A Spoonful of the Sea

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.

Author: Hyewon Yum
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Norton Young Readers
Published: 09/09/2025
Pages: 32
Weight: 0.94lbs
Size: 10.27h x 9.25w x 0.43d
ISBN: 9781324053699


Review Citation(s):
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2025
Kirkus Reviews 08/15/2025
Publishers Weekly 08/25/2025

About the Author
Yum, Hyewon: - Hyewon Yum is the award-winning creator of several picture books, including Mom, It's My First Day of Kindergarten!, winner of the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award. Originally from South Korea, she now lives in Brooklyn, New York.