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Brave Hong Kil-Dong/the Man Who Bought the Shade of a Tree (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8) (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8)

Kim Yong-Kol

Cover of Brave Hong Kil-Dong/the Man Who Bought the Shade of a Tree (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8) (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8)

Brave Hong Kil-Dong/the Man Who Bought the Shade of a Tree (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8) (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Kim Yong-Kol

Illustrated by Kang Mi-Sun

Reading Level 2 7C Ages 5-8 Matched

The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

Hong Kil-Dong isn’t just brave—he’s a hero who stands up for what’s right, just like a Korean Robin Hood! And what happens when someone tries to sell the shade of a tree? It turns out, some things are worth way more than money. These tales will surprise you and show why courage and cleverness matter.

Themes

FolkloreJusticeCourageCultural HeritageBilingual Education

Quick Assessment

This bilingual English-Korean volume features two traditional Korean folktales suitable for early readers aged 5 to 8. The stories focus on themes of justice, courage, and cleverness, presented through culturally rich narratives that engage young children with accessible language. There is no intense content, making it appropriate for early elementary audiences interested in folklore and moral lessons.

Why we rated Brave Hong Kil-Dong/the Man Who Bought the Shade of a Tree (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8) (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8) 7C

Brave Hong Kil-Dong/the Man Who Bought the Shade of a Tree (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8) (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8) is written at a Level 2 reading level across 46 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Brave Hong Kil-Dong/the Man Who Bought the Shade of a Tree (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8) (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8) works for readers up to grade 4.0.

We rate Brave Hong Kil-Dong/the Man Who Bought the Shade of a Tree (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8) (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8) as 7C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.

Thematically, Brave Hong Kil-Dong/the Man Who Bought the Shade of a Tree (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8) (Korean Folk Tales for Children, Vol 8) explores folklore, justice, courage, cultural heritage, and bilingual education — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

  • Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
  • Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
  • Kids drawn to stories about folklore, justice, courage.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

7C — Clear
Emotional
Clear
Physical
Clear
Social
Clear
Thematic
Clear

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
2
Emotional Weight
2
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

46 pages
ISBN
0930878914
Pages
46
Publisher
Hollym International Corporation
Published
September 3, 1990
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

4-8 YearsTravelMythologyFablesFolklore, Korea