Baek Heena – laureate 2020 1
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award Reading tips from
our jury Baek Heena has written a number of books. Which one to choose? Below, three of our jury members share their particular favourites. Jang-su-taang seon-nyeo-nim (‘The Bath Fairy’, Bear Books, 2012) ‘A lovely, gentle story about play and the imagination, and magic in the midst of daily life. A little girl meets a fairy at a bath house, and the two play together. Afterwards, the girl gets a cool, delicious yoghurt drink. She lets the fairy have a taste, and just like in a proper fairy tale, she who helps a fairy gets a favour in return. In this book, Baek Heena’s unique way of working comes into its own. The selfevident beauty of the tenderly moulded naked bodies, embraced in a watery world of shimmering turquoise; the cheeks flushed from the hot and cold baths; the cool, refreshing drink. The Bath Fairy is a physical, sensual reading experience that grows with each reading.’ Maria Lassén-Seger, lecturer in children’s and YA literature Tip! You can find Baek Heena’s bibliography, as well as inspiring reading guides for several of her picture books, at alma.se. 12