나의 한국 문화 여행
A Bilingual Children's Picture Book
Follow Olivia, a young Black girl from Philadelphia, on her journey from anime fan to aspiring manhwa creator. A story about resilience, cross-cultural curiosity, and the transformative power of dreams.
Written by Olivia Melvin · Edited by Isaac Ari Barker · Ages 8–12
책 소개
"My Journey to Korean Culture" is a first-person autobiographical children's picture book for ages 8–12. Told entirely in Olivia's own voice, it traces her real-life journey from being a casual anime viewer to becoming an aspiring manhwa creator. The book is bilingual, featuring Korean text (Hangul with romanization) alongside English throughout.
Korean vocabulary with Hangul and romanization woven naturally into the narrative. Readers learn words like 안녕 (hello), 빙수 (shaved ice), and 미안해요 (sorry).
Olivia faces peer rejection for loving anime, but the brave characters she watches teach her to never give up. Her story models courage for young readers.
From consumer to learner to dreamer to creator. Olivia doesn't just absorb culture — she builds something from it.
책 미리보기
Take a peek at the pages — anime-inspired illustrations, Korean vocabulary, and Olivia's story brought to life.
🎨 Illustrations use an anime/manhwa-inspired art style with warm colors and expressive character designs.
이야기
Three acts that mirror a hero's journey, grounded in the everyday life of a real kid.
Discovery & Rejection
The story opens with Olivia watching anime with her dad — Inuyasha, Fullmetal Alchemist, Seven Deadly Sins. Their shared screen time is an act of love and connection.
But when she excitedly tells kids at school, they laugh at her. The sting of peer rejection for loving something different — she's a beginner being told to quit before she's even started.
Resilience & Discovery of Korean Culture
Olivia doesn't stop. The characters she watches are brave — so she decides she will be too. Then a K-Drama appears on TV. The sounds are beautiful and unfamiliar. She starts picking up words: 안녕, 차, 빙수...
"And dreams have power."
She makes herself a promise: one day she'll travel to Korea.
From Consumer to Creator
Around age 13, Olivia doesn't just want to watch — she wants to create. What if she could make a manhwa that helps others learn Korean? Not boring like a textbook. Action, mystery, cool characters.
That idea becomes "Echoes of the Lost Language" — a kid once mocked for what she loved has turned that love into something she's building for others.
저자 소개
Olivia is a young Black girl from Philadelphia with a passion that started in front of the TV with her dad — watching anime. What began as a shared hobby evolved into a deep love for Korean culture, language, and storytelling.
Now an aspiring manhwa creator, Olivia is developing "Echoes of the Lost Language," a Korean comic that teaches the language through adventure and mystery. She believes that the stories you love can teach you how to be brave.
"My Journey to Korean Culture" is her debut book, developed through Level Up Philly with the guidance of Aaron "Unc" Campbell and editor Isaac Ari Barker.
Philadelphia, PA
Ages 8–12
Korean Culture
Manhwa Creator
한국어를 배워요
Korean vocabulary from the book, introduced naturally through the story.
"Learning each new word makes her feel like an expert unlocking a secret code."
제작 이야기
How a young girl's real story became a published book — the people, the process, and the mission behind "My Journey to Korean Culture."
It started the way all great stories do — on a couch, with family. Olivia and her dad watching anime together wasn't just entertainment. It was the seed of a passion that would grow into a love for Korean culture, language, and eventually storytelling itself. When Olivia first told her story out loud, the people around her knew it needed to be shared with the world.
The book is being developed through Level Up Philly, a Philadelphia-based organization dedicated to empowering young voices. Level Up didn't just help Olivia publish a book — they helped her understand that her story, her perspective, and her creativity are powerful things worth sharing with others.
Aaron "Unc" Campbell provided guidance and mentorship throughout the process, helping Olivia shape her raw experiences into a narrative arc that resonates with young readers. Isaac Ari Barker served as editor, refining the voice while keeping it authentically Olivia's — because the whole point is that this is her story, told in her words.
The visual style mirrors the very art form that inspired Olivia — anime and manhwa. Warm colors for the cozy family moments, cooler tones during the bullying scene, vibrant imagery as Korean culture opens up, and a dramatic fantasy splash page for the "Echoes of the Lost Language" reveal. The art style itself reinforces the book's theme — it looks like the kind of story Olivia fell in love with.
The book currently exists as a text manuscript (v0.1) and a compressed illustrated proof copy. It's being prepared for print through Blurb BookWright with potential Amazon KDP distribution — putting Olivia's story within reach of kids everywhere who need to hear it.
교육적 가치
First-person narrative voice, autobiographical storytelling, vocabulary building, and bilingual text exposure. Perfect for reading comprehension and creative writing.
Models cross-cultural curiosity organically. Shows what happens when a child follows her interest without fear.
The peer rejection scene is the emotional engine. Young readers watch Olivia choose resilience over conformity.
Shows the full arc from consumer to creator. Passions aren't just hobbies — they're raw material for the future.
잃어버린 언어의 메아리
Olivia's dream project — the manhwa she's creating to help others learn Korean through adventure.
A boy named Jinwoo wakes up in a magical world where the Korean language literally has power. Each chapter teaches words, phrases, and grammar — hidden inside the adventure like secret messages.
"Reading a comic and unlocking a superpower at the same time."
This is the book's emotional climax: a kid once mocked for what she loved has turned that love into something she's building for others. Action, mystery, cool characters — never boring like a textbook.
책 구매
"My Journey to Korean Culture" is being prepared for print through Blurb BookWright with potential Amazon KDP distribution. Sign up to be the first to know when it's available.
Be the first to hear when the book is available, when new previews drop, and when launch updates go live.
Powered by LaunchList. No spam — just real updates about the book.
Via Blurb BookWright
Amazon KDP
Bulk pricing available