Baek Hee-na facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Baek Hee-na
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Baek at her Atelier in 2020
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| Born | 1 December 1971 Seoul, South Korea |
| Occupation | Author, Illustrator and Animator |
| Language | Korean |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Genre | Picture Books |
| Notable awards | Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award |
Baek Hee-na (Hangul: 백희나; RR: Baek Hui-na) is a famous South Korean author, illustrator, and animator. She was born on December 1, 1971, in Seoul. Baek Hee-na is known for her amazing picture books. Her books feature characters with unique personalities. They also tell charming stories. She uses her experience in animation to create her books.
Her book Magic Candies was recognized internationally in 2018. It was even turned into a musical in South Korea! In 2020, Baek Hee-na made history. She became the first South Korean to win the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. This is a very important award for children's literature. Her books have been translated into many languages. These include English, German, Chinese, Japanese, Swedish, and Norwegian.
Contents
About Baek Hee-na
Baek Hee-na was born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1971. She went to Ewha Womans University. There, she studied Education Technology. Later, she learned about character animation at the California Institute of the Arts.
After finishing her studies, she worked as an animator in the United States. She then returned to South Korea. In 2004, she published her first picture book, Cloud Bread. Her classes and studies in directing and storytelling helped her a lot. They became the foundation for her picture book work.
Baek Hee-na uses her animation skills to create her books. She makes characters with strong personalities. She also tells charming stories. She creates all the artwork herself. This includes the characters and backgrounds. She adds lots of creativity, items, and details. This helps the stories feel more real and exciting. She lives in Seoul with her family.
Her Amazing Career
Baek Hee-na's book Cloud Bread was a big hit. In 2005, she was named the Author of the Year for Fiction. This was at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Her book was also shown at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Cloud Bread has been translated into about 10 different languages. It was even made into a children's musical and a TV animation show.
In 2012 and 2013, her book The Bath Fairy won awards. It received a prize at the 53rd Korea Publishing Culture Awards. It also won the Changwon Children's Literature Award. Her book Magic Candies was added to the IBBY Honour List in 2018. It also won two awards in Japan in 2019.
In 2020, Baek Hee-na won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA). This is one of the biggest awards in children's literature. It shows how important her work is around the world.
Even though her book Cloud Bread sold many copies, Baek Hee-na did not receive much money for it at first. This was because of an unfair contract. This kind of contract was common in Korea at the time. This situation helped the Korean government take action. They worked to make sure artists get fair pay for their creations.
Her Unique Style
Baek Hee-na always tries new things in her art. She uses special techniques for her pictures. She creates her artwork and then makes books from it. She often uses a 3D illustration technique.
A special part of her style is how she makes characters. She creates them using a material called 'Sculpey'. She makes several main characters. Each one shows different facial expressions. She also uses the stop-motion animation technique. This is where you take many pictures of small movements.
Baek Hee-na builds the sets for her stories herself. She also checks the lighting for her photos. This helps her create her own unique art world. The ALMA Steering Committee described her work. They said she is an artist who makes picture books better. They noted her bold techniques and artistic solutions. They also praised how she combines handmade crafts with animation.
Awards She Has Won
- 2005 The Illustrator of the Year Award at the Bologna Children's Book Fair - Cloud Bread
- 2012 The 53rd Korea Publishing Culture Awards - The Bath Fairy
- 2013 The 3rd Changwon Children's Literature Award - The Bath Fairy
- 2019 The Picture Book Translation Award and Reader Award in the 24th Japanese Picture Book Awards - Magic Candies
- 2020 The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA)
Her Published Works
Baek Hee-na once said that picture books should give readers comfort and courage. She believes they should not just teach lessons. This idea is clearly seen in her books.
- 2004 Cloud Bread (Hansol Soobook) ISBN: 9788953538610
- 2007 The Boy Who Looked for the North Wind (Sigong Junior) ISBN: 9788952750136
- 2007 The Pink Rope (Sigong Junior) ) ISBN: 9788952750204
- 2010 Moon Sherbet (Bear Books) ISBN: 9791158360832
- 2011 Last Evening (Bear Books) ISBN: 9788993242300
- 2011 Peep's Mother (Bear Books) ISBN: 9791158360849
- 2012 The Bath Fairy (Bear Books) ISBN: 9791158360825
- 2014 The Poop Fly I Tasted in my Dream (Bear Books) ISBN: 9788993242300
- 2016 Strange Mother (Bear Books) ISBN: 9791158360856
- 2017 Magic Candies (Bear Books) ISBN: 9791158361143
- 2018 The Strange Visitor (Bear Books) ISBN: 9791158361242
- 2019 I am a Dog (Bear Books) ISBN: 9791158361464
