions from American Illustration, 3x3 Magazine, The Society of Illustrators, and Communication Arts, among others.

Editorial Reviews

A Junior Library Guild Selection March 2022

"An artful telling of the birth of an alphabet."—Kirkus Reviews

"An engaging, informative, and accessible biography with bright, inviting artwork about man who had a major impact on language and the marginalized citizens of his country."—School Library Journal

"This picture book unfolds like a folktale as Sejong becomes a benevolent ruler who cares just as much for the underprivileged as for the rich and creates his new alphabet in secret, defying opposition from those in power."—Booklist

From the Publisher

12/01/2021

K-Gr 3—Yi Do was born in Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1397, and as a member of royalty, was taught to read and write Hanja, the complex Chinese characters Korea used at that time. It was difficult to learn Hanja, but Yi Do loved learning and reading. When Yi Do became king, his name was changed to Sejong. As king, Sejong realized that most people, especially the general population, could not read Hanja. The characters did not match Korean sounds and words. Korea needed its own alphabet, so Sejong took on the task of creating Hangeul. This had to be done in secret since the wealthy wanted to keep the general population ignorant to maintain power. Sejong, and Hangeul, helped improve the lives of people all over Korea. In the back matter, readers learn that it took many more centuries, and quite a few wars, for Hangeul to become the official alphabet. This is an engaging, informative, and accessible biography with bright, inviting artwork about man who had a major impact on language and the marginalized citizens of his country. VERDICT A wonderful addition to elementary school biography collections.—Kristyn Dorfman, Friends Academy, Locust Valley, NY

School Library Journal

2021-07-27
A king’s love of learning and his people leads to a landmark achievement.

Born in Korea in 1397, young prince Yi Do has a love of reading. Since he is royalty, his education enables him to learn Hanja, a complex Chinese writing system used at that time. Through his studies Yi Do realizes that Hanja does not suit the Korean language and is only accessible to the rich, leaving the rest of the population largely illiterate. When Yi Do takes the throne as King Sejong, he declares, “When the heavens nourish the earth…they do not distinguish between the great and the small. When a king loves his people, it should be the same,” and endeavors to create an alphabet understood by all. Kim’s straightforward and evenly paced narrative reveals that King Sejong’s goal is not met without challenges. Even after deciding carefully to shape his consonants so they reflect how the mouth makes the sounds, he still toils on Hangeul, his 28-letter alphabet, for 10 more years. Subsequent protests from members of the government and refusal to use the system threaten initial public acceptance. Yet King Sejong’s language legacy endures. Kang artfully uses bright colors and textured cartoons to bring movement and life to the story. More detailed information about King Sejong, Hangeul, and the historic context around its acceptance is appended.

An artful telling of the birth of an alphabet. (bibliography) (Informational picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews