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by Jessica Yoon (Author), Seo Kim (Illustrator)
This modern Korean folktale about how the Asian black bear got its characteristic patch is a timely story about the delicate balance humans have with nature and about the trappings of greed and overconsumption.
In a small mountainside village, people live in harmony with nature, only taking as much as they need. But one day, a mysterious visitor tempts the villagers with a luxurious life of leisure, if only they catch more fish from their streams. The visitor's suggestion brings the villagers wealth and relaxation, until suddenly their nets come up empty. The villagers fear that a terrible beast has put a curse on their waters, so a brave young girl journeys to confront the creature. Along her way, she meets Ban-Dal, a towering bear protecting the mountain forest. Is Ban-Dal her foe? Or a kindred spirit who will help her break the curse and restore harmony between nature and her people?Author Biography
Jessica Yoon is a Korean American writer based in central Pennsylvania. As a passionate advocate of representation in children's literature, she writes books with Korean American main characters, drawing from her experiences as a child of multiple cultures. She has provided freelance sensitivity reader services to We Need Diverse Books and is an active member of SCBWI and the Harrisburg Asian Writers Collective. In 2023, she was awarded the Anti-Bias Book Bearer Scholarship by the Highlights Foundation.
Seo Kim (김서경) is a South Korean illustrator and educator based in Baltimore, Maryland. She is passionate about stories that celebrate cultural identity, family, and belonging. Seo illustrated A Map into the World and A Home on the Page by Kao Kalia Yang, Baba's Peach Tree by Marie Tang, and One Moonlit Night by Zanna Davidson. She also leads the illustration program at Towson University. The Legend of Ban-Dal is the first Korean folktale she has illustrated-an experience that felt both personal and powerful. Seo lives with her husband and son, Kai, whose laughter and wonder inspire her art every day. Learn more at www.seokim.com.
