An unprecedented evolutionary‑biology SF!
The first children’s book by Director Lee Jeong‑mo, presented together with a veteran fairy‑tale writer!

The story of life’s very beginnings, told by Director Lee Jeong‑mo, comes vividly to life before your eyes!
From the universe to the ocean, from the ocean to life—three billion eight hundred million years of grand adventure!

“Only under the light of evolution does everything in biology make sense.”

These were the words of Theodosius Dobzhansky, an evolutionary biologist whose work profoundly shaped the study of heredity and evolution. With this single sentence, he made clear that “evolution is not a branch of biology; it is the heart of every tool we use to understand life.” Those words have also been deeply etched in the hearts of all biologists.

Director Lee Jeong‑mo, who cherishes life and has long brought the joy of science to the public, noticed that while children find science daunting, they are drawn to biology. Yet he lamented that they rarely have the chance to learn about—and truly grasp—the theory of evolution. Determined to lead young readers to the very core of biology, Director Lee joined forces with the seasoned children’s author Choi Hyang‑suk to embark on an audacious new venture: crafting an evolutionary‑biology SF fairy tale—a bold experiment never before attempted in children’s books.

“Where did we come from?”

“The Magical Journey of Life with Curator Mo, Lee Jeong‑mo” opens with Director Lee posing this question to children. Anchored in a tightly woven narrative and dreamlike illustrations, the story employs the sci‑fi tropes of time slips and spatial warps to whisk us from familiar surroundings straight to the scene of evolution itself. From fiery chaos to primordial seas, from the birth of life in the oceans to its emergence onto land, the process reveals that “life” is nothing less than a chain of astonishing miracles. The result, “In Search of the Tree of Life,” is the product of five years’ painstaking effort—spanning collaboration among scientists, writers, and artists, as well as meticulous research and unwavering dedication—and unfolds as an epic adventure whose very first pages leave you eager for what comes next.

The “Curator Mo Takes You on a Magical Journey of Life” series comprises five volumes: “In Search of the Tree of Life,” “Escaping to Land,” “Surviving on Earth,” “Encountering Homo Sapiens,” and “What Will We Become?”

The curious girl “Gyeong‑i,” who will read anything as long as it’s in print, and the teenage boy “Rown,” who loves books but feels indifferent about everything else. One day, the two of them suddenly plunge into a fiery inferno at the very birth of life. How could time and space travel possibly be real? Was it because Gyeong‑i and Rown were both hit by bird droppings? Or perhaps because they took a close look at Director Lee Jeong‑mo’s lecture poster? Where exactly is that secret hidden? Before they can even unravel the mystery, they encounter Director Mo in the falling blaze. This encounter sets off a wondrous expedition into the origins of life. Can the three of them witness the miraculous moments of life’s birth and evolution—and return safely to the real world? If you’re curious, dive straight into this book. Just like Gyeong‑i and Rown—“whoosh”!

As you follow their adventure, scientific concepts sink in naturally, offering a joyful and enriching bonus to your reading. The moment you lose yourself in the pages, the Big Bang and the birth of stars, the formation of Earth and the emergence of the oceans, the six elements that make up life, LUCA (the Last Universal Common Ancestor) and life’s shared progenitor, the Great Oxygenation Event and cellular respiration, prokaryotic cells versus eukaryotic cells, the Cambrian Explosion… all become utterly thrilling.

The Author’s Note: Where did we come from?
Who will appear?
Strange promotional posters
An ocean dotted with chimneys
How did you get here?
Mao Mao has disappeared
The Birth of LUCA
Farting from head to toe
It’s all because of oxygen
The Tree of Life
A secret just for the two of us
Appendix: Magical Notes on the Secrets of Life ① 1