Aram Kim is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book Baby Cousin's Big Day, the latest in her series featuring her character Yoomi. Kim lives in New York City.
Q: What inspired you to create Baby Cousin’s Big Day, the latest in your series about your character Yoomi?
A: I've always wanted to create a book about dol, the Korean first birthday celebration. It's such a big deal in Korean families—the highlight is doljabi, where the baby picks an item that's supposed to predict their future. I find it both meaningful and adorable.
Since Yoomi's too old for her own dol, I thought introducing a baby cousin would be perfect. It also let me explore how Yoomi handles being the big sister for once, instead of always being the youngest. And honestly, it was my excuse to draw a really cute puppy!
Q: Did you work on the text
first or the illustrations first--or both simultaneously?
A: I start with text, but I'm always visualizing and doodling thumbnails in my
sketchbook as I write. The words and images kind of develop together in my
head, even before I officially start illustrating.
For this book, I really struggled with getting the ending just right, finding the perfect ending that would be sweet, unpredictable, and satisfying, so I spent a lot longer than usual on the manuscript before moving to artwork. Once it was finally approved, I was so excited to start drawing!
Q: Do you think Yoomi has
changed at all over the course of the series?
A: She definitely has! Yoomi's become more open to trying new things, and she's
learned better ways to handle her feelings—though it's subtle, like how kids
actually grow.
What's really different in this book is that Yoomi gets to be the big sister for the first time. She's been the baby of the family in all the previous books, so this role reversal brought out a more mature, caring side of her.
It also shows how she quickly understands the baby’s feelings while all other adults have no clue!
Q: The Kirkus Review of the book called it “[s]weetly festive fun.” What do you think of that description?
A: I love it! That phrase captures exactly what I was going for. I always want my books to be fun first and foremost, but this story is also genuinely sweet and celebrates such a joyful tradition. They got it in just three words—that's pretty amazing. It tells me the book is connecting with readers the way I hoped it would, and I am grateful for it.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I'm really excited about a Korean folktale retelling I’m working on—it's actually the story that Yoomi reads with her grandma in Sunday Funday in Koreatown.
I've been wanting to adapt it for a while now. There's something special about taking these traditional stories and making them accessible for today's kids while keeping their heart intact. It’s challenging and fun at the same time.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I hope readers have fun hunting for easter eggs in Baby Cousin's Big Day! I love sneaking in characters from other books in the series—several from Sunday Funday in Koreatown pop up in this one.
Actually, I'm still waiting for someone to spot Master Cho from Let's Go to Taekwondo! hiding somewhere in Sunday Funday in Koreatown. No one's told me they found her yet! I get such a kick out of readers spotting things in my books and letting me know what they discover.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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