Maya and the Turtle - by John C Stickler & Soma Han (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In this charming original fairy tale, children learn that the road to greatness lies in selflessness and that the loving kindness of a pure heart can awaken great love and power in another. Maya's mother is a gentle soul. When she dies she bequeaths her daughter the task of caring for her father--and for herself. For her mother once had a dream that Maya was meant for great things, and it was the kind of dream that always comes true. Although she is poor, Maya grows kinder and more beautiful with each passing year. One day, she finds a little turtle and takes him home, raising and caring for him, never knowing that he will play a part in her destiny. Beautifully illustrated and filled with fascinating nuggets of information about Korean culture, this book offers a poignant tale of the rewards of kindness, patience, courage, and a loving heart, and a lesson in how true glory--even if foretold--must be earned"--

Book Synopsis

**WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL 2013-2014 MORNING CALM MEDAL**

This multicultural children's book presents a heartwarming Korean fairy tale about a little girl and a fortunate encounter.

Poverty is all Maya has ever known, but she doesn't allow it to stop her from caring for her father, and others, as best she can. Kind and gentle, she is a lovely young girl who always puts others first. One day, she finds a little turtle and takes him home, raising and loving him, never knowing that he will play an instrumental part in her destiny.

Similar to The Korean Cinderella, Maya and the Turtle, is an original Korean fairy tale by authors John Stickler and Soma Han that teaches children that the road to greatness lies in selflessness and that the loving kindness of a pure heart can awaken great love and power in another. Beautifully illustrated by Han, this book contains fascinating bits of information about Korean culture and is a poignant tale about the rewards of kindness, patience and courage.

Review Quotes

"'Maya and the Turtle' is a beautifully illustrated and poignant tale about the rewards of kindness, patience and encouragement, and a lesson in how true glory must be earned. Maya's selflessness and generosity perfectly illustrate the deceptively simple moral of this book--when a heart is pure and kind and loving, surprising and wonderful things can happen. Even when hope seems lost." --Adoption Today magazine

"An original folk tale set in Korea tells the story of a selfless young maiden who is sacrificed to the monster in the neighboring village. [...] The core of the story (a girl sacrifices herself to aid her ailing father) is both strong from a plot point and a significant theme in Korean tales..." --Kirkus Reviews

"I liked this book because I like turtles. I liked that the Turtle saved Maya after she saved it. I thought the people were pretty and had pretty clothes and I thought the Turtle was fun to look at." --Rachel, age 6, City Book Review

"I...almost every page has a contextual note explaining something cultural, historical, or just downright tongue-in-cheek; and the multi-culti angle gets celebrated with a strikingly detailed, full spread--the royal couple is indeed flanked by "people from many lands," many colors, many cultures and backgrounds. Hope springs eternal for world peace." --Book Dragon blog

"It explores the idea of filial piety and the gorgeous illustrations with the text teach us a great deal about Korean life. It is a beautiful tale that we have read many times in our home. It inspires children to care for others and respect their environment and living beings. Maya is rewarded for her goodness. This tale has been passed on for generations and we are all lucky to share in the magic and beauty of Maya and the Turtle." --Product Mommy blog

"The book has fun lessons about Korean culture on the pages such as terminology and more explanation on traditions and stories within the culture. This is a great book to continue your child's love of fairy tales as they learn from another culture." --Parenting Healthy blog

"The husband-and-wife team of Stickler and Han retells a fairy tale from Han's childhood, in which a young woman's kindness and bravery are rewarded handsomely." --Publishers Weekly

"This is a great tale that teaches a good moral and gives insight to Korean culture." --Multicultural Fairy Tales blog

About the Author

Soma Han is a native of Korea. After studying under Korea's leading sculptor Lee II Young, she earned a BA in literature as well as a BFA from the California College of Arts and Crafts. Soma is a painter, sculptor, mosaic artist and book illustrator whose work has been exhibited in galleries in the U.S., Korea and Hong Kong. Visit her website at somahan.org

John C. Stickler is a graduate of Yale University and spent thirteen years in Korea working in advertising and news reporting. He has had a long career in letters, including publishing, editing and travel writing. He and Soma live in Arizona. Together they co-authored Land of Morning Calm: Korean Culture Then and Now (Shens Books).