The Wind and the Sun

Abstract

I first saw a wall-full of this series at Kyobo Book in Seoul in July, '04. I bought one copy, came home, and worked to order the full set of thirty booklets, workbooks, and audio cassettes from the publisher. Each set cost 9,800 Won. I have divided that cost among the book (6800 Won), booklet (1000 Won), and cassette (2000 Won). The colored booklet features twenty-eight thick, sturdy pages and excellent color reproduction. The art is cartoon-like, simple, and direct. This version tells the story, alas, in the less good version. The wind blows away a tree to show that he is the strongest. The wind has the idea of making a bet about the man. Mrs. Sun asks What kind of bet? He answers Make him take off his coat. I still see little sense in that answer. How does the wind make someone take off his coat? Why would the wind ever suggest that bet? In the end here, the wind agrees to blow more gently. Strength isn't everything.