King Sejong Invents an Alphabet


Published by Albert Whitman and Co.
Written by Carol Kim
Illustrated by Cindy Kang
Design by Valerie Hernández

Junior Library Guild Selection 2022

"An artful telling of the birth of an alphabet."―Kirkus Reviews

"An engaging, informative, and accessible biography with bright, inviting artwork about man who had a major impact on language and the marginalized citizens of his country."―School Library Journal

In 15th-century Korea, King Sejong was distressed. The complicated Chinese characters used for reading and writing meant only rich, educated people could read—and that was just the way they wanted it. But King Sejong thought all Koreans should be able to read and write, so he worked in secret for years to create a new Korean alphabet. King Sejong’s strong leadership and determination to bring equality to his country make his 600-year-old story as relevant as ever.

Korea needed its own alphabet.
But what would it take to invent one?

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