★ A powerhouse collaboration between two bestselling creators: Shin Hyun-kyung, author of Cat Swimming Class, and Park So-yeon, illustrator of Constipation Detective Seulkeu, join forces for their first graphic novel.
★ A realistic portrayal of young bears' first days at school, capturing the genuine struggles of children entering a new group environment: picky eating, time-limited meals, the absence of snacks, and more.
★ Focused on the lunchtime setting, the story shows children learning to line up, yield to others, and read the room—developing a sense of social awareness and consideration, one meal at a time.
★ Before creation, the author and illustrator visited actual elementary schools, interviewed cafeteria nutrition teachers, and experienced school meals firsthand to ensure the story feels vibrant and authentic.
★ Soft, adorable illustrations rich in detail—the bears' expressive faces and body language delicately convey their joys, frustrations, and emotions, delivering a deeply comforting reading experience.

Cat Swimming Class author Shin Hyun-kyung × Constipation Detective Seulkeu illustrator Park So-yeon

Two bestselling creators join forces to produce a graphic novel about a group of bears with distinct personalities, sitting around the same table and growing up together.

Two beloved creators, adored by young readers, have teamed up to create the graphic novel The Little Bears' Lunchtime. Written by Shin Hyun-kyung, author of Cat Swimming Class, and illustrated by Park So-yeon, illustrator of Constipation Detective Seulkeu, the book vividly depicts the daily school life of young bears just starting their first year. The story authentically captures the straightforward situations and delicate emotions of children, making readers feel as though they are sitting right beside the little bears, sharing lunch together. Immersed in the story, readers will find laughter and empathy as the tale gently reveals that lunchtime is not just about filling hungry tummies, but also a precious time for understanding one another and growing together.

The little bears' first experience of group life as they step into school for the first time.

Hae-i, a new student at the Half-Circle Elementary School, has a serious sweet tooth—she sprinkles honey on everything she eats and can't go a day without jelly and candy. But now that she's in school, she can't bring snacks freely into the classroom, and she can't drench her lunch in honey the way she used to. That really bothers her. Her classmate Dari has always been a slow eater, but school rules require that meals be finished within a fixed time—and that weighs heavily on him. Mung-i, who is extremely picky, also finds it hard to enjoy school lunch.

This book focuses on the real worries that children face when they first start school, playfully depicting their daily lives as they adjust to a new environment. The little bears, each carrying their own concerns, gradually become familiar with school life as they spend their days with their classmates, growing little by little.

Learning the sensitivity of coexistence, one school lunch at a time.

The creative genesis of this work began with a single question: “In an age where we can easily access all kinds of knowledge outside of school, why do we still need to go to school?”

School is certainly a place for learning knowledge, but more importantly, it is a place where we learn to live alongside others. The author chose lunchtime at school as the best setting for experiencing group social dynamics, and built the story around it. Lining up, yielding to others, sensing the atmosphere—children learn the fine art of coexisting with others, one meal at a time. Lunch is never just about filling stomachs; it is where children share food, develop healthy eating habits, exchange emotions, confide in each other, and experience group life gathered around a single table—an indispensable part of childhood.

To create a story close to reality, the author and illustrator visited actual elementary schools, interviewed nutrition teachers, observed school cafeterias, and even tasted school meals themselves before beginning the work. It is precisely because of this hands-on research that The Little Bears' Lunchtime authentically captures children's genuine worries and the true atmosphere of a school cafeteria.

Soft, adorable, and healing illustrations that mirror children themselves.

Illustrator Park So-yeon has always been skilled at winning young readers' hearts with her lovable characters. In this work, she uses the bears' expressive faces and body language to delicately convey the emotions of children. Every page is filled with intricate details that enrich the story and greatly enhance the reading experience.

Text by Shin Hyun-kyung
After working for many years as an editor of children's magazines, she turned to writing children's stories full-time. She won the Changbi Children's New Literature Award for a young adult short story, and her children's story The Library of Anything You Want received the Blue Sky Literary Award for New Writer. Her representative works include the Meow Swimming Class series, the Sock Witch Nenechi series, Welcome to Fun School, and Little Star Eater.

Illustrations by Park So-yeon
She majored in Korean painting at university and now works as a professional illustrator with a diverse range of styles. She has illustrated the children's stories Polar Bear Paradise series and Constipation Detective Seulkeu series, as well as the picture book Mom Rescue Squad.