In a small Korean village, a large mountain stands in the way of travelers. Called Misfortune Mountain, anyone who falls while hiking on it has three years left to live. The old grandfather at the center of this story knows about the curse, but he needs to get to the village for supplies. He takes care, but a sudden noise causes him to fall while climbing the mountain, and he knows he is cursed. As the third year arrives, he grows ill, but when his granddaughter arrives and hears his fateful story, she surprises him with a clever solution that saves his life. Now renamed Good Fortune Mountain, the grandfather and other travelers are no longer afraid of taking missteps. Bright, colorful paintings bring energy and humor to this fresh Korean folktale.

A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book, 2025
A Smithsonian Magazine Best Children's Book, 2025
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Books, Best Book of 2025
An ALA Notable Children's Book, 2026

Based on the traditional Korean folktale “Samnyeongogae” (“Three-Year Mountain Pass"), this picture book parable by Korean-German artist Dayeon Auh features a fateful mountain, a superstitious grandfather, and a granddaughter with a clever perspective on life.

Legend says that anyone who falls down Misfortune Mountain has three years left to live. Grandfather must travel over the treacherous mountain to get to the market, but one day catastrophe happens and he tumbles down! The doctor says he is perfectly healthy, but Grandfather feels the end is near . . . until his granddaughter comes to visit and makes a different calculation about his fate.

From then on, the legend of the mountain takes on a new meaning and everyone finds themselves eager to tumble down it. A fable that demonstrates how a change in one’s mindset can make a positive impact.