À̹ÌÁö È®´ë Korean picture book author and illustrator Suzy Lee became the first Korean born to win the Anderson Prize, known as the Nobel Prize for children¡¯s literature in her second attempt after being shortlisted in 2016.
At the Bologna Children`s Book Fair on Monday, Suzy Lee was announced as the winner of the Andersen Prize for illustration. The Bologna Children`s Book Fair is the largest and the most important international fair for children¡¯s books and is held for four days each year.
Lee was born in Seoul in 1974 and graduated from the College of Fine Arts at Seoul National University with a major in western paintings. Her illustrations have been critically acclaimed for using selected colors to depict the fine line between the fantasies of children and the realities of adults.
¡°I don¡¯t think my books are just for children,¡± said Lee. She added that she believes the most enjoyable books are ones that both adults and children can relate to.
À̹ÌÁö È®´ë Some of her most notable picture books are ¡°The Boy Who Bought the Shade Under the Tree¡±, ¡°River¡±, ¡°Lines¡±, ¡°Mirror¡±, ¡°Wave¡±, ¡°Shadow¡±, ¡°The Zoo¡±.
Her work has been published in over 20 countries including France, Germany, Brazil, and Japan. Her book ¡°The Revenge of the Rabbits¡± was recognized as one of ¡°The Most Beautiful Swiss Books¡±, and her debut picture book ¡°Alice in Wonderland¡± is included in the Artist`s Book Collection in the UK.
She has also been awarded the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for ¡°Open This Little Book¡± and was selected for the prestigious International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Honor List for ¡°River¡±, a book based on her own dog. In 2019, she was also honored with the 60th Korean Publishing Culture Award.
À̹ÌÁö È®´ë In February this year, her book ¡°Summer¡±, which she wrote and illustrated, was listed as one of the three Special Mention works in the Fiction category at the Bologna Ragazzi Awards. ¡°Summer¡± was inspired by Lee¡¯s memories of listening to ¡°Four Seasons¡±, enabling readers to feel the world of Vivaldi.
By Kim Seul-gi and Susan Lee
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