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Door
What's on the other side of the door? There's only one way to find out: You'll have to go through it.
JiHyeon Lee's debut book, Pool, was lauded as a wordless masterpiece. Here she takes readers on another journey into an unexpected world. Delicate drawings transform from grays to vivid color as a curious child goes through a mysterious door and discovers that open-mindedness is the key to adventure and friendship.
JiHyeon Lee's debut book, Pool, was lauded as a wordless masterpiece. Here she takes readers on another journey into an unexpected world. Delicate drawings transform from grays to vivid color as a curious child goes through a mysterious door and discovers that open-mindedness is the key to adventure and friendship.
56 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
3 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
JiHyeon Lee
5 books28 followersJiHyeon Lee is a South Korean artist. Her first book, Pool, was a New York Times Notable Children's Book of the Year, an NPR Best Book of the Year, and was awarded the Gold Medal in the 2015 Society of Illustrators exhibition of children's book illustration.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
December 18, 2018
Two years ago I read Lee's Pool, a wordless book about a child discovering a fantastical world in a pool with another child. They dive down, and voila, magic! Two years later I read Door--a thing that you enter, in a sense, like a pool--and it describes a similar voyage of discovery and imagination through which a child becomes transformed. Again, it's beautifully produced, in a large book format, with plenty of white space on the (initial) pages, and delicately drawn. A small flying creature drops a key for a boy and beckons him to follow it to a cob-webbed door (many are called, few are chosen?), which he uses to leave the greyish conventional "real" world behind to enter the many-colored world of the imagination, peopled with strange creatures that initially startle him but whom eventually invite him to join them.
The creatures in this world speak some foreign language he and we never decipher (I am reminded of the foreign tongue the immigrant man encounters in the New World in Tan's The Arrival that is also filled with wondrous strange creatures). A girl leads the boy to some kind of gathering, a picnic, with swings, with tree-climbing with other kids, and increasingly the world is more and more peopled, with more doors and more discovery. The white space fills up! And ooh, ooh, and it's a wedding!
Door, like Pool, is a book encouraging children to explore the world, and maybe it is also about encouraging shy, introverted kids to engage with others, on the chance that very good things may happen.
The story is not unique to children's picture books(or even to Lee!), but the colored pencil drawings are lovely, and the whole of it is sweet.
The creatures in this world speak some foreign language he and we never decipher (I am reminded of the foreign tongue the immigrant man encounters in the New World in Tan's The Arrival that is also filled with wondrous strange creatures). A girl leads the boy to some kind of gathering, a picnic, with swings, with tree-climbing with other kids, and increasingly the world is more and more peopled, with more doors and more discovery. The white space fills up! And ooh, ooh, and it's a wedding!
Door, like Pool, is a book encouraging children to explore the world, and maybe it is also about encouraging shy, introverted kids to engage with others, on the chance that very good things may happen.
The story is not unique to children's picture books(or even to Lee!), but the colored pencil drawings are lovely, and the whole of it is sweet.
February 21, 2019
A boy finds a key and notices a brightly coloured insect. Following the insect leads him to a door covered in cobwebs. His key fits and the boy enters into a garden with strange creatures. There is so much to look at in this book, the soft pencil drawings are beautiful and there are many interesting and inventive elements to the story. We loved the doors in air that lead to different places. A lovely book for a child to look through themselves before bed.
January 23, 2019
Beautiful, quiet story of a boy who finds a key, opens a door, and enters an amazing world of friendly beings, and spends an enjoyable day making new acquaintances and even attending a wedding!
January 23, 2019
I thought I would love this one, I mean look at that cover. Little boy finding a key 🔑 to a secret door 🚪, what could be better? The color and spirit were charming but, alas, I wasn't a fan of the creepy looking creatures. There are no words so you make up your own story. There's a wedding, a party, he bumps into a guy who shows up later. In that sense, it was a good way to get the child's imagination going for sure. It was okay.
July 15, 2018
I was so excited to see this follow up to JiHyeon Lee's first picture book with another wordless offering that explores discovery and imagination and community. In POOL, a child meets another child who shares in a mysterious, imaginative experience. Here, a child connects with a whole group and is immediately accepted into a beautiful, strange, delightful party, rewarded for their curiosity.
November 14, 2018
A beautifully illustrated wordless story about a boy who finds a key that unlocks a door to a truly imaginable place.
February 1, 2019
There is this children's book analysis assignment that requires student to review one of million children's picture books or short stories. I googled the book I want to analyze. My objectives of the book are new and rarely read. I found this book as one of the Notable Children's Book 2018 by The New York Times, bought it on Play Books, and read it.
Colorful. Cheerful. Meaningful. Three words that represent the book. Like any other picture books, this book is thin and spends color printing inks. Nonetheless, it all paid off by the wordless story that says everything. It is about a boy who finds a key that opens a door to his imaginary world. There are bunch of word balloons in every conversation. Those are oddly filled by uncategorized alphabets that a reader can fill anything fit on it. It is like the reader is freed to choose what words or sentences are right on the word balloons.
Amazing reading!
Colorful. Cheerful. Meaningful. Three words that represent the book. Like any other picture books, this book is thin and spends color printing inks. Nonetheless, it all paid off by the wordless story that says everything. It is about a boy who finds a key that opens a door to his imaginary world. There are bunch of word balloons in every conversation. Those are oddly filled by uncategorized alphabets that a reader can fill anything fit on it. It is like the reader is freed to choose what words or sentences are right on the word balloons.
Amazing reading!
February 5, 2019
Korean illustrator JiHyeon Lee, who made her picture-book debut with the wordless
Pool
, returns to the form in this second title, also wordless. A young boy, noticing an odd and colorful insect, follows its flight and is led to a door, which he proceeds to open. On the other side he finds himself in a magical world, one populated with odd and fantastical creatures, whose speech he cannot understand. After his initial alarm at the strangeness of everything, the boy overcomes his fear, is befriended by these others, and is invited to a wonderful wedding party...
Although Pool has been on my to-read shelf since it was first released, I never seem to have gotten around to it, despite the accolades it won. Having now perused and greatly enjoyed Door, I will definitely have to rectify that! This was a lovely book, one that ably conveys, through the artwork, the magical story unfolding. There is a soft quality to Lee's illustrations that is very appealing, and many wonderful little details to examine. The visuals are quite simple, at first, with lots of blank space on the page, but they get progressively more complex as the story unfolds, mirroring the boy's journey. I loved the use of color here, and what I assume to be the pencil work, with shading and hatching. All in all, Door was a lovely wordless picture-book, one that I would recommend to admirers of the form.
Although Pool has been on my to-read shelf since it was first released, I never seem to have gotten around to it, despite the accolades it won. Having now perused and greatly enjoyed Door, I will definitely have to rectify that! This was a lovely book, one that ably conveys, through the artwork, the magical story unfolding. There is a soft quality to Lee's illustrations that is very appealing, and many wonderful little details to examine. The visuals are quite simple, at first, with lots of blank space on the page, but they get progressively more complex as the story unfolds, mirroring the boy's journey. I loved the use of color here, and what I assume to be the pencil work, with shading and hatching. All in all, Door was a lovely wordless picture-book, one that I would recommend to admirers of the form.
January 4, 2020
A door to explore...
I love the child following an insect that leads him to a door... it seems like there are many books about doors coming into my life right now... The child goes through an old door and into another world. I found the illustrations beautiful but also a bit creepy somehow. I could easily see some of those creatures featuring in a nightmare- in fact, I’ll be staying up to read something else (Or watch a couple of episodes of Chowder the cartoon) so this isn’t foremost in my brain. I doubt most children would see anything scary in the book. It’s delightful to puzzle out the story while making it unique as the reader.
I love the child following an insect that leads him to a door... it seems like there are many books about doors coming into my life right now... The child goes through an old door and into another world. I found the illustrations beautiful but also a bit creepy somehow. I could easily see some of those creatures featuring in a nightmare- in fact, I’ll be staying up to read something else (Or watch a couple of episodes of Chowder the cartoon) so this isn’t foremost in my brain. I doubt most children would see anything scary in the book. It’s delightful to puzzle out the story while making it unique as the reader.
April 10, 2019
Lovely and whimsical.
June 29, 2018
Another magical, wordless masterpiece JiHyeon Lee.
January 19, 2019
Occasionally my daughter, who works at a library, brings home books for me to enjoy—this one was the latest. A unique, imaginative, colorful picture book without words. A young boy unlocks a long unused door and finds a fantastical world of people-creatures, all who "speak" different languages but connect and communicate nonetheless. I'd like to rate this higher however I found the creatures kind of creepy and bizarre despite their happy smiles and friendly frolicking. Some children will really relate to this but I imagine others might find it a bit scary.
December 30, 2018
Having been fascinated by this author/illustrator's earlier picture book, Pool, I was delighted to read this one as well. I knew that it would be just as magical and just as open to interpretation as the previous book, and I was not disappointed. A colorful flying creature drops a key near a young boy. He moves through the city streets, following the creature's lead, and passing through several mistrustful, clearly unhappy individuals. They're all tired-looking, and their eyes are glancing at each other as though they are on guard. These opening scenes are not happy at all and are painted in somber colors. But when the boy reaches a door and realizes that his key will open it, he walks through it into a very colorful and almost surreal world. He's still a part of that other world so when he bumps into a man carrying an instrument and speaking an unfamiliar language, he is frightened and runs away, leaving the key behind him. But he meets a girl who befriends him, takes him on a family picnic and various adventures, and even brings him to a wedding. He has so much fun that he ends up taking a picture with the wedding party. And when the first man he met returns the key, it is quite clear that he'll be visiting this place again. It's clear that none of these wonderful experiences would ever have happened if he hadn't picked up that key and opened the door. Readers will feel reassured that having an open mind and an open heart can lead to new experiences, some of which could change their lives. I loved the message and all the odd little creatures that live in this world as well as how welcoming they are. And I appreciated the exquisite details in the illustrations that necessitate a second look. For instance, the wedding party seems to be dining on a wedding cake that looks to have been fashioned from a watermelon, complete with a rind, and ever decreasing layers, just like most traditional cakes, only there is no frosting. Youngsters will enjoy searching for interesting elements just like this and pondering how hard it must be to leave this place and return to the somberness of the one where he lives.
January 7, 2019
A wordless picture book that shows that paying attention to small details can lead to another world. The illustrations are so detailed; readers will want to spend time pouring over them.
December 24, 2018
A soft, whimsical wordless picture book. The main character goes through a magical door and makes friends and has a colorful adventure that he won’t forget. The premise isn’t all that original of course, but its a sweet celebration of welcoming community and the ways in which life can be colorful when we have fun together. I will say I read this one in the bookstore and didn’t/ wouldn’t buy it.. it’s one to get from the library and enjoy, I’d say. Lovely and imaginative all the same.
July 31, 2018
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Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
From the moment your eyes take in the cover of this wordless picture book you will be enticed inside its magical pages. A boy finds a key and follows a flying bug through the human world to a door. Inside, he finds a new land and unique creatures. He plays, picnics, swings, climbs trees, and even attends a wedding with his new friends. And discovers that there are many doors and many unique communities still to be explored.
Language and appearance are not barriers to making friends here, everyone is welcoming and accepting. A perfect message for an exquisitely illustrated book. This is a work of art to keep forever.
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
From the moment your eyes take in the cover of this wordless picture book you will be enticed inside its magical pages. A boy finds a key and follows a flying bug through the human world to a door. Inside, he finds a new land and unique creatures. He plays, picnics, swings, climbs trees, and even attends a wedding with his new friends. And discovers that there are many doors and many unique communities still to be explored.
Language and appearance are not barriers to making friends here, everyone is welcoming and accepting. A perfect message for an exquisitely illustrated book. This is a work of art to keep forever.
December 11, 2018
Once I realized that this is the same author as Pool, it immediately made more sense. I am really intrigued by the way these illustrations were made. I wonder how many different pencil strokes there are! Students could probably come up with a story to go with the pictures, but I think some of the deeper meanings being ascribed to this would be a bit over their heads. I'm still trying to figure out why the instrument cover seems to say 'Gary Rogers' on it!
July 24, 2018
A wordless picture that takes readers on an adventure full of unique characters, and teaches readers friendships come in a variety of different ways. I liked the concept of the character opening the door to enter a new world. The door is a symbol of open mindedness, and the journey it takes you on.
November 11, 2018
A quirky exploration of imagination and freedom as a child uses a key to unlock a cobwebbed garden door to find a surreal world. Drawn beautifully in muted colours, the creatures involve the boy in all sorts of play. Part Where the Wild Things, part Secret Garden this is a gentle and intriguing delight.
November 27, 2022
Not for me. I'm usually a fan of wordless books. They enable children to tell their own stories, and usually the artwork is great. I wasn't a fan of the art style and characters. The plot was reminiscent of Monsters, Inc., and of The Magician's Nephew, both of which books feature jumping between other worlds and places.
June 19, 2019
Reminds me of every heart a doorway
September 18, 2024
Un libro corto y lindo para pasar el rato. Me encantó que las páginas poco a poco se iban haciendo más coloridas cada que el pequeño estaba más inmergido.
August 22, 2024
No words, Alice in Wonderland type? Fun art
January 25, 2019
A wordless version of Burnett’s The Secret Garden without any of its pleasures, featuring a hapless boy who escapes a bleak environment through a doorway into a colorful imaginary world populated by strange creatures who need a narrator to translate their word-bubble babble into a story.
January 20, 2019
Lee, JiHyeon. Door. San Francisco, Chronicle, 2018.
Author of critically acclaimed Pool unlocks the story of a boy who finds a key among monotone-colored adults with sour facial expressions. He follows a red elephant fly to a dusty door that opens to a vividly colorful world of friendship, joy, and celebration. Lovely use of line and shading create a simply inviting secret world (much like a secret garden!) in this exquisite wordless picture book.
Author of critically acclaimed Pool unlocks the story of a boy who finds a key among monotone-colored adults with sour facial expressions. He follows a red elephant fly to a dusty door that opens to a vividly colorful world of friendship, joy, and celebration. Lovely use of line and shading create a simply inviting secret world (much like a secret garden!) in this exquisite wordless picture book.
January 22, 2019
Beautiful. Joyous.
January 16, 2019
In a monochrome world, a strange, colorful bug drops a key and leads a boy to a door covered in cobwebs.
The boy thinks about it, but ultimately opens the door to find a whole new world full of color and very different creatures. After a rough start (he bumps into someone), he makes friends and is invited to a picnic and to play together. He ends up at a wedding (and in the wedding pictures). Along the way, we see a variety of different doors that are entries to this world for different looking creatures.
At the end, the boy returns home, but carries some of the color with him.
Could be about friendship with those not like you or about imagination or just a portal fantasy.
The boy thinks about it, but ultimately opens the door to find a whole new world full of color and very different creatures. After a rough start (he bumps into someone), he makes friends and is invited to a picnic and to play together. He ends up at a wedding (and in the wedding pictures). Along the way, we see a variety of different doors that are entries to this world for different looking creatures.
At the end, the boy returns home, but carries some of the color with him.
Could be about friendship with those not like you or about imagination or just a portal fantasy.
January 21, 2019
A wordless book, the story is about a boy living in an unsmiling grey place until he finds a key that unlocks an old door. Lots to see in this book as the reader follows the boy's adventure.
January 18, 2019
A stunning wordless book about being curious and discovering the adventures that may await you when you follow your curiosity. The story begins with simple illustrations and lots of white space before becoming increasingly complex as the boy goes deeper into his adventure.
January 14, 2019
The moral of the story is tremendous-but I just can’t get over the illustrations-they were nightmarish!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews