ONCE UPON AN HOUR

Learning the order of the Korean zodiac signs becomes a bedtime story to help a little girl learn how to tell time.

Yu-Rhee, a young Korean girl, looks at the puzzling, round clock face, wondering how her mother knows it is time for bed. Mother tells her a story about a special group of animals and a compassionate mountain who plays an active role. The animals represent the 12 symbols of the zodiac. As the tale begins, an unnamed child struggles up a steep trail in search of the doraji plant to make a healing tea for their ill mother. Mountain takes pity on the child and asks the animals to help her. One by one, the animals give time-related excuses instead of providing assistance. “When the sun climbs the morning sky, I need to bask in its bright rays,” says Snake. Finally the animals do help, and the child achieves their goal. Each illustration is built from cut-out drawings and pieces of tissue paper that have been placed into dioramas for a striking, three-dimensional effect. Natural shadows and the lines that support each element provide texture and perspective. The link between each animal and their associated time is tenuous, however, needing stronger visual cues to help young readers learn timekeeping. Unfortunately, as the journey plays out, the child is not as active a character as the animals, and the pacing plods up and down the mountain.

A curious premise with captivating illustrations that unfortunately lacks excitement.