Fall Sale at Little Seouls

Use this coupon code to get Korean baby items, toys, books, hanboks, games at LittleSeouls.com!

Korean DVD Learning Series for Kids

Pangi DVDs are great to expose and teach your child to Korean conversation, words, and numbers! We recently added some new titles to this series. 
Click here for more information!

We have also recently added the 5 DVD Set of Korean for Kids!
Click here for more information!

New Korean Inspired Jewelry!

We recently added some new Korean Inspired Jewelry! Check it out here!

New One Piece Sleepers!

We recently added these adorable one piece sleepers from Agabang. All made with 100% cotton and certified organic! Made in Korea. Click here to view.

Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth

       Bojagi image from the San Francisco Asian Art Museum 

I had the pleasure of interviewing Joan Schoettler, author of Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth. This beautifully written and illustrated book is about a little girl named Ji-Su. When Ji-Su's mother is chosen by the emperor to be a seamstress in his court, Ji-Su vows to learn to sew the beautiful Korean bojagi, or wrapping cloths, just as well so that she will also be summoned to the palace and be reunited with her mother. 

You can see our interview below:

Please share a little about yourself to our viewers.

Children's literature has played an important part in my life from reading to my children when they were young, to sharing wonderful stories to school age children as a literacy specialist, and to exposing credential students and teachers to outstanding books and ways these books can be incorporated in their classrooms. Teaching children's literature and storytelling at California State University, Fresno provides an opportunity to look closely at recently released books as well as to share books children return to again and again. Studying children's literature is a perfect partner with my writing.

I grew up just outside San Francisco, a city I return to frequently. I live in Central California with my husband where we raised three sons. Reading, writing, gardening, traveling, and being with family and friends fill my days.

Do I have any ties with the Korean culture?

I did not have any ties to the Korean culture, but as I began research for Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth,  I met many Korean people who answered my questions, shared particular aspects of their culture with me, and invited me into their homes. Learning about other cultures is something I am easily drawn to and research is something I enjoy. I love the learning part of writing. As a result of my research and the publication of Ji-su's story, I have met Korean families, students, and scholars at Asian Art Museums in San Francisco and Pasadena, the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art, and at the Korean Education Foundation. Through this story my world has broadened.

What message do you want your book to send to its readers?

It's interesting because I don't think of a message to share with readers as I tell a story. Maybe it evolves naturally as the story is told. That's what I'm doing...sharing a story. Love and determination are the driving components in Ji-su's story. A child's longing to be with her/his mother is a universal desire. Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth shares that component in a Korean setting where Ji-su's perfection of sewing bojagi invites the reader to learn about another culture.

How did you come up with the story?

I first saw bojagi, or wrapping cloths, at a special Korean art exhibit at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum. These unique abstract works of art are often compared to Klee's modern art. The colors, designs, and intricate stitches amazed me.Toward the end of the exhibit, there was a contemporary bojagi created by Chunghie Lee, a world renowned fiber artist who created and dedicated a bojagi to all the anonymous women who spent tireless hours sewing bojagi for utilitarian purposes in their homes and in palaces for the wealthy to store and wrap their treasures. I felt these anonymous women and their art needed to be recognized and their story told.

What age range would you suggest this book for?

My editor suggested the book for the 5-8 age group. It certainly works there, but I have shared it with older students and find them just as engaged and asking inquisitive questions to learn more about the bojagi and Korean culture. Even adults are contacting me with personal ways they are connecting with the story. It's all a wonderful surprise for me.

Do you plan on making more books?

Yes. Some stories are completed and others are in various stages of the writing process. I received the 2010 Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award for ON THE RUN, and hope to see Janna's story in print soon. Hopefully with the publication of Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth, other manuscripts will catch the eye of editors and reach the hands of children n the near future.

Is there anything else you want to share?

Jessica Lanan, my illustrator:

Renee Ting, my editor at Shen's Books, chose a talented, research driven, and wonderfully creative artist, Jessica Lanan, to illustrate my book. Jessica brought characters to life on the page in ways I never imagined, like the character of Gomo, Ji-su's great aunt, the cousins, and the cat. The way she revealed the setting amazed me and her research took her into of the Korean culture, learning about bojagi, and Korean family life. Jessica brought much to this story, and for that, I am very grateful.

We thank you Joan for this lovely interview and giving us your personal background and insight into your book, Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth.

Joan will be sponsoring a Giveaway of her book to our Little Seouls customers!  She will also sign the book and personalize it with the winner's name!

If you want to enter the Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth Giveaway, please leave a comment on our blog here and tell us why you want this book. Winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Wednesday, May 30, 2012!

Little Seouls Party featured on Amy Atlas!

We're so excited to be featured on Amy Atlas' blog!   We created a semi-custom design for Anne's son Toby who is half Korean and half Chinese.  She really loved the persimmon design and wanted to incorporate both cultures in the design.  We made the banner, invitations, party tags, raffle tickets and doljabi board. The end result is so adorable!  You can also see more images of his party at Korean1stBirthday. 

Another Little Seouls Birthday Cake!

Take a look at this adorable first birthday cake designed after our Little Seouls boy logo!
This custom cake was created by Sweet Grace Cake Designs in Haworth, NJ.

Little Seouls Birthday Cake

Look at this cake designed after our Little Seouls Girl! Credit to Debbie Does Cake! Here is her link if you want to see more of her fabulous creations. http://www.debbiedoescakes.net

Children's Day Sale!

Winners for Calendar Giveaway

 Winners are Jean Hong, Beth Earl, Kathleen Carden Duda, Vanessa Alvarez-Biver and Ann Lee.  Please email us at info@littleseouls.com to claim your prize!

Children's Day Giveaway!

Will you be celebrating Children's Day next month? Children's Day, a national holiday in Korea, is celebrated on May 5. Children's Day is like Christmas over there, as children are given gifts and treated to a day of fun to places like amusement parks, zoos, museums, festivals and the like . The day was originally created by Children's author, Pang Jeong Hwan, as a way to honor children as he believed they are the future of the nation.

In honor of this day, we will be giving away 5 calendars! To enter, all you have to do is "like" our post on Facebook regarding the giveaway. If you don't have a Facebook account, you can comment on our blog saying you "like the contest."

Five Winners will be randomly chosen on Wednesday, April 25, 2012.

Korean sound books

Over the course of the year, we have added several sound books to our stock. Many of us do not speak or write Korean well, so these sound books are perfect to share your child's Korean language through sound!

LG Prime Playmats On Sale!

Perfect for your child to learn to walk or play as the thickness is ideal for crawling, playing and first time walkers. Mats are tested and proven to be free from any toxic materials including: Pb, Ba, Cd, Hg, Cr.

SALE ENDS SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2012!

Get them while supplies last!

Go to www.littleseouls.com/category_137/LG-Prime.htm

Instructions on How to Wear a Traditional Korean Podaegi

It can be very confusing when trying to figure out how to wrap a podaegi, a Korean traditional blanket carrier. Here are some basic instructions below:

Lay your podaegi on a sofa and place your infant on the center of the podaegi. Make sure the podaegi goes all the way up to the base of the baby's neck.

Sit down in front of your baby and pull the straps of the podaegi in front of you with your child carefully positioned inside the podaegi. Make sure you hold your baby's bottom at all times until your podaegi is completely tied and ready to use.

While holding the podaegi straps in front of you with one hand and your other hand holding your baby's bottom, lean over and make sure your baby is in a good, safe comfortable position. Place your baby high on your back.

Cross the straps across your chest at your armpit level and then move the straps securely under your baby's bottom. (Remember to keep your back in a leaning position until the straps are under your baby's bottom.)

Lastly, pull the straps in front of you and securely tie them around your waist.

Please follow the directions carefully in order to avoid potential harm to your baby if your podaegi is not positioned carefully.

Pororo Hangul Writing Tablet

We get so excited when new Hangul toys are available to our customers! Here is our newest product, the Pororo Hangul Writing Tablet. It teaches your child the Korean alphabet, ABCs and has songs for your child to listen to.

Here's a clip we found of the product for you to see in action.

click here.

The Traditional Podaegi 포대기

The traditional Korean Podaegi is back in stock at Little Seouls! Despite the growth of variations of the podaegi and availability of various baby carriers online, the "original" Korean baby carrier is re-stocked and back for our customers! The ones we sell are from Korea and are the original, authentic, traditional design style.

What is a podaegi?

A podaegi (포대기), a wrap around blanket with straps, is a baby carrier that has been used in Korea for over a century.

We also sell children's toy podaegi.

http://www.littleseouls.com/item_432/Kid-Size-Podaegi-in-Pink.htm

http://www.littleseouls.com/item_21/Tradtional-Long-Wide-Quilted-Podaegi.htm

Giveaway at Little Seouls!

Giveaway time!

Here's an opportunity to enter our giveaway contest! Winner will be randomly chosen and will be awarded the Children's Dancing Song Sing Along Book and CD.

Here's how to enter:

Post on the comments section here and tell us what is your child's ultimate favorite dance song. And why you think your child will enjoy this CD. If you have problems entering on this blog, feel free to write on our facebook wall below the comments section of this giveaway contest.

Contest ends Sunday, February 19 at midnight. Winner will be announced on Monday, February 20, 2012. So please check this blog in order to claim your prize should you be selected!

Any questions, you can email us at info@littleseouls.com!

Happy Lunar New Year 2012!