Biryoungso Donates 642 Children's Books to Catholic Central Medical Center

New "Gruffalo" Story Released After 20 Years
Donated to Pediatric Patients at Eight Affiliated Hospitals Including Seoul St. Mary's
Global Publishers Join Project, Pledging About 200,000 Books for Donation
"Hope Children Gain Joy and Strength Through Books"

Biryoungso, a children's publishing company, is donating 642 children's books to the Catholic University Catholic Central Medical Center.

On the 3rd, participants at the Birongso children's book donation ceremony held at Catholic University Catholic Central Medical Center took a commemorative photo announcing the donation of 642 books. The donated books will be delivered to pediatric patients at eight affiliated hospitals under the Catholic Central Medical Center. Birongso

On the 3rd, Biryoungso held a donation ceremony at the Catholic Central Medical Center and announced on the 4th that 642 books, including the new release "Grandma Gruffalo and the Storytelling Mouse" and other representative works by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, had been delivered. The donated books will be given to pediatric patients at eight affiliated hospitals under the Catholic Central Medical Center: Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital, and Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital.

This donation is part of a global donation project in celebration of the worldwide simultaneous publication this month of the latest "Gruffalo" series title, "Grandma Gruffalo and the Storytelling Mouse." The original author, Julia Donaldson, and illustrator, Axel Scheffler, as well as Gruffalo publishers in various countries are taking part in the project. To date, approximately 200,000 books have been pledged for donation worldwide to kindergartens, school libraries, child welfare facilities, children's hospitals, and literacy organizations.

The "Gruffalo" picture book series has been published in 115 countries and sold more than 18 million copies globally. The stories center on a clever mouse and the Gruffalo, who, despite his fearsome appearance, is repeatedly tricked by the mouse's wit. Julia Donaldson writes the stories and Axel Scheffler illustrates them.

The new book marks the first new "Gruffalo" story in about 20 years, introducing the character Grandma Gruffalo into the established universe. The story follows the Gruffalo family preparing a special meal ahead of Grandma Gruffalo's visit and the adventures of a small mouse who becomes a candidate for the feast.

Park Sanghee, CEO of Biryoungso, said, "A good picture book can be a child's very first memorable reading experience that stays with them for life. We hope more children encounter great picture books and experience the joy of reading."

Min Changki, Vice President for Medical Affairs and Director of the Catholic University Medical Center, commented, "I hope that children, through time spent reading books in the hospital, can momentarily forget the difficulties of treatment and gain joy and positive energy to aid their healthy recovery."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.