This little girl doesn't mind her birthmark, most of the time. She calls it Toto, and her mom calls it a kiss from an angel. But sometimes, it feels like people look so hard at Toto they forget to see her. So when it's time to start school, her mom cuts her bangs to cover Toto up, at least for a little while.

At school, she makes a new best friend right away! But then Toto accidentally comes out of hiding. Will her new friend see her differently with Toto in the picture? And does different have to be bad?

Award-winning creator Hyewon Yum's knack for the adorable is at full power in Toto. This warm and vulnerable story grapples with the pressure we feel to blend in, and celebrates the moments--and the friends--that remind us how much better it is to be our full and singular selves.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

A tree has bloomed on a city block outside a house for many years. Inside that house, several generations of a family have grown up. Grandma and Grandpa arrived at the house from a country far away, and Mom and her brothers played on the steps on warm summer days. This little girl learned how to walk on that street, too. Hyewon Yum's This is Our House is a warm story with spare text that follows a family through seasons and generations, from the early days of immigration to the times that made their house into a home.
A Frances Foster Book

Swimming lessons are on Saturdays, and every Saturday one little girl has a stomachache. When she gets to the pool it's loud, the floor is wet and slippery, and her swim cap is too tight. Her swimming instructor, Mary, says it's OK to sit by the edge if she doesn't want to get in the water this week. The next Saturday the girl has a stomachache again, but with Mary's gentle encouragement, she eventually manages to make it into the pool to practice her kicks. Little by little, the girl's confidence grows -- until one Saturday comes around when she has no stomachache at all In a charming and relatable story about trying something new, author-illustrator Hyewon Yum shows that sometimes a little bravery and a lot of patience are all you need to face your fear.

It's a child's first day of kindergarten, but who is worried about all the new people and the different things he'll meet--the child? No! The mother. In a refreshing reversal of roles, the child takes it upon himself to comfort and reassure his mother that everything will be fine, she'll get used to him going to big-kid school, and yes, he is ready for the first day of kindergarten. Utterly charming in its simplicity, Yum playfully uses size and color to reveal emotions of this milestone beginning.

Mom, It's My First Day of Kindergarten! is a Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2012

Grandpa lives on the other side of the ocean.

He takes naps all the time. He eats different foods. He speaks an unfamiliar language. His house is the most boring place on Earth!

Or is it? A little time together just might reveal that Grandpa is also a great singer, an energetic sandcastle builder, and a troublemaker . . . just like his grandson!

With her signature warmth and humor, award-winning author/illustrator Hyewon Yum shares the challenges and joys of having a relative who lives far away--proving that even from across the ocean, the grandparent-grandchild relationship is a very special one.

Little lion Luka is NOT worried about a visit to the doctor. He's NOT scared of getting a shot. And he's definitely NOT a little lion anymore. R-O-A-R!

His younger sister, Lulu, might be nervous for her first checkup--but no need to worry, big brother is here to set a brave example. Step by step, he walks her through what will happen, offering encouragement and holding her hand. But when it's his turn, on second thought, maybe he doesn't need to see Dr. Brown today; he's feeling perfectly fine, after all.

This witty, tender story follows two siblings sharing a universal experience together, giving each other courage and realizing that a trip to the doctor's office isn't so bad.
Yum's sweet illustrations are softly rendered in colored pencils, and their childlike quality is a perfect match for the story. It strikes a reassuring tone for little ones anxious about doctor visits or getting shots, while also demonstrating a loving sibling relationship. --Booklist

From Hyewon Yum:
Lion Needs a Haircut
Lion Needs a Shot
Grandpa Across the Ocean

On her birthday, a girl is presented with a bowl of miyeokguk, seaweed soup--instead of the cake she wants. As she stirs her soup, her mother tells her how mothers eat it after giving birth and how it is served on birthdays to honor them; about haenyeo, women who dive into the ocean's depths to harvest shellfish and seaweed; and how, many mothers ago, a pregnant haenyeo saw a whale eating seaweed after giving birth and tried it after having her own baby--creating a tradition that would continue for generations of daughters to come.

Award-winning picture book creator Hyewon Yum has crafted a luminous and heartfelt celebration of motherhood, heritage, and the deep-rooted connection between women and nature.

Little lion needs a haircut. But he doesn't want one!
Is he worried? No.
Is he scared? NO!
He just likes his hair the way it is. R-O-A-R!

But there's someone else who needs a haircut, too . . . it's Dad, and he doesn't want one, either!
Maybe if they go to the barbershop together, there will be nothing to worry about.

This latest from picture-book veteran Yum brims with heart and charm, turning a classic childhood conflict on its head with subtle style and wit. --Booklist (Starred Review)

Also from Hyewon Yum:
Lion Needs a Shot
Grandpa Across the Ocean

One of School Library Journal's Best Picture Books of 2011

These look-alike twins have always shared everything--their room, their toys, a crib, and, since the day they were born, a blanket. But as they grow into new beds, they need new blankets, too. Now they face a new dilemma: they don't know how not to share.

Told from the perspective of two five-year-olds, The Twins' Blanket playfully illuminates squabbles and affection between young siblings. Yum's minimalistic art astutely captures these twins' emotions as they toss, turn, and tug their new and old blankets--and embrace their growing independence.