Say Hello?

by Sung Mi Kim, Clare Richards (Translator)

Hello! It seems so easy to say, but what happens if you miss the chance to greet someone and then keep seeing that same person again and again.

In this light-hearted, funny tale, Korean author Sung Mi Kim tells a story of increasingly awkward encounters between Mr. Wolf and Little Fox and shows readers how saying hello right from the beginning could have made all the difference.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens

44 pages, Hardcover

Published September 6, 2022

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really cute. I love that only the main characters have colour. And I was devastated when wolf moved away. And it really isn't so hard to say hello.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this picture book--3.5 for me--originally published in Korea, readers see how missed opportunities lead to misunderstanding and resentment when the opposite could have happened if someone had only smiled or greeted another person. Little Fox's family is new to the neighborhood, and they've never really interacted with next-door neighbor, Mr. Wolf. Little Fox is having an unpleasant morning and isn't in the mood for pleasantries so when he goes outside and sees Mr. Wolf, who is in a hurry to get to his job, he doesn't say hello. Neither does Mr. Wolf. Both of them figure that they'll have a chance to do so in the future. But that isn't what happens. When Little Fox encounters Mr. Wolf the next day, greets him, and his neighbor doesn't see him, instead greeting Mr. Lion, his feelings are hurt and he decides to completely ignore Mr. Wolf from then on. The text and illustrations reveal just how resentful both characters become, going to great lengths to avoid each other, and making for awkward situations. Because the text allows readers to see inside the two characters' heads, they know just how wrong their assessment of one another and their actions has been. Mr. Wolf actually moves out of the neighborhood, and the two never have to see each other again or worry about saying hello. Of course, there is a nice twist to the story since they do run into each other and offer greetings. It's clear that all the previous stress and discomfort could have been avoided by simply saying hello from the first. After all, how hard is it to proffer a little warmth and friendliness to those we meet? The fact that the illustrations consist mostly of black-and-white drawings of the setting with spot color on the characters, red for Little Fox and blue for Mr. Wolf, makes the focus and their feelings clear since they stand out. This is especially noticeable on the pages with close-ups of their heads and facial expressions when those seem to dominate the rest of the scene. This picture book could prompt classroom discussions about how we treat others and how a simple gesture or word can make all the difference in the world. Even the book's title--Say Hello?--with a question mark seems to ask readers what they might do in a similar situation.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Fox and Mr. Wolf are new next-door neighbors. On a morning when they’re both in a bad mood, greeting one another just isn’t in the cards. But they both think they should have said something. The next time they see each other, Little Fox says, “Hello, Mr. Wolf!” and bows (this is a Korean import, after all.) But Mr. Wolf doesn’t see him, and Little Fox’s feelings are hurt. Mr. Wolf decides to greet Little Fox the next time he sees him, but Little Fox ignores him. The awkwardness and missed connections go on, until Mr. Wolf moves out, and both are grateful that the uncomfortableness is over. Sometime later, the two run into one another, and they finally say hello. They both think, “That really wasn’t so hard.”

This comedy of errors is a familiar and relatable story. The inner thoughts of the two characters as they assume the worst about each other are so funny, accentuated by their facial expressions. The author does a great job conveying these inner snarky thoughts and assumptions. This must be a great translation, because the language feels natural and current. The spare black and white line art, with only Little Fox in red and Mr. Wolf in Blue, has sinuous fine lines and keeps the focus on the two characters and their thoughts.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relatable awkwardness.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that was originally in Korean.
So funny! How the illustrations are drawn is wonderful with our characters highlighted in distinct colours.
Maybe it’s just as simple as saying hello.

[Elizabeth]

I understand the point of this book, but Mr. Wolf is the "adult," so he really shouldn't have been acting as childish as the kid fox.

[Syntha Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every introvert has had this happen

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations were a perfect match to this important story.