Sarang Saves the School

"In an uplifting authorial picture book debut, Di Roma Howley introduces a spirited protagonist. . . . Oh’s carefully lit digital illustrations emphasize Sarang’s sunny optimism, and fond intergenerational interactions depict shared learning and wisdom at every age." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Inspired by true events in South Korea, this tender and tenacious tale of female empowerment—at any age—proves that it’s never too late to fulfill a dream.

At a seaside school in a sunny fishing village, Sarang and her classmates are surrounded by empty desks. More and more families have been moving away, and, with so few students, their rural school may be forced to close. Their village may be getting smaller, but it’s still home—a place filled with love and memories. So Sarang hatches a plan. If the school needs more students to keep its doors open, why not offer local grandmothers, including her own beloved Halmeoni, the education they were denied as girls? Can Sarang and the other students and villagers convince the reluctant grandmothers to join forces and embark on their educational journey together? Set in contemporary South Korea and inspired by real events, Sarang Saves the School is a fresh and timely take on the power of intergenerational bonds and a charming testament to taking action for causes you believe in.

Korena Di Roma Howley is a freelance journalist and editor and was a finalist for the 2022 We Need Diverse Voices Mentorship Program and the 2022 PBParty. Sarang Saves the School is her picture book debut. She lives in Williamsburg, Virginia, with her husband and son.

Joowon Oh is the creator of Our Favorite Day, her acclaimed picture book debut. She earned a BFA in illustration and an MFA in illustration as visual essay from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Originally from South Korea, she now lives in New York City.