Janie Jaehyun Park,
The Love of Two Stars: a Korean Legend
Groundwood Press, 2005.

Rating: E*

This beautiful book is a retelling of an ancient Korean legend about two stars that meet each year in the Milky Way. Kyonu and Jingnyo, a farmer and a weaver, are young lovers who become so enamored with each other that they forget to carry out their daily tasks. As punishment they are banished to opposite ends of the universe being allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month. When that day arrives the lovers find they  cannot cross the river of stars and their tears of grief threaten the earth. The magpies and crows come to their aid thus saving the earth.

The story is told with tenderness. The storytelling tone makes this book suitable to be read aloud. The rich tones of the double spread illustrations enhance the retelling by adding depth to the progression of the story through love, loss, grief, acceptance and resolution. A short explanation at the beginning of the book gives added background information about the legend.

This book would be suitable to include in studies of myths and legends, in studies of Asian cultures or purely for enjoyment. It would be a valuable addition to both schools and public library collections.

Thematic Links: Legends; Asian Culture; Stars and Sky.

Linda Berezowski
Vol. 11, number 2
December 2005

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.