Another absolutely gorgeous book by Hyewon Yum. I love the soft and gentle illustrations as well as the truly lovely simple story. I was interested in this book because it was about seaweed soup and it also combined another of my interests Korean hanyeo. I think this is such a great book about birthday traditions that will mean a lot to those to whom this tradition is familiar and to those who have different birthday traditions.

What a charming story about a family legacy. I love books that connect the past to the present and hopefully the future. The illustrations matched the cozy tone of the book.

A digital copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for my opinions and review.

I don't know what to make of this one. The illustrations were fine, the plot was all over the place and I don't really know what the point of this was but it felt like it was really pushing a point. Nice to have different cultures but I just can't wrap my head around this one.

Such a beautiful story and great illustration! I love that this touched on Korean traditions. Having Soup instead of a cupcake you wanted on your birthday, that’s new. This can teach others something new about others & helping others who have different traditions feel seen.

Thank you NetGalley & Hyewon Yum for the opportunity to read this story!

This is very short and doesn't have a plot. It's more of a conversation between mother and daughter. But I enjoyed it. The focus on women and childbirth was surprising, should come with a warning. Overall a sweet message and visually appealing.

Oh, how can I not cry? This touching story shares the Korean tradition of cooking seaweed soup, first for women after giving birth, and later for children on their birthdays.
It’s a beautiful custom, lovingly told and illustrated. The author captures the warmth, meaning, and continuity of this tradition in a way that’s easy to share with children and deeply moving for adults.

A perfect choice for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - or any time you want a heartfelt story about love, family, and cultural roots. Highly recommended.

This is a cosy children's story that tells of family history and the story of where we come from. It was beautiful to read the story of this seemingly innocuous soup and how the recipe had been passed down for multiple generations to become a celebratory meal.

This is a beautiful story. The illustrations are gorgeous. It is a story of connections and traditions.

I loved this! Hyewon Yum consistently makes lovely books. This gave me nostalgia for a place and tradition I have nothing to do with. I am pregnant, so that might have something to do with it.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a very simple and easy introduction to the Haenyeo divers and an aspect of Korean culture. I also loved the illustrations. Overall this was just a very sweet, tender story about connecting with your culture and your ancestors.

This is a great story! It pulls together lots of different elements and blends them really well. I love the storytelling happening between generations, an interesting perspective for kids and adults.

What happens when you don't get the cake and/or cupcakes that you want for your birthday, but you get soup instead?

What happens, when, as you push the soup around in the bowl, your Mommy tells you a lovely, quiet story, a story about the soup and how it's shaped not only you, but Mommy, and Grandmother and the many, many women in the family line that came before you?

What happens when you learn about all the strong women in your family, their deep ties to the sea and all the reasons the sea is so important to them, and why the soup is so deeply tied to them now?

You sit in the silence of your ancestors, smile in love at your lovely, strong Mommy, and, you eat your soup.

**Make sure you read the important note at the end; it explains the story more deeply and really adds to the overall story and its importance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hyewon Yum, and W.W. Norton & Company/Norton Young Readers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Spoonful of the Sea is the most beautiful and touching picture book that I've read in a long time. The series of illustrations about the family history--cultural history of food and healing, spanning through many ancestors, consuming the seaweed soup is such a lovely commemoration of strong and loving women. The mention of haenyeo, deep-sea diving women who fish for sea life adds a bit of history. The importance of tradition is the story's main meaning, but it's also a story of love and respect for Motherhood. The illustrations were charming and inviting because of the gentle and subdued watercolors. This will be a go-to book to read and gift to all children.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Spoonful of Sea, written and illustrated by Hyewon Yum, is a beautifully crafted children’s book that showcases the artist’s remarkable talent. The illustrations are stunning and perfectly capture the warmth and love at the heart of the story, making this book a wonderful addition to any home library.

The narrative thoughtfully explores emotions, beginning with a young girl’s disappointment upon receiving miyeok-guk (seaweed soup) instead of a sweet birthday treat. Through her mother’s story, readers learn about the meaningful family tradition behind this special meal- a heartfelt ritual that symbolizes love shared across generations of mothers and daughters. The story resonates deeply, offering comfort and connection that will surely endure for years to come.

In addition to its emotional depth, A Spoonful of Sea serves as a gentle introduction to Korean culture. It may inspire readers to appreciate their own family traditions or explore the rich customs of other cultures.

I rated this book five out of five stars and highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

My son is half Korean and I remember my MIL bringing me miyeok guk (soup) upon soup in the hospital. This book tells the story of the soup and its significance in Korean culture in such a gentle and loving way. It’s a great way to learn more about traditions and how important it is to keep them going and what they mean to you and the generations that come before and after! Extra points for the beautiful illustrations and all the female empowerment 🤍
Thank you to W W Norton & Co and NetGalley for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The story tells of the birth and later birthdays ritual of the soup that is a product of the sea and ensures the health of first the mother and then the child. This is a tradition of Korea for many centuries.
The illustrations by the author are simple, perfect in muted colors, and definitely evoke the smells of the sea and look of the soup.
Well suited for reading WITH someone any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from W. W. Norton & Company | Norton Young Readers via NetGalley. Pub Date Sep 09, 2025 ***** #review #goodreads #bookbub
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As a third-grade teacher, I would love to have A Spoonful of the Sea in my classroom library. Not only would it add cultural variety to our collection, but it would also serve as a beautiful example of women strengthening and supporting women. The generational connection between mother and daughter throughout was heartwarming and comforting. The illustrations were detailed and meaningful perfection.

I did not know about haenyeo, and if you do not, it is best not to look it up in detail, and read this book.
A young girl does not like the traditional Korean soup, miyeokguk, which her mother serves her on her birthday.
Then we are taken on a trip in time and across places that blend into the soup - literally in the pictures, and metaphorically, which tell us of the importance of some traditions, invisible bonds, and the story of haenyeo.


A book about appreciation.

What a gorgeous picture book! I remember I first learned about Haenyeo through another children’s book a few years ago. I will most definitely buy this book for my elementary library.

Book 154 of 350 ~ 2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The traditions in the simplest form served with big, genuine hearts, is finally explained to a little kiddo who was served seaweed soup instead of what she wanted a proper cake.

As the tale unfolds with its beautiful illustrations, I too recall friends who's parent still traditionally remembers not just her actual birthday but lunar birthday too. @sungoddesstarot comes to mind..

My mommy makes one of my favourite cakes... or now, a new tradition which is she might make a cheesecake with boopbee.

Whatever the case, these traditions have a greater reason to begin...and one can only hope it never gets lost.

I received a complimentary copy of the ebook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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