The Three-Year Tumble - Dayeon Auh - ★★★★

AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR: Dayeon Auh

TRANSLATOR: Tim Mohr

GENRE: Children's Picture Book.

PUBLICATION DATE: March 25, 2025

RATING: 4 stars.

In a Nutshell: A cute picture book based on a Korean folktale. Enjoyed the plot. The illustrations were unusual, I’ll give you that. A good story overall with a nice message.

Plot Preview:

Grandfather lives in a nice cottage in a small village. Whenever he needs to go to the market, he has to cross the nearby mountain. Unfortunately, “Misfortune Mountain”, as it is known locally, comes with a dreadful myth: anyone who falls while hiking over it has only 3 years left to live. One day, when Grandfather sets off for the market, he begins climbing the mountain carefully. However, a sudden noise startles him and he ends up losing his balance. He knows that his destiny is sealed: he will die after three years. After the time passes by with the old man just waiting for his death, someone pops in with a possible solution.

This book was originally published in German in 2024 under the title “Ein Berg, ein Sturz, ein langes Leben”. This English edition, translated by Tim Mohr, is to be published in March 2025.

The story is based on a Korean folktale named “Samnyeongogae” (Three-Year Mountain Pass), supposedly a well-known story in East Asia and read often in Korea in kindergartens and primary schools. Even if the blurb hadn’t attracted me enough to give this book a go, the fact that it is from a Korean folktale would have convinced me. Folktales contain so much wisdom, and this story proves why folktales still need to be a part of children’s fiction.

I was initially worried when I saw the tale begin with a superstition connected to death: not something found often in picture books. But the turnaround and the end made the whole story worth the while.

I loved how the story depicts the mentality of the main character. When Grandfather falls sick at the end of his three-year term, we cant even guess if the illness is actual or psychosomatic. He just takes for granted that his end is near. But after the “solution”, the change in his thinking is equally quick.

The life lessons that come out from this folktale are quite relevant to everyone, kids and adults alike. It helps to remember that looking at the same thing with a different, more positive perspective is much more beneficial in life. It also raises great discussion points about a fatalistic attitude and believing in unfounded superstitions. For a picture book, these two morals are more than worthy.

The story is written in simple text, using a conversational storytelling format to enhance the folktale feels. Absolutely no complaints about the textual content – the vocabulary, the tone, the emotions, the conversations: all were spot on. I never felt like I was reading a translation.

The illustrations are quite atypical. The bright colours and the abundance of nature-based elements in the background go well with the tone of the story. However, the art style itself is too avant-garde for my taste. Some of the graphics are stunning, but some are too surreal. The pages also feel a bit too cluttered at times, not because of the text but because of the overload of elements. Either way, the artwork is quirky. Hopefully, it will attract youngsters more than it clicked for me.

All in all, I loved the story. It would make an entertaining tale for little ones aged 4-8 years, and can work as a bedtime read as well as a resource for classroom discussions on right perspectives and culturally inclusive storybooks.

4 stars, mostly for the plot.

My thanks to North South Books for providing the DRC of “The Three-Year Tumble” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.