Jeong Is Jeong

A child of Korean descent learns the meaning of a word considered untranslatable in this lovingly intergenerational picture book from Yoon and Lee. As Luna, little brother Joey, and their grandmother, Halmeoni, head to the park, Halmeoni uses a word, jeong, that Luna doesn’t know. The woman suggests that they find examples of its meaning during their outing, but Luna asks, “how can we find it if I don’t know what to look for?” As Luna engages in acts of kindness, though, returning a stranger’s possession and sharing a treat, Halmeoni notes, “This is Jeong.” And back at home, Luna learns that the concept is also present in time together with family and more. The clear affection between characters, drawn using watercolor, colored pencils, and digital media, radiates from the page across scenes depicting family dinners and bedtime snuggles in this tale translating a warm concept beyond borders. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note concludes. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)