The Three-Year Tumble: Based on a Korean Folktale

By Dayeon Auh

A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book, 2025
A Smithsonian Magazine Best Children's Book, 2025
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Books, Best Book of 2025
An ALA Notable Children's Book, 2026

Based on the traditional Korean folktale "Samnyeongogae" ("Three-Year Mountain Pass"), this picture book parable by Korean-German artist Dayeon Auh features a fateful mountain, a superstitious grandfather, and a granddaughter with a clever perspective on life.

Legend says that anyone who falls down Misfortune Mountain has three years left to live. Grandfather must travel over the treacherous mountain to get to the market, but one day catastrophe happens and he tumbles down The doctor says he is perfectly healthy, but Grandfather feels the end is near . . . until his granddaughter comes to visit and makes a different calculation about his fate.

From then on, the legend of the mountain takes on a new meaning and everyone finds themselves eager to tumble down it. A fable that demonstrates how a change in one's mindset can make a positive impact.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0735845743
• ISBN13: 9780735845749
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Northsouth Books
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.7" x 11.2"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Not a fan

I bought this book because it was on the NYT list of best illustrations for 2025. I'm not a fan of the illustrations or the story. Overall just not my favorite.