I visited Seoul nearly 30 years ago, and was struck by the ant like busyness of the people on the streets. I noticed it because I was desperate for some help, and while most of the people I looked at nodded politely at me, no one stopped.

This story takes a moment to highlight the importance of kindness in a world that is becoming increasingly full of people who feel time poor and are often criminally self absorbed.

On a rainy day in the South Korean capital, few are inclined to stop and help a kitten that has wondered into the traffic. But luckily, there are always those who can somehow make time despite being subject to the 24 hour cycle that everyone else is also manoeuvring within.

Compassionate and charming, with atmospheric illustrations, this is worth checking out.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company for providing me with an early copy.

I will be honest with my review. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the premise of the story is not bad. It is very relevant to today's communities that we are always in a rush to get to our destination, that we turn a blind eye to those in need, in this case, a cat.

The story feels like a first draft and not fully fleshed out. I think a few more words could have added more to it, and I could have connected with what was happening. Additionally, the font of the text was somewhat unusual. This could have been just me.

Overall, the moral of the story was good, but it was just missing something extra.

Precious! I was nervous for the kitty for much of the picture book. However, I'm so happy the kitty was okay. It also made me think about how in a rush I always am. It really is okay to be late; there might be something good waiting for you to stop.

I did not enjoy this book. I understand the message that is trying to be conveyed but there was not nearly enough story to get the point across effectively to children. The beginning of the story was also inaccurate, a cat that is 2 weeks old would not be able to run across traffic and jump over objects.

I really liked the general idea of this book, but I think that it was almost *too* simplistic, and lacked depth. What I mean by this is book felt like it was only an outline and not a fully-formed story. It was very difficult to feel invested in this story because there was zero character development. Readers barely see the kind character that saves the kitten, and no names are given. The best and most consistent part was the cat, honestly. Adding onto that, I think that it would help the message come through much better if some sort of connection (it doesn't have to be big) was made between the reader and the book's character(s), other than the cat. However, that was really the only thing that didn't work for me in this story. As I mentioned earlier I liked the idea - it was heartwarming and different in a way. Lastly, the illustrations were absolutely stunning. The rain was present for most of the book, and was illustrated in such a way that it came to life. The way the kitten was drawn was also very adorable, so I give lots of kudos to the illustrator.

“Late today” by jungyoon huh and myungae Lee was such a little blessing to read early this morning. Short and sweet, the art and message had my heart both heavy and light by the end of it.

I love it! The story is simple and is about a kitten but can so easily be applied to so many different areas of life.

Essentially, the kitten is in need and loads of people see this but for a variety of reasons, decide not to get involved. They aren't nasty or rude, they just don't go out of their way to be kind either. Sometimes it only takes one person to go the other way and not leave it to someone else and, like in this story, you can make a real difference.

The illustrations are beautiful. I would have them framed in the wall. I can't wait to buy a real copy when it comes out!

Late Today by Jungyoon Huh, with expressive illustrations by Myungae Lee, is a beautifully simple yet deeply moving picture book that captures a fleeting moment of compassion in the middle of everyday chaos. Set during a stormy morning rush hour, the story follows a frightened stray kitten scrambling through traffic, searching for shelter as the city hurries on, largely unaware—or unwilling—to pause.

What makes this story stand out is its quiet power. Amid honking horns and hurried footsteps, one driver chooses to stop, rescuing the kitten and reminding readers—both young and old—that kindness is always worth the delay. Though everyone ends up being late, the kitten finds a new beginning, and we are left reflecting on the value of slowing down for what truly matters.

Myungae Lee’s crayon-like, sketchy illustrations add raw emotion and urgency to the pages. The artwork is vibrant and intentionally imperfect, echoing the disorder of the city and the vulnerability of the tiny creature at its center. It's a perfect fit for young readers, making the story visually engaging while reinforcing the emotional core of the narrative.

Jungyoon Huh's dedication—to a kitten she couldn't save—adds an extra layer of poignancy and authenticity. This isn't just a sweet story; itth review, check out my ’s a heartfelt reminder of the moments we let slip by, and the impact of choosing empathy, even during life’s busiest moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this lovely book

Beautifully illustrated kids picture book, with a clear message about not turning away from beings in need. (Just tripped up slightly by the assertion that the kitten was 2 weeks old, as the kitten / behaviour shown would suggest an older kitten, but likely small children won't be as sensitive to this detail!)

When a kitten is lost and stranded in the middle of busy morning traffic, everyone is terrified for the cat's wellbeing -- but no one wants to step up for fear of being late. Amidst all the hubbub, is there a single person conscientious enough to stop and pick the poor kitten up?

Alongside simple, gorgeous artwork, this is a beautifully poignant lesson in how some inconveniences are more than worth the hassle.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This affecting picture book expertly captures a small moment in time. The art uses texture, motion, and unique page layouts to convey the bustling, chaotic energy of morning rush hour. One page in particular stands out to me, in which small square panels show the tiny black kitten, caught in the middle of the road, hopping, leaping, and clambering over and under car tires.

The translation here gives the text a unique quality, noting that while many drivers see the kitten but fail to stop, "It was the kind of thing where no one can point a finger and call 'coward,' even when someone ignores what's happening and passes by." Thankfully, one car does stop; in doing so, everyone is made a little more late, but at the same time, the tiny kitten is saved.

This is a fine, non-preachy title about compassion and taking the time to do what our conscience calls us to do.

This is a very simple picture book about taking action. So many of us watch, and hope “somebody” does something, as though we are the audience to life.

The story takes place on a rainy day in Seoul. A boy and his mother can’t be late. But there is a kitten in the road.

And yes, the mother stops, because she can’t let the kitten get hit. Even though everyone around her drives on, because they can’t be late. The answer is, sometimes you have to be late to do the right thing.

May we all do the right thing.

Lovely illustrations. The lesson does not really hit us over the head, but does push us to see the fault amongst us.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 23rd of September 2025.

Ohhhh myyyyy gooossshh.

Junyoon Huh’s <i>Late Today</i> is one of those illustrated—shoutout to illustrator Myungae Lee—children’s books that I’d generally classify as universal age. The thing is, I’m of the mind that the lesson in this story is one most children already understand inherently. But it’s the sort of lesson that adults kind of forget?

<i>Late Today</i>, with gorgeous artwork, tells a story of the bystander effect. When faced with personal requirements such as needing to be on time to your life expectations, traffic, and the inherent obstacle of interrupting those things to put forth effort, so many people will often assume and hope that another person will take care of the thing that needs taking care of. And in such a situation, it often results in no one stepping up. In this story, the being in need of help is a kitten attempting to navigate traffic.

This book honestly hit me rather hard—the area I live in, unfortunately, has often been repeatedly subject to dogs of all sizes attempting to navigate various forms of traffic. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been forced to reckon with this question: can I be late today to ensure this animal is returned to safety? For me, I have personally gotten into a rhythm here—I don’t assume someone will take care of the situation. I have my city’s two animal support numbers in my phone (learning that I live on a county border line was fun!) and I’ve followed animals to their homes before (it’s an unfortunate truth that some of my neighbors will let their dogs wander). But the fact of the matter is that a lot of people will simply drive past and hope someone else will take care of it.

<i>Late Today</i> is a reminder to all, young and old, to not let the bystander effect get you. It’s a call to action for any who see someone struggling. And I think the book, as a whole, offers an incredible opportunity to remind those who are older of this important lesson but also to aid them in teaching children not only about this affect but how to combat it. And I, personally, could not be more thrilled to have that opportunity at my fingertips.