Seori Tales

Seori Tales — Korean Folktales for Children

Cover of The Goblins and the Hazelnut, A Korean Folktale of Tokkaebi, Gold, and a Magic Club

The Goblins and the Hazelnut

A Korean Folktale of Tokkaebi, Gold, and a Magic Club

Up on the mountain, a kind boy finds four hazelnuts — one for Father, one for Mother, one for Little Sister, and one for himself. But that night, in an old empty house, five tokkaebi burst in. These wild, wonderful Korean goblins bang their magic clubs on the floor: "Gold, come out — ttuk-ttak!" Then one loud CRACK of a hazelnut sends them running... and leaves a magic club behind. Now the greedy man next door wants one too! A warm, funny retelling of a beloved Korean folktale about thinking of others first — perfect for reading aloud, again and again.

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About this book

Up on the mountain, a kind boy finds four hazelnuts and counts them the way he always does: one for Father, one for Mother, one for Little Sister… and one for me. But when night falls and he hides on the beam of an old empty house, five tokkaebi, Korea's wild and wonderful goblins, burst through the door. They bang their magic clubs on the floor: "Gold, come out — ttuk-ttak!"

The boy is SO hungry. He bites down on his one hazelnut. CRACK! "The house is falling down!" yell the goblins, and they run so fast they leave a magic club behind… until the greedy man next door tries the very same trick.

  • Read-aloud English with a counting refrain kids say along with you, a spell to shout ("ttuk-ttak!"), and a CRACK that makes everyone jump
  • Rich illustrations in a warm painterly style with the bold spirit of Korean minhwa folk art, starring friendly blue and red goblins and their floating blue tokkaebi-fire
  • A gentle window into Korea: an "About This Story" note on tokkaebi, their magic clubs, and the full-moon custom of cracking nuts for a healthy year
  • Perfect for ages 4–8: spooky-fun but never scary, no one gets hurt, and the ending turns a greedy neighbor into one more friend at the table

A wonderful gift for bedtime, multicultural classrooms, and every child learning to save a share for someone else.

Book 8 of Seori Tales — Korean Folktales for Children.

Details

Series
Seori Tales — Korean Folktales for Children, Book 8
Original tale
도깨비 방망이
Reading age
4-8 (Preschool - Grade 3)
Paperback pages
24, full colour
Publisher
Seori Books
Paperback ISBN-13
9798165777622

Inside the book

On a golden autumn morning, a family of four stands at the twig gate of a small thatched house, each holding a piece of sweet potato; the boy wears a wooden carrier on his back.
At midnight, five grinning blue and red goblins with wooden clubs burst through the door, lit by floating blue-green flames, while the boy on the beam above claps his hands over his mouth.
The goblins run out of the open door into the night, arms flailing, leaving one wooden club glowing on the floor, as the boy peeks down from the beam.

Korean Words in This Story

  • Tokkaebi — Korea's wild, playful goblins (also spelled dokkaebi). They love tricks, dancing, and buckwheat jelly.
  • Bangmangi — a tokkaebi's magic club. Knock it and say what you wish for!
  • Ttuk-ttak — the sound of a quick knock. Koreans say it for anything done in a snap.
  • Gaeam — a wild Korean hazelnut, small, round, and brown.
  • Jige — a wooden A-frame carrier, worn on the back for firewood.
  • Daeboreum — the first full moon of the lunar year, when families crack nuts with their teeth for strong teeth and a healthy year.
  • Say them out loud together!

More in the series