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Sora's Seashells: A Name Is a Gift to Be Treasured Hardcover – Picture Book, May 9, 2023

by Helena Ku Rhee (Author), Stella Lim (Illustrator), Ji-Hyuk Kim (Illustrator)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 11 ratings
See all formats and editions
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A lyrical narration and luminous illustrations tell an uplifting intergenerational story of kindness and confidence, loss and remembrance, with resonance for any child who feels other-than.

“Sora means ‘seashell’ in Korean,” her mother said. “Halmoni always said finding a perfect shell is like receiving a wonderful gift. That’s why she suggested we name you Sora.”

Every summer, when Sora’s Halmoni, or grandmother, visits from South Korea, the two of them take the bus to the beach to search for seashells. While Sora likes to take all of them back with her, Halmoni always leaves the prettiest shell for someone else to find and treasure. As summer turns to fall, Halmoni returns home and Sora starts kindergarten, where some of the kids tease her about her “weird” name. One day, Sora’s parents receive a sad call about her grandmother, and Sora feels more lost than ever about who she is and how she fits in. But when her parents reveal the origin of her name, Sora channels a newfound pride and, inspired by Halmoni, combats her peers’ hurtful comments by sharing her shells with everyone in her class. This story, told by Helena Ku Rhee and illustrated by Stella Lim, based on art by Ji-Hyuk Kim, speaks to the prevailing power of kindness and will resonate with anyone who’s been made to feel different.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    4 - 6 years
  2. Print length
    40 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 1
  5. Dimensions
    10.25 x 0.32 x 9.38 inches
  6. Publisher
    Candlewick
  7. Publication date
    May 9, 2023
  8. ISBN-10
    1536209937
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1536209938
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

In her grief, a child finds new meaning in a cherished activity. . . . The illustrators deftly layer shadows and blur boundaries between colors, evoking the feeling of a warm memory. . . . A tender tale of loss and love.
—Kirkus Reviews

In this poignant picture book, Rhee unspools an uplifting tale with soothing narration that harmonizes beautifully with Lim’s stunning watercolor art. The blending of paint creates shadows to accentuate Sora’s grief over her Halmoni and the loneliness she feels at school. Young readers will find Sora’s confidence empowering and see that her story honors the strengths in both kindness and confidence.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Sora’s Seashells is a touching tale, complete with enchanting illustrations, about the gift of the grandparent-grandchild relationship, the gift of a name, and the gift of kindness.
—Hakai Magazine

About the Author

Helena Ku Rhee grew up in Los Angeles and has lived in various parts of the United States, Asia, and Europe. She is the author of the picture books Rosa's Song and The Paper Kingdom, both illustrated by Pascal Campion, and The Turtle Ship, illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage. Helena Ku Rhee currently lives in Los Angeles.

Stella Lim studied fine art and graduated from Kingston University. She based her work for Sora’s Seashells on sketches from Ji-Hyuk Kim. Stella Lim lives with her family in Seoul, South Korea.

Ji-Hyuk Kim is the illustrator of the New York Times bestseller Through Your Eyes: My Child’s Gift to Me by Ainsley Earhardt as well as many book jackets and covers. Ji-Hyuk Kim lives in South Korea.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick (May 9, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1536209937
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1536209938
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 6 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 1
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.25 x 0.32 x 9.38 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 11 ratings

About the authors

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Previous page
  1. Helena Ku Rhee

    Helena Ku Rhee

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Helena Ku Rhee is a writer based in Los Angeles. She specializes in children's literature, but has also written for publications such as the Los Angeles Times, New York Times and Salon. She has a soft spot for small, stout animals like bulldogs, wombats and warthogs. She loves to travel across this beautiful planet, counting among her favorite journeys a camping trip in the Sahara, a swim with elephants in Thailand and a horseback-riding tour of Easter Island. Helena works at a movie studio by day, and dreams up story ideas in her spare time. Visit her at helenakrhee.com and follow her on Instagram (@Helenakurhee) or Twitter @HelenaRhee (Photo credit: Seid Photography)

    See more on the author's page
  2. Stella Lim

    Stella Lim

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Stella Lim is an illustrator for children's book based in South Korea. She lives in Seoul with her family and tabby cat. Spin a Scarf of Sunshine is her first picture book.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
11 global ratings
Heartfelt tale that explores the significance of heritage, kindness, and personal growth
5 Stars
Heartfelt tale that explores the significance of heritage, kindness, and personal growth
"Sora's Seashells " is a heartfelt tale that explores the significance of heritage, kindness, and personal growth. Sora's cherished summer moments with her South Korean grandmother, Halmoni, are centered around searching for seashells on the beach. However, Sora's desire to hoard the shells contrasts with Halmoni's selfless act of leaving the most beautiful one for someone else to find. Sora's struggles with bullies at school who make fun of her name and her subsequent decision to change her name to Sara reveals her internal turmoil. In a family trip to the beach, Sora's parents unveil the beautiful meaning behind her Korean name, given to her by her Halmoni, instilling a sense of pride in her heritage. This transformative experience propels Sora to confront her bullies and embody Halmoni’s legacy of kindness and generosity."Sora's Seashells" deftly weaves together themes of familial bonds, self-acceptance, and compassion. The story encourages readers to appreciate the gifts bestowed upon them, such as their name and cultural heritage. Through Sora's emotional journey, the narrative emphasizes the importance of embracing one's identity, standing up against adversity, and sharing kindness with others. The tender illustrations by Stella Lim and Ji-Hyuk Kim bring the story to life, capturing the emotions and experiences of the characters.In its poignant conclusion, "Sora's Seashells" exemplifies the growth of a young girl who evolves from a self-centered desire to possess all the beauty for herself into an individual who carries forward her Halmoni's legacy of generosity and benevolence. This touching and beautifully illustrated book is a treasure that resonates with readers of all ages, reminding us of the enduring power of love, kindness, and the meaningful bonds between generations.
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Top reviews from the United States

Asian Stories Library
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt tale that explores the significance of heritage, kindness, and personal growth
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
"Sora's Seashells " is a heartfelt tale that explores the significance of heritage, kindness, and personal growth. Sora's cherished summer moments with her South Korean grandmother, Halmoni, are centered around searching for seashells on the beach. However, Sora's desire to hoard the shells contrasts with Halmoni's selfless act of leaving the most beautiful one for someone else to find. Sora's struggles with bullies at school who make fun of her name and her subsequent decision to change her name to Sara reveals her internal turmoil. In a family trip to the beach, Sora's parents unveil the beautiful meaning behind her Korean name, given to her by her Halmoni, instilling a sense of pride in her heritage. This transformative experience propels Sora to confront her bullies and embody Halmoni’s legacy of kindness and generosity.

"Sora's Seashells" deftly weaves together themes of familial bonds, self-acceptance, and compassion. The story encourages readers to appreciate the gifts bestowed upon them, such as their name and cultural heritage. Through Sora's emotional journey, the narrative emphasizes the importance of embracing one's identity, standing up against adversity, and sharing kindness with others. The tender illustrations by Stella Lim and Ji-Hyuk Kim bring the story to life, capturing the emotions and experiences of the characters.

In its poignant conclusion, "Sora's Seashells" exemplifies the growth of a young girl who evolves from a self-centered desire to possess all the beauty for herself into an individual who carries forward her Halmoni's legacy of generosity and benevolence. This touching and beautifully illustrated book is a treasure that resonates with readers of all ages, reminding us of the enduring power of love, kindness, and the meaningful bonds between generations.
Customer image
Asian Stories Library
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt tale that explores the significance of heritage, kindness, and personal growth
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2023
"Sora's Seashells " is a heartfelt tale that explores the significance of heritage, kindness, and personal growth. Sora's cherished summer moments with her South Korean grandmother, Halmoni, are centered around searching for seashells on the beach. However, Sora's desire to hoard the shells contrasts with Halmoni's selfless act of leaving the most beautiful one for someone else to find. Sora's struggles with bullies at school who make fun of her name and her subsequent decision to change her name to Sara reveals her internal turmoil. In a family trip to the beach, Sora's parents unveil the beautiful meaning behind her Korean name, given to her by her Halmoni, instilling a sense of pride in her heritage. This transformative experience propels Sora to confront her bullies and embody Halmoni’s legacy of kindness and generosity.

"Sora's Seashells" deftly weaves together themes of familial bonds, self-acceptance, and compassion. The story encourages readers to appreciate the gifts bestowed upon them, such as their name and cultural heritage. Through Sora's emotional journey, the narrative emphasizes the importance of embracing one's identity, standing up against adversity, and sharing kindness with others. The tender illustrations by Stella Lim and Ji-Hyuk Kim bring the story to life, capturing the emotions and experiences of the characters.

In its poignant conclusion, "Sora's Seashells" exemplifies the growth of a young girl who evolves from a self-centered desire to possess all the beauty for herself into an individual who carries forward her Halmoni's legacy of generosity and benevolence. This touching and beautifully illustrated book is a treasure that resonates with readers of all ages, reminding us of the enduring power of love, kindness, and the meaningful bonds between generations.
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2 people found this helpful
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Claude
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and wise
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
Although I do not read to my teenage grandchildren anymore, I still love children’s books and Sora’s Seashells delighted me. I did not count the words but there are not that many. In spite of that, the author tackled the challenge of exploring not one or two but five different themes in the life of a child: relationship with a grandparent who lives far away, appreciation of the beauty of humble objects at our feet, the meaning of ownership (didn’t Hemingway hold that we really owned only what we were willing to part with?), dealing with the loss of a beloved relative and handling teasing in a constructive way. Oh, and all that while using the narrow vocabulary accessible to a child. It takes a poet to pull that off and Helena Ku-Rhee does so with quiet brio. As an amateur painter, I was entranced by the illustrations that seem to shimmer and whose compositions so perfectly set off the scene they describe. A wonderful book to read to children … or to yourself.
One person found this helpful
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Sorah Kim
5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
I loved it. It was a very inspiring book. I read it to my nephew. He loves it alot.
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Carol Gordon Ekster
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all elementary students
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2024
Beautifully written, lovely illustrations and such a warm wonderful story. It touches on names, classroom kindness, and the love for a grandparent. A must read to all elementary classrooms.
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Lovemybooks2020
4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet story!
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2023
𝗦𝗼𝗿𝗮’𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 by Helena Ku Rhee is a lyrical book with gorgeous illustrations that tells an uplifting intergenerational story of kindness and confidence, loss and remembrance, with resonance for any child who feels other-than. ⁣
⁣
“Sora means ‘seashell’ in Korean,” her mother said. “Halmoni always said finding a perfect shell is like receiving a wonderful gift. That’s why she suggested we name you Sora.”⁣
⁣
Every summer, when Sora’s Halmoni, or grandmother, visits from South Korea, the two of them take the bus to the beach to search for seashells. While Sora likes to take all of them back with her, Halmoni always leaves the prettiest shell for someone else to find and treasure. ⁣
⁣
As summer turns to fall, Halmoni returns home and Sora starts kindergarten, where some of the kids tease her about her “weird” name. One day, Sora’s parents receive a sad call about her grandmother, and Sora feels more lost than ever about who she is and how she fits in. But when her parents reveal the origin of her name, Sora channels a newfound pride and, inspired by Halmoni, combats her peers’ hurtful comments by sharing her shells with everyone in her class. ⁣
⁣
This story, told by Helena Ku Rhee and illustrated by Stella Lim, based on art by Ji-Hyuk Kim, speaks to the prevailing power of kindness and will resonate with anyone who’s been made to feel different.⁣
⁣
This was such a sweet story, and any child will cherish the family story full of love and emotions. We are all special and this book reiterates that important point through family and loss. The illustrations are so inviting and warm. Perfectly supporting this loving story of generosity and caring for others. This will be a child’s favorite book for sure!⁣
⁣
One person found this helpful
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SaraKruger
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely poignant story
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2023
This is a sweet lyrical story about a girl's experience beach combing with her grandmother and learning the meaning of her own name. It offers a beautiful lesson in learning to have pride in heritage and family.
One person found this helpful
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Margaret Lea
5.0 out of 5 stars Very sweet
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2023
Very sweet book!
One person found this helpful
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Linda K. Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully real
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2023
Beautifully written and touches on multiple themes of some of the tough things to deal with as a child … disappointment, loss, confusion, difficult interactions with other children…. I can see this speaking to young readers in so many ways and giving them hope that there’s a way to get through it together.
One person found this helpful
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