A Spoonful of the Sea

Honoring the tradition of serving miyeokguk on birthdays and inspired by the lives of Korea’s haenyeo, this lovely picture book celebrates the bond between mothers and daughters.

On her birthday, a girl is presented with a bowl of miyeokguk, seaweed soup—instead of the cake she wants. As she stirs her soup, her mother tells her how mothers eat it after giving birth and how it is served on birthdays to honor them; about haenyeo, women who dive into the ocean’s depths to harvest shellfish and seaweed; and how, many mothers ago, a pregnant haenyeo saw a whale eating seaweed after giving birth and tried it after having her own baby—creating a tradition that would continue for generations of daughters to come.

Award-winning picture book creator Hyewon Yum has crafted a luminous and heartfelt celebration of motherhood, heritage, and the deep-rooted connection between women and nature.