I am here

A groundbreaking accordion board book that captures babies’ journey from seeing the world to seeing themselves.

From award-winning creator Kim Hyo-eun (I Am the Subway and How We Share Cake), I Am Here follows babies through the remarkable developmental transition from understanding where things are to understanding where they are.

Beginning with “below” concepts read vertically―sun, clouds, rainbow, Mom―the book matches how babies naturally look up at their world. It then transitions to “beside” relationships read horizontally―grandfather, cat, ants, nature treasures―reflecting babies' growing engagement with their immediate environment. The journey ends with the profound moment of self-recognition: “me.”

The ingenious format mirrors how babies actually develop―looking up first, then engaging laterally with their environment. Perfect for tummy time with newborns, spatial learning with babies, early language development with toddlers, and as a keepsake that grows with your child. The accordion design allows traditional reading, wall display, or creative folding for new story combinations.

Through Kim Hyo-eun’s warm, humanistic illustrations, I Am Here creates an immersive reading experience grounded in developmental psychology and celebrating both the natural world and the parent-child bond. This innovative book celebrates the cognitive leap that transforms babies into confident little people who know exactly where they belong.

Kim Hyo-eun studied textile design at college and illustration at the Ibpil Future Illustration Research Institute. Books written and illustrated by Kim Hyo-eun include I Am the Subway. Picture books with illustrations created by Kim include A Baby on a Train, A Starry Flower Wall, The Place We Walk Becomes the Road, and Minji and a Squirrel.

Aerin Park is a Korean-English literary translator and Korean language educator who believes language is a bridge to people's stories, culture, and history. Her recent works include The Legend of Tiger and Tail-flower (Levine Querido), Okchundang Candy (Levine Querido), and Late Today (Eerdmans). Aerin lives in Roseville, Minnesota, with her husband and three children–her first readers.