The Most Perfect Persimmon

In this charming author-illustrator debut, a Korean American girl harvests a perfectly ripe persimmon that she can’t wait to share with Grandma.

When Joo Hong harvests a beautiful persimmon from her mom’s garden, she can’t wait to give it to her grandma who is visiting from far away. However, the days leading up to her arrival feel like forever—and the persimmon is looking less and less perfect as time passes by. What can Joo Hong do to make sure it’s perfectly ripe—and not mushy and wrinkly—for Grandma’s visit? 

A tender story about three generations of Korean women and one perfect persimmon, this debut from author-illustrator Hannah Chung shows that even when things don’t go as planned, something even better may be in store.

Hannah Chung is an award-winning designer and entrepreneur in health care design for young patients. She is a frequent guest lecturer at universities and has presented at numerous conferences including TEDx and SXSW. Hannah spends her time both in Providence, Rhode Island, and Seoul, South Korea.

"Endearing cartoon artwork is set against bright backdrops; Joo Hong’s exaggerated facial expressions comically capture her emotions, especially her frustration and impatience. Little ones fixated on the idea of perfection will find a kindred spirit in Joo Hong... A delectable tale that will guide young readers to reexamine their own perceptions." —Kirkus Reviews

"A child worries about a harvest ahead of a much-anticipated visit in Chung’s waiting-focused debut...Digital illustrations employ a blue-green palette against which the titular fruits pop under the care of the work’s take-charge protagonist." —Publishers Weekly