The Tailor Shop at the Intersection

by Ahn Jaesun (Author)

The Tailor Shop at the Intersection
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A heartwarming story about family, resilience, fashion, and staying true to who you are told through three generations of tailors in a rapidly changing Seoul.

When Deokgu opens a brand new tailor shop in town, all of Seoul is skeptical of his modern styles. Who would want to wear such funny-looking suits? But Deokgu remains devoted to his craft, and it's not long before the shop begins to flourish, becoming a beloved fixture in the community. Written and illustrated by Ahn Jaesun, The Tailor Shop at the Intersection follows three generations of tailors weaving themselves and their business into the fabric of their community in a rapidly changing Seoul.

Ahn's award-winning illustrations convey with great affection a more complicated story about the pressures that rapid development place on culture, commerce, and local business. In The Old Tailor Shop at the Intersection, Ahn Jaesun shows how commitment, adaptability, and staying true to yourself help pave the way for success--and how embracing change and honoring tradition can go hand in hand.

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$18.95

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Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

A family of dogs run an independent tailor shop in this affectionate Korean import from Ahn. Simple text and artwork in muted browns and grays set the title "in the days of long, fluttering dopo robes." When a dummy in a tailor's entryway is draped in a Western-style suit, passersby are mystified: "What on earth is a suit? They say it's what Westerners wear." But confident Deokgu, the shop's owner, "loved the sharp, clean lines of a suit," and soon has his first customer. When word circulates about the tailor's skill, "soon every dapper dog had to have their own suit." After war leaves the shop in ruins, Deokgu rebuilds, and his son Samdol takes over the business. "You have to pour your whole heart into tailoring," Deokgu tells Samdol; "even the slightest slip will show." When machine-made clothing begins to dominate and there's pressure to change, Dushik, the third generation to run the business, believes that dogs still need bespoke suits, and his resolve is borne out: "I never dreamed a suit could fit me so well!" a bulldog says. Artisan care and tradition are lovingly celebrated in this precise look at living craftsmanship. Ages 4-12. (Oct.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"A legacy of craftsmanship is created in this Korean import...This understated, evenly paced tale will leave readers with much food for thought. Muted artwork has touches of whimsy, such as the dogs in their often comically oversize suits, though the canine tailors' passion comes through clearly, too. A quiet yet compelling tale of art enduring."—Literary Potpourri
Ahn Jaesun
Ahn Jaesun graduated from University of Brighton in College of Arts after her studies in Hongik University. She worked as an editor of children's picture books and branding illustration for over 10 years. She currently lives in Seoul, Korea. Ahn was selected as Illustrator of the Year at the Bologna Children's Book Fair in 2014 for her work Hello, Seou', and in 2017 for the initial artwork of The Old Tailor Shop, which received special mention for the Ragazzi Opera Prima Award 2020
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781945492761
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Transit Children's Editions
Publication date
October 17, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational
JUV002070 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dogs
JUV030020 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Asia
JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural
Library of Congress categories
Picture books
Korea
Tailors
Suits (Clothing)
Men's clothing

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