A day in the life of a Korean subway is told in the voice of the subway itself. “I run in one big ring around the city of Seoul each day, sending people off and welcoming them in. ba-dum, badum ba-dum, ba-dum This station is Sindorim. Sindorim station. The doors will open on your left.” At each stop, people get on and people get off. There’s a man who’s late for work, a grandma who’s taking fish to her granddaughter, a student worrying about an upcoming exam, a shoemaker, a mother with two young children, a man looking for work. For each person we get a brief monologue of what’s running through their minds as they ride the subway, while the accompanying watercolor illustrations show them on a crowded subway seat, looking at their phones or staring off into space (or, in the case of the shoemaker, studying everyone’s feet). It’s a train full of strangers, and yet we feel as if we know each one by the end of the journey. (Ages 4-7)

A cinematic journey through the Seoul subway that masterfully portrays the many unique lives we travel alongside whenever we take the train. A poetic translation of the bestselling Korean picture book.

SIX STARRED REVIEWS

★ "Lucky readers, climb aboard: extraordinary explorations await." --Shelf Awareness

★ "I Am the Subway makes for an unforgettable journey." --Bookpage

★ "[S]ensitive, closely observed portraits." --Publishers Weekly

★ "A contemplative, poignant rendering of everyday journeys." --Kirkus Reviews

★ "[B]eautiful and unusual." --Youth Services Book Review

★ "Bewitching." --Foreword

Accompanied by the constant, rumbling ba-dum ba-dum of its passage through the city, the subway has stories to tell. Between sunrise and sunset, it welcomes and farewells people, and holds them--along with their joys, hopes, fears, and memories--in its embrace.

Originally published in Korean and brought to English-speaking audiences with the help of renowned translator Deborah Smith (The Vegetarian), I Am the Subway vividly reflects the shared humanity that can be found in crowded metropolitan cities.

• A wonderful gift for parents, carers, and grandparents of train-loving children
• Perfect for teachers and librarians looking for books that share global experiences and lives from an own-voice perspective
• Great for fans of Next Stop Grand Central Station by Maira Kalman, Subway by Christopher Neiman, and Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña and Christian Robertson