Korean Folktales for Little Readers · Book 3
The Green Frog Who Went the Other Way
A Korean Folktale · Retold by Bright Lee
Why do green frogs sing when it rains? Korean children have known for hundreds of years.
By a little stream lives Little Green Frog, who always does the opposite. “Hop to the left,” says Mama. He hops to the right. “Sing gaegul, gaegul,” says Mama. “Gulgae, gulgae!” sings Little Green Frog. “The other way! The other way!”
But summers come and go, and Mama Frog grows old and tired. One autumn evening, she asks him for one last thing. Will Little Green Frog listen, just this once?
A tender story about love, listening, and remembering, with a funny join-in refrain.
A note for parents: In this story, Mama Frog grows very old and dies peacefully. The book says she “goes to rest.” There is no illness, and the story ends with sunshine and a rainbow. A note at the back helps grown-ups talk about it gently.
- Ages
- 4–8
- Format
- Paperback, 8.5 × 8.5 in, full color, 32 pages · Kindle edition coming soon
- ISBN-13
- 979-8161513231 (paperback)
- Published
- October 11, 2026
- Publisher
- Glowwin Books
From the Journal: Why Korean parents call a child a little “green frog”
Look inside
At the back of the book
More than a story
- About This Story
Why Korean parents call a child who always says “no” a little “green frog,” and Korea’s long summer rains. - Korean Words
First Korean words with easy pronunciation. - Tricky Words to Say
Help for grown-ups reading aloud, including parents still learning English. - Talk About It
Questions to share after reading, plus a space to draw Little Green Frog in the rain. - Opposite Words
Left and right, up and down, near and far, and more.
Korean words in this book
| Korean | Spelled | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 엄마 | eomma | UHM-mah | mom, mama |
| 개굴개굴 | gaegul gaegul | GEH-gool GEH-gool | the sound a frog makes |
| 장마 | jangma | JAHNG-mah | the long summer rains |
| 청개구리 | cheonggaeguri | CHUHNG-geh-goo-ree | green frog; a child who does the opposite |
| 개울 | gaeul | GEH-ool | stream |
| 비 | bi | BEE | rain |
