Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Winner - Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA)

A heartwarming tale about a loving daughter who diligently learns to sew beautiful Korean wrapping cloths so that she can be reunited with her mother at the royal court.

Ji-su's mother has been chosen by the Korean king to be a seamstress at the palace and sew bojagi, or wrapping cloths, for the royal household. It is a great honor, but to Ji-su it means saying good-bye to her mother. The only way for them to be reunited, Ji-su realizes, is for her to become an equally talented seamstress and be chosen to serve the king. Through the changing seasons, Ji-su sews, learning the craft from her great-aunt and practicing her stitches tirelessly. One day, she finally has the chance to show her work to the palace Sanguiwon master, who has the power to bring her to her mother or to dash her hopes forever. Is her sewing fine enough for the king?

Joan Schoettler's warm text brings the landscape and culture of ancient Korea to life. Together with illustrator Jessica Lanan's breathtaking depictions of Korea through the seasons, Ji-su's story of longing and determination will capture the hearts of readers of all ages.

Joan Schoettler has surrounded herself with children's literature, sharing it with her sons when they were young, inviting children she taught to step into the world of stories, and teaching children's literature at California State University in Fresno. In addition to spending time with family and friends, she enjoys reading, gardening, and traveling. Joan lives with her husband in central California. Visit her online at joanschoettler.com.

Jessica Lanan is an award-winning author and artist from Longmont, Colorado. She's the illustrator of many children's books including Lee & Low Books's The Story I'll Tell which received two starred reviews. Jessica's first book as an author-illustrator, The Fisherman and the Whale, was awarded the 2020 Bull-Bransom Award for Wildife Art. She lives in Boulder, Colorado, where she enjoys thunderstorms, crunching autumn leaves beneath her feet, and leaving footprints in freshly fallen snow. Visit her online at jessicalanan.com.