Issue 47: Loving Yourself with Hyewon Yum

Being different is extraordinary! A sweet assurance from a renowned children's book author/illustrator Hyewon Yum.

Happy Tuesday, KP!

I am beyond excited to welcome Hyewon Yum to Komerican Pie on the publication date of her latest book Toto, which I truly love. Hyewon is the author and illustrator of many children’s picture books and has received numerous awards and recognitions. As a picture book creator myself, I have been influenced by two major figures: Maurice Sendak and Hyewon Yum. I discovered both of their works as an adult. Reading Maurice Sendak expanded my imagination, while reading Hyewon Yum transported me back to my childhood. Her books remind me of the intense emotions I experienced as a child—feelings I had long forgotten. Hyewon has a remarkable ability to remember and capture the feelings and emotions of children, expressing them beautifully through her art and words, which provides great comfort and joy to readers of all ages, both children and adults alike. Without further ado, please join me in welcoming Hyewon!

KP Q&A with Hyewon Yum

Hyewon Yum is an author and illustrator of many picture books, including Toto, Grandpa Across the Ocean, and The Twins’ blanket. Her Book, Saturday is Swimming Day was named as a Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor and Mom, It's My First Day of Kindergarten! received Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator award. She also illustrated Not Perfect, Luli and the Language of Tea and many more. Most recently, Ode to a Bad Day received the Boston Globe Horn Book Honor in 2024. She was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. Now she lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. Find more about her work at hyewonyum.com and follow her on IG here for the latest news and events.

Introduce yourself more personally in 2-3 sentences.

Hello, I am Hyewon Yum. I’m still trying to find out who I am . . . but I am a reader, an illustrator, a writer and a mother of two kids (?) and a dog.

Where are you from? No, where are you REALLY from? (Haha!)

I’m from Korea, I am the second child of a happy little family. Somehow I always felt like a stranger when I was young, and I wanted to run away from all the familiar things I’ve known. I came to New York to start anew and be a perfect stranger. And here I am living in Brooklyn for more than 20 years.

How would you describe yourself in five words?

Funny, blunt, (wonderfully) rude — I borrowed these description from William Boyd’s Any Human heart, and I long to be that kind of person.

What do you love about being Komerican?

I like being Komerican because it’s not an exclusive term. I can be anything to be a Komerican. Isnt’ it?

And of course, what are your favorite Korean foods?

Miyeokguk. After I had two babies, this soup became my favorite. I can have it for a month and not get sick of it. I love the soup so much I wrote a book A Spoonful of the Sea. It will come out this fall.

What was your childhood like and what has it taught you?

I thought I had a very ordinary childhood when I was young. I have these perfect parents and two sisters I can possibly imagine, and we all adore one another. I even dreamed about being an orphan or having a mean stepmother because I thought my life was too ordinary. Now I know better that there was nothing ordinary about my childhood.

What do people underestimate about you?

Do they underestimate me? I don’t think so.

Share your proudest moment in the past year.

I said yes to everything I used to say no to.
And I said NO to what I used to say yes to.

What was your hardest moment in the past year?

I can’t pick a moment. Last year was the hardest year for me. My life fell upside down. I thought I was swimming in the pool, and was close to the end of the lane. I was getting ready to make a big turn and naively thought I’d do a backstroke for a while. Then I realized that I was in the middle of the sea. I barely kept myself afloat.

Can you share something exciting that you’re working on now?

I started writing a diary. I always tried, but couldn’t stick to it and it was all over the place — on a sketchbook, on a blog, or on the phone. Now it’s going to be in one place and I’ll write it everyday.

How do you love yourself?

I gifted myself many books.

How do you love others?

I let them be themselves.

What five things can you not live without?

My dog Kuro (well, he can be a thing!), morning coffee, sunglasses, reading glasses, books

What’s your favorite dance song? (If you don’t dance, that’s okay too.)

I don’t dance, I wish I could...

What’s your favorite kind of pie?

Chocolate pecan pie from ladybird (my neighborhood bakery)

This Q&A was filled out online and edited for length and clarity.

Sweet & Salty: Toto

I attended the book launch party for Toto at Books of Wonder in NYC last Sunday right before the snowstorm hit the city, and got to take this beautiful book with me before its publication date. Since then, I read it many times, combing through every detail of each page, trying to touch the beautiful soft pink used with warm and comforting grayscale drawings throughout the book. This book feels like a hug that makes you want to keep it nearby at all times. A slightly narrower width of the book also gives you an intimate feeling, which reminds me of Beatrice Potter’s philosophy — small books for small hands. You can see the beautiful snippets of the book here, or simply get a copy! It’s a joyous, loving story of self-love and friendship delivered with extraordinary art — a perfect gift for little ones and grown-ups alike. Available for purchase wherever books are sold.