Where's Joon? — Julie Kim

Kim's story is absolutely enchanting, but her stupendously vivacious illustrations prove even more memorable. Amplifying details immediately stand out from the first pages—Terry Hong, Shelf AwarenessWhere's Joon? is the highly anticipated sequel to Where's Halmoni?, the bestselling, award-winning debut by Julie Kim. In this graphic novel picture book, Julie Kim beckons readers once again into a colorful, fantastical world filled with jaw-dropping art (School Library Journal), plenty of humor, and multilayered storytelling that illuminates the immigrant experience of traversing two worlds, both cultural and generational. Jin is helping Halmoni in the garden for her birthday celebration, but where's Joon? Besides the big mess in the kitchen, Jin and Halmoni see no signs of Joon anywhere. Where could he have gone? Luckily, Halmoni has a hunch. She sends Jin on an errand through her magical portal into the wondrous world of Korean folktales with its dazzling landscapes and curious characters.  In this land of enchantment, Jin and Joon meet familiar friends and foe before reuniting to embark on a new mission to fix Halmoni's magic pot. This beautifully illustrated graphic novel picture book is filled with delightful visual Easter eggs and includes Korean language as one of its story-telling tools that is reader friendly at all levels. In the back are illustrated translations of Korean text and further reading on the original Korean folktales that have inspired Julie Kim's books.Another captivating and timeless book from Julie Kim, Where's Joon? is a beguiling tale about children's courage to face their fears and how love makes everything possible.