I Am the Subway

‘This is one of the finest picture-book portraits of city life that I have ever read, and a beautiful reminder that humans the world over share many of the same worries and emotions, and the same daily rhythms.’

-- Imogen Carter * The Observer *

‘In this beautiful and unusual book, first-person narration by a subway tells us all about the regulars who ride its cars in busy Seoul each day. The free-verse passages by the empathetic transportation system have a rhythmic style that recalls the rocking of the cars. Meanwhile, its regular riders each get a short passage to tell their own stories…This book perfectly encapsulates the wonder of crowds; how what looks like a seething mass (on what we learn is one of the world’s largest underground systems), is made up of individuals with unique and touching stories.’

-- Susan Harari * Youth Services Book Review starred review *

‘In this picture book, a subway train shares intimate stories while ferrying passengers around Seoul … Watercolour washes establish figures and shapes at once suggestive and formalistic; artful lines and gradations detail features, facial expressions, and hairstyles, defining unique human beings amid a sea of anonymity … A contemplative, poignant rendering of everyday journeys.’

* Kirkus Reviews, starred review *

‘A bestselling Korean picture book is translated to bring this entrancing tale of ‘the unique lives of strangers you might never meet again’ to a new audience. Told from the perspective of the Seoul subway, the story peels back layers on the people who board, reminding us that everyone we encounter has a story we don’t know. Bewitching.’

* Foreword starred review *

‘This is a love song, a poem to a means of transportation, an excuse to talk about a beloved city and a true invitation to get to meet the people of Seoul, getting to know their names, their joys, their hopes, and of course, the stations they come to and from.’

* Geek Dad *

‘[A] celebration of humanity, diversity, and people of all walks of life.’

* Books Grow Minds *

‘Journey through the Seoul subway as it ba-dum, ba-dums across the city and dip into the many lives that rely on it each day. Striking the perfect balance of being a universal story while staying deeply rooted in its sense of place, any reader who uses public transportation regularly will see echoes of their experiences in the crowded train cars. The illustrations, soft and expressive, are an important layer to the reading experience, adding more details and colours as the individual stories of each passenger unfolds.’

-- Stephanie Heinz, bookseller at Print Bookstore

‘Having lived in South Korea for a couple years I am so happy to read this beautiful celebration of the small moments that happen everyday all around us in the most mundane yet fantastic of places.’

-- Ryan Kimmett, bookseller at Kismet Books

‘The subway leads the reader on a journey of the heart, experiencing each new arrival with their story and thus their humanity. Poetic and powerful, this book has led me on not only a journey through Seoul but the experience of moments in the day and a connection to each rider.’

-- Jesica Sweedler-DeHart, librarian at Neill Public Library

‘Splendid...Kim’s eloquent, fine-lined watercolour illustrations capture the commuters’ humanity and the beauty in what might otherwise be dismissed as mundane… A poetic tribute to Seoul and its people, I Am the Subway makes for an unforgettable journey.’

-- Julie Danielson * BookPage, starred review *

‘Poetic … an enchanting exploration of shared experience through travel … The delicate watercolour paintings perfectly encapsulates the mechanical microcosm of the subway where colours are used to transport the reader into the complex and fascinating lives of the passengers that frequent the train, accentuating that what makes life interesting is the people you share it with.’

-- Fiona Buckley * Irish Examiner *

‘A rhythmic, soothing journey that celebrates the unique lives of passing strangers and the transience of the transit experience… luscious and lovely… The watercolour technique of translucent people coming into colour as the train ‘meets’ them is fascinating, and a semi-anthropomorphised narrator who has known some of its passengers since they were born and can recognise others by their shoes alone is captivating and wholly original.’

-- Becca Worthington * Booklist *

‘Dazzling … A gorgeous celebration of Seoul and its people.’

* Waking Brain Cells *

‘A poetic journey through the Korean subway.’

-- Imogen Carter * The Observer *

‘One of the most beautiful books, and it’s narrated all by the actual subway! [A] lovely reminder that everyone we see in passing has a rich backstory.’

* The Tiny Activists *

‘This poetic and quietly vivid day in the life of the Seoul subway is one of our absolute favourite books this year.’

-- Avery and Augustine, Books for Diversity

‘Absolutely took my breath away … Expressive, tender, cinematic, and unique in so many ways - I've never really read a book like it before … Impossible not to walk away with a sense of wonder with each read.’

* Inclusive Storytime *

‘A gorgeous picture book about the lives and thoughts of subway goers. It’s an imaginative picture book that’s beautifully illustrated … an excellent read aloud.’

* Baby Librarians *

‘Beautifully highlights how all of us have our own unique story and how public transport brings with it a shared humanity that helps all of those stories intersect whether we realise it or not.’

* Kid Lit is Magic *

‘Brilliant … With creamy, cinematic illustrations, this read offers a portrait of individual everyday journeys, reflecting our shared humanity even in the most crowded of metropolitan areas.’

* Mai Story Book Library *

‘Magnificent … Kim insightfully acknowledges "the unique lives of strangers you might never meet again" on spread after spectacular watercolour spread, the diverse passengers each caught in a single moment in time … Lucky readers, climb aboard: extraordinary explorations await.’

-- Terry Hong * Shelf Awareness, starred review *

‘[S]ensitive, closely observed portraits of Seoul’s subway passengers … in this quiet treasure of a tale, every person in the crowd has a story, a family they love, and dreams they cherish.’

* Publishers Weekly, starred review *

‘I Am the Subway encourages us to think about the strangers around us and feel empathy toward them … Watercolour artwork captures both the bustling character of Seoul and the strange, liminal nature of a subway train making it unique and full of personality — perfect for a book that personifies the subway itself.’

* GeekMom *

‘The illustrations in I Am the Subway are wonderful, so colourful and detailed, any child will just want to look and look at them. The soft paper makes the delicate water colours even more captivating, like the deeply blue sea Granny has swum in, the cobbler with lots of shoes to repair and the fabulous, brilliant illustration of Na-yoon’s city. This is a glorious book, one to love and cherish and read over and over again.’

-- Gwen Grant * Armadillo Magazine *

‘[A] poetic journey through the Korean subway, narrated by the train itself.’

-- The Guardian, best children's books of