Little Golden Book Biography BLACKPINK Interior Details
I’ve spent most of this year pouring my heart into something truly special—a book illustrating the story of BLACKPINK’s journey. It’s been a WILD experience, and I’ve learned so much along the way. Now, I’m beyond excited that it’s almost time to share the full thing with the world.
Watching BLACKPINK work so hard—together and individually—and absolutely own the stage on their world tour has kept me inspired through all the late nights and tight deadlines. Having spent so much time immersed in everything they’ve accomplished, I can only cheer them on with admiration and deep respect. They’re nearly halfway through their tour, and I’m rooting for them every step of the way. Counting down the days until I see them live in just two weeks! Good luck, BLACKPINK, on the rest of the tour—thank you for living your passion so fully and fiercely! 💛
This book has been my love letter to BLACKPINK—if you’ve ever felt inspired by them too, I hope you’ll add it to your shelf and come along for the journey. 🖤🩷
#BLACKPINK #BLINK #BLACKPINKinYourArea #KpopBooks #blackpinkdeadlineworldtour #blackpink2025 #LittleGoldenBook
In the mountains of Joseon, one girl’s heart will be tested—by manners, wisdom… and sleep.
A sweet and funny retelling of The Princess and the Pea—with a Korean twist!
On shelves February 10, 2026 from FSG, Macmillan
From the very beginning, @tinamcho and I knew we wanted this book to feel like a tribute to Korean history, culture, and to every dreamy kid whose heart is big enough to serve the world. 💛
I took it as a personal challenge to weave meaningful details into every scene: from hanbok silhouettes and royal bedding to all the traditional Korean accessories. Creating this book stretched me in the best way, and I can’t wait to show you more.
Jeongsoon has my heart. I hope she finds a place in yours too.
Link in bio💛
Reach for the Stars really did reach for the stars!
@thespacegal , Emily Calandrelli—beloved science communicator, NYC bestselling author, and the 100th woman to travel to space—took a mini version of our debut picture book, Reach for the Stars, aboard Blue Origin’s NS-28 flight above the Kármán line on November 22, 2024!
She carried stories and hope: art from her artists(including @reneekurilla and @hellochilu !), dreams from children, and mementos honoring the women who came before her.
And as if that weren’t enough, Reach for the Stars was chosen as a “Great Reads from Great Places” title for the 2025 Library of Congress National Book Festival.
I’m so happy that our 2022 book continues to be loved, and now has been carried to space. Thank you, Emily, for thinking of me and our story as you reached one of the biggest milestones of your life. Your journey inspires every dreamer, scientist, and artist who dares to reach higher.
I’m endlessly grateful, proud and inspired to have created my debut book with you. 💛
✨Happy Book Birthday to THE PRINCESS AND THE GRAIN OF RICE! ✨
A sweet, funny Korean Princess and the Pea retelling, written by critically acclaimed Korean American author Tina Cho, and illustrated by our very own Honee Jang. A new classic in the making!
In the mountains of Joseon, Jeongsoon has a heart as gentle as jade, but she might just be the clumsiest girl in the kingdom. She wants to be a princess, so she enters the grand princess challenge where she must complete the Manners Test, the Wisdom Test, and finally—the Sleep Test. Throughout each examination, Jeongsoon is far from flawless but in staying true to herself, wins the favor of the queen and the competition itself.
Includes backmatter on the real-life Korean princesses of the Joseon period.
Available now from @fsgyoungreaders@mackidsbooks ✨
This story is officially out in the world! 👑 Happy Book birthday to The Princess and the Grain of Rice💛
Sending my huge gratitude to the team behind this book:
the author @tinamcho , editor @gracekendallbooks , assistant editor Asia Harden, art director @aramkimart , and designer Melisa Vuong— and of course my wonderful @the_cat_agency team: @christyewers_cat_agency , @mgtatters , and @ohjuliatherese !
Tina and I also made a free activity kit as a little invitation to keep exploring Jeongsoon’s world through play, learning, and curiosity.
Thank you to everyone reading, sharing, and holding this story so gently.
✨ Free kit at the link in @tinamcho and my bio
✨ Tina is hosting a story time and a giveaway event! Follow her on Substack to learn more💛
책을 세상에 내놓는 순간마다 마음이 조용히, 새롭게 떨립니다. 이 이야기가 세계 곳곳에서 한국을 맘에 품고 살아가는 분들과
그 아이들에게 따뜻하게 닿기를 바라며, 오늘 살며시 띄웁니다.
@Tinamcho 작가님과 제 링크에 공유된 무료 공부/놀이 도안도
꼭 다운로드하셔서 재밌는 시간 보내시기 바랍니다💛
Planning ahead for Lunar New Year story time, classrooms, or library visits? 🌾👑
@tinamcho and I made a FREE 24-page Teachers’ Guide & Activity Kit to go along with The Princess and the Grain of Rice, and it’s now available to download. It’s designed with parents, teachers, and librarians in mind to support early elementary readers through story comprehension, gentle cultural exploration of the Joseon Dynasty, and hands-on learning through play!
It comes in full color and black & white, so you can print what works best for your space. 🖍️✏️
If you’re a teacher or librarian planning Lunar New Year activities, this is a lovely time to preorder the book (publishing February 10).
💛 Free to download | Link in @tinamcho and my(@honeej ) bio!
#LunarNewYearActivity #FreeDownload #ActivityKit #TeachersGuide #Seollal
The Princess and the Grain of Rice BTS Part 2!
These K-dramas were part of my research while working on The Princess and the Grain of Rice.
They helped me feel the period beyond what I could learn from books, and better understand the rhythms, gestures, and quiet tension of palace life, especially the moments where everything is felt, but very little is said.
+ I also walked down memory lane from my childhood and youth rewatching certain scenes… many times. (Eventually with the sound off, so I could focus purely on the visuals 👀)
Under the Queen’s Umbrella: The queen’s outfits, princes’ daily attire, palace routines, parts of the princess selection and coronation process, and restrained authority in everyday gestures
Yisan: Background storytelling, the king and queen’s attire and hairstyle, ritual-heavy court scenes, and quiet pacing with observational details in historical domestic spaces
Moon Embracing the Sun: Princess candidates’ attire and gestures
Mr. Sunshine: Commoners’ clothing and composed body language
Queen: Love and War: Elements of the princess selection process, court ladies’ attire and gestures, and the pressure carried through stillness
Knight Flower: Commoners’ clothing and environments outside the palace
Love in the Moonlight: Youthful nervousness and soft court interactions for romance… something I wasn’t very used to drawing…!
Which of these shows have you seen?☺️
#ThePrincessAndTheGrainOfRice #behindthescenes #KDrama #KoreanCulture
We received not one, but two more reviews!
Grateful beyond words for these lovely reviews from Booklist and SLJ.💛
Counting down the days until The Princess and the Grain of Rice meets its readers 🌾👑🐭
A peek into my studio stacks 📚
These are some of the reference books I kept returning to while illustrating The Princess and the Grain of Rice, from clothing and gestures to props and small details.
I used many more from Uijeongbu Art Library, but these are the only ones I own or have cover photos of🥲
I highly recommend the first two books to anyone who draws hanbok. I’ve learned so much from them, especially about matching hanbok to the appropriate Joseon period, understanding the variations by social class and role, and appreciating the incredibly detailed explanations.
Coming next: the K-dramas that influenced the world of The Princess and the Grain of Rice, from palace life to the smallest gestures 👑
#ThePrincessAndTheGrainOfRice #behindthescenes #ReferenceBooks #KoreanCulture
